Food systems are complex. They go far beyond farming and include everything from how food is produced, stored, and moved to how it is consumed and how waste is managed. These systems also touch on health, the environment, trade, culture, and policy. The choices made in one part of the food system often affect other parts, sometimes in ways that are not immediately visible.
At eProd, we work closely with agribusinesses, farmers, and cooperatives to help make their operations more efficient and transparent. But we also know that no single actor can improve a food system alone. As part of our commitment to understanding the wider food system, the entire eProd team joined the Food Systems E-Course, a free online course organized by the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP) in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research (WUR).
The course brought together participants from different backgrounds and regions, all working in various parts of the food system. It covered four key modules: Why a food systems approach matters, How to make food systems analysis work, The process of transforming food systems, and The governance needed to support transformation. Each module built on the last, helping us look beyond our immediate work and reflect on how food systems are shaped and reshaped by different actors, choices, and structures.
For us, the course created time and space to think more broadly. While much of our work involves technical solutions supporting agribusinesses with tools for data collection, farmer engagement, and traceability, It reminded us to consider the social, environmental, and political sides of the food system. It also raised important questions about who has a seat at the table and how more voices, especially from smallholder farmers, can be included in decision-making.
To close the course, a final reflection event was held on Thursday, 12th June 2025, and several of our team members attended. It was a valuable moment to connect with others, exchange experiences, and hear how people in different sectors are thinking about system-wide change. The discussions were grounded in real challenges and practical ideas for action.
“The course challenged us to think beyond our daily roles and ask deeper questions about the food system as a whole. It helped connect the dots between what we do at the company level and what is happening in the wider world of food and agriculture,” said Sandra Manyarkiy, Client Relations Officer at eProd.
We are grateful to the organisers for designing a course that brought global thinking into focus while staying relevant to the local realities we work in every day.
As we return to our day-to-day work, we carry forward the insights and reflections from the course. Whether by promoting more inclusive approaches, asking better questions, or being more mindful of long-term outcomes, we are more aware than ever of the role we play in shaping stronger and more responsive food systems.
For more information on how eProd can help you streamline your operations, reach out at info@eprod-solutions.com or call +254 112 203 982.