Inspiring Paths Toward International Mobility

Agrifood4Future and L’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers explore career opportunities beyond borders 

On October 14, the Agrifood4Future (AF4F) Mobility Program took part in an online session with Master 2 students of L’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, as part of the school’s ongoing commitment to preparing young professionals for international careers in the agrifood sector. The webinar, titled “Engineers Without Borders: Mobility, Careers, and International Missions,” was an opportunity to introduce students to the many forms of international mobility available to them, whether through research, professional missions, or development programs. 

More than 30 students, joined by several teachers and academic staff, attended the session. Their active participation and questions reflected a strong curiosity for global experiences and a desire to engage with international networks in agriculture, food systems, and sustainability. 

Sharing expertise on global research and cooperation 

The first presentation was given by CIRAD (Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement), an institution renowned for its scientific partnerships across the Global South. Representatives from CIRAD outlined the organization’s mission and explained how young researchers can get involved in international research projects tackling the major challenges of agricultural and environmental transitions. They also highlighted the wide range of career paths in international cooperation, from laboratory research to field missions, illustrating how scientific work can contribute directly to sustainable development at a global scale. 

Alumni stories: building professional experience through the V.I.E. program 

The second part of the webinar gave the floor to two graduates of L’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, who shared their professional journeys in Brazil through the Volontariat International en Entreprise (V.I.E.) scheme. Their testimonies emphasized the unique learning opportunities offered by international placements: adapting to new cultural contexts, developing autonomy, and gaining experience in the agri-food industry outside of Europe. 

The speakers also reflected on the personal growth that accompanies such experiences: learning to navigate intercultural environments, understanding global food systems, and discovering new ways of collaborating within international teams. For many students, these stories offered a tangible example of how an early-career international mission can  

open new professional horizons, facilitate networking and foster long-term engagement with sustainable food systems. 

Presenting the Agrifood4Future Mobility Program 

To close the session, Marina Diaz from Valorial, agri-agro innovation cluster based in western France and consortium partner, presented the Agrifood4Future Mobility Program. This initiative aims to strengthen connections between students, research institutions, and companies in the agrifood sector. 

Through its dedicated online platform, AF4F facilitates the publication and matching of international internship opportunities in agriculture and food innovation. The platform enables students to discover placements in the 6 consortium countries (Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Belgium and Portugal) while helping organizations identify motivated young professionals eager to contribute to European innovation ecosystems. 

Beyond internships, the program seeks to encourage a culture of mobility and collaboration among universities, research centers, and industry partners.  

A shared commitment to preparing globally engaged professionals 

This session at L’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers was part of a broader effort to promote international engagement among future engineers and researchers. By bringing together voices from academic, professional, and institutional backgrounds, the webinar illustrated how different mobility paths (scientific cooperation, professional volunteering, or structured internships) can complement one another and create opportunities for both personal and professional development. 

The active participation of the students confirmed their strong interest in international experiences to deepen expertise and contribute to the global transition toward sustainable food systems. 

The Agrifood4Future team warmly thanks Marie Lelievre Seïté and the teaching staff of L’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers for hosting and facilitating this event, and for their continuous support in preparing the next generation of internationally oriented professionals. 

Learn more 

Organizations wishing to publish internship opportunities or students looking for international placements in the agrifood sector can find more information on the Agrifood4Future Mobility Platform: https://agrifood4future.com/mobility/  

For further details, contact:
Marina Diaz – marina.diaz@pole-valorial.fr