Belgian Vineyard

Author: Samantha Edwards | Major: Food Science | Semester: May 2023 Intersession

Hello! I am Samantha Edwards, and I am a food science major in the Bumpers college! This past 2023 May intersession I studied abroad in Ghent, Belgium through the Sustainability in the Euro Food System program. I chose this major because as a freshman food science major, I am interested in learning more about the roles and impacts the food industry has on humans, animals, and the environment. Specifically, I am interested in the sustainability aspect of food science. The study abroad program I chose investigated sustainable agriculture and engineering systems in the Eurozone. Ultimately, the opportunity I had to explore and investigate the European food system will enhance my undergraduate experience at the University of Arkansas, generate ideas relative to undergraduate research opportunities, and expand my understanding of post graduate opportunities and careers.

My classes and instructors all came from Ghent University in Belgium. The other educational half of my trip included visits to various sites around Belgium that involved sustainability and food systems. The lectures I attended were at mostly at the Ghent University campus directly in Ghent. It was exciting to feel like a true student abroad as I got to sit in lectures at the main college campus. Some of my lectures took place at smaller locations affiliated with the college in different towns around Belgium. These educational visits I went on included a greenhouse, wastewater treatment plant, cheese factory, and vegan dairy product production site.

After spending nearly three weeks in Belgium, my understanding of sustainability grew immensely. Each lecture and visit I had added further depth to what I thought was a relatively simple topic of sustainability. Food system suitability systems are complex because of all the components that make them up. Having a sustainable system is more than just a few factors of the environment, economy, and production. It goes much deeper to create positive implications for energy conservation, climate change, worker safety, worker happiness, consumer safety and happiness, and recycling materials.

Compared to my classes at the University of Arkansas, the courses I had abroad were both similar and different. Due to being a food science major, some of the topics regarding sustainability in packing and food production were relevant in the coursework I have had in Arkansas. However, some of the lectures I had involved different aspects of engineering and environmental systems in Europe. I have not had any exposure to these topics at my time at Arkansas, so I found it very insightful to learn about.

Experiencing the cultural differences in Belgium was quite the experience. I noticed that everyone in Belgium in general dresses much nicer than back home in Arkansas. I would walk to class in sweatpants and a sweatshirt and see no problem back home, however, if I did that in Belgium, I would feel extremely underdressed. Also, I value my social time and weekends in college. I love gamedays and spending my free time with my friends on the weekends. The students in Belgium however go home every weekend. Their days to go out with friends are during the week and there was no major athletics within the college for them to attend on the weekends. It is uncommon for a student to stay back on campus at Ghent which is not the case at most colleges in the United States.

While in Belgium, I noticed frequently the buildings were older than the state of Arkansas itself! I saw that the history of Belgium went back further than any event I learned about in my state-level education. The history surrounding WWI there was also very prominent. Here in Arkansas, I cannot drive an hour and see a WWI German soldier cemetery like I could abroad. There were multiple moments when I would have been standing in buildings or out in cities in Belgium to find out that a battle took place right there during WWI. It blew my mind that such a major part of history happened where people live peacefully on farms today.

This trip was extremely insightful on sustainability within food systems. I gained a passion for this topic greatly and plan to learn more about it in my next three years of college. My biggest advice for anyone who plans to attend this trip in the future is to not be scared to come out of your comfort zone. I have been non-adventurous when it comes to exploring topics outside my major, but after learning about the environmental, economic, and even engineering systems in Belgium, I find myself more open-minded for my further education. This experience has pushed my comfort zone in many ways. Leaving my home for another country for three weeks is quite a large step for me to take. I am thankful I took it because it has taught me that I am capable of being adventurous and capable on my own. It has also challenged me to think in ways I never have before.