“Real change happens only when we work as a collective”
As ad interim Director of Higher Education at Aeres and Chair of the Steering Committee of the Centre of Expertise Groen (CoE Groen), Patricia de Cocq works at the heart of the Netherlands’ green education and practice-driven research ecosystem. Aeres is unique in offering the full green education pathway, providing a broad view of the sector.
Within CoE Groen, Aeres collaborates with the three other green universities of applied sciences; Van Hall Larenstein, HAS green academy and Inholland. Together, they form a nationwide network conducting practice-oriented research with regional partners while aligning methods and themes across institutions. This creates something powerful: regional nuance combined with national learning.
A matrix of expertise: from sectors to system transitions
CoE Groen operates through a matrix structure that brings together both thematic depth and cross-sector collaboration. One pillar focuses on strengthening the research organisation itself, professionalisation, quality assurance, shared identity and strategic positioning.
The other pillar brings lector groups together across four main domains: plant, animal, food and nature & living environment. These are complemented by cross-cutting platforms on themes such as soil, biodiversity, climate adaptation and system transitions, topics that naturally transcend individual sectors.
“Soil, for example, touches multiple fields,” de Cocq notes. “What matters is identifying the expertise we collectively hold and applying it where it creates the most value.”
Practice-based research: powerful, but inherently complex
A distinguishing feature of the green universities of applied sciences is their emphasis on real-world, practice-oriented research. Instead of controlling variables in laboratory conditions, researchers work directly with farmers, SMEs and regional partners. This makes the work highly relevant, but also complex.
“In practice-based research, you work within the real circumstances you encounter,” de Cocq explains. “Those circumstances differ from region to region. That makes it harder to standardise and compare results, so aligning our approaches is crucial.”
This alignment has enabled CoE Groen to build collective insights into topics such as regenerative agriculture and nature-inclusive business models. Multi-regional research into soil health, for example, has helped clarify which regenerative interventions work best under which conditions. Another recurring insight is the decisive role of the individual entrepreneur, which has directly informed new training programmes such as nature-inclusive entrepreneurship.
Preparing future professionals
The green universities aim to equip students with a broad understanding of the agricultural and food system, helping them make informed choices rather than follow a single prescribed model. At the same time, interest in green programmes is declining nationwide, putting pressure on the sector’s future workforce and challenging institutions to stay both agile and clear in their educational offerings.
Within ReGeNL, CoE Groen plays a key human capital role, representing four universities of applied sciences, including vocational agricultural education. On the ReGeNL steering committee, Patricia brings the perspective of applied research and green education.
Why CoE Groen joined Next Food Collective
For CoE Groen, joining Next Food Collective (NFC) was driven by two convictions. First, the organisation wants to add value to the businesses and organisations that operate in the real world. Second, systemic change requires systemic participation.
“You can’t transform the food system from one place,” de Cocq says. “You need to be part of the wider system, and that’s exactly what NFC offers.”
At the same time, the role of universities of applied sciences within the broader food ecosystem is still evolving. Practice-based research is powerful but not always fully recognised. Lifelong learning presents major opportunities but is not yet fully embedded. And collaboration with large corporates requires new forms of partnership.
The healthy food environment: an urgent but under-addressed issue
One topic de Cocq believes deserves more focus within NFC is the healthy food environment. She sees it as urgent but under-addressed, and one that requires involving new stakeholders, such as health insurers, hospitals and public health agencies, because many of the benefits ultimately emerge in the healthcare domain. NFC, she notes, can play an important role in bringing these parties together.
Bridging regional SME networks with national programmes
The green universities have strong ties with regional SMEs, which often move faster than large national innovation programmes. This difference in pace can create tension, but also opportunity. “Speed is a real factor,” de Cocq notes. “Rather than letting different tempos pull us apart, we should think about how to weave them together.” She sees a clear role for NFC in helping to make these connections more intentional.
Looking ahead: collective ambition
Looking ahead, de Cocq highlights several priorities for both the sector and NFC: making the value of practice-based research more visible, strengthening links with the healthcare domain, attracting new talent and responding more quickly to emerging challenges. Above all, she stresses the need for collaboration.
“Real change happens only when we act as a collective,” she says. “Everyone, researchers, businesses, public organisations, will need to step outside their comfort zones.”
“If we take that step together, we can create a food system that is healthier, more resilient and truly future-proof.”