WHY IS INNOVATION AT UNIVERSITIES NEEDED AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY RANKING?

Plant-based food producers report a long-term shortage of skilled food technologists and scientists who focus their research on the development of innovative plant-based foods.3 Consequently, food-producing businesses lack sufficient employees with adequate education in the field of plant-based food technology.

Universities can benefit from this ranking in a couple of ways. First, climbing up in the rankings, and thus offering students more possibilities to educate themselves in the field of plant-based food technology, can result in an increase in student applicants, and universities can thus select higher-quality students. Second, since there is a lack of plant-based food technologists and scientists in the labour market as a whole, the employment rate of graduates is likely to be high.

We consider this ranking to be the first step toward addressing this deficiency in the labour market.

Specific target groups and others can benefit from this ranking:

1. Students: the ranking helps them to choose which university is the most suitable for them, while also inspiring students to choose a career as a plant-based food technologist.

2. Food producers: the ranking provides them with educated and skilled plant-based food technologists.

3. Universities: the ranking provides universities with support in constructing plant-basedfocused courses, study programmes, research projects, business collaborations, etc.

4. Consumers: ultimately, this initiative aims to provide consumers with innovative plantbased food and drinks, thus enriching the selection of plant-based food products available, including alternatives to animal-based products – with improved nutritional value, as well as products that are easier to prepare at home, tastier, and generally more appealing and enjoyable for consumers, as well as for the restaurant and catering industry.

5. European economies: last but not least, such an initiative is likely to attract more skilled workers and businesses into European countries, which will lead to a boost in foreign investment and an increase in tax revenues.