BarcelonaSummer Study Tour

Required Course(s)
Food, Taste, and Waste

On this week-long Study Tour, our classroom moves to the Spanish region of Catalonia, into the urban gourmet vibe of Barcelona and along the coast. We see the theories of our course come to life as we follow sustainable thinkers, chefs, artists, and entrepreneurs in search of the ethic taste of food.

The Mediterranean diet is known for being healthy and rich in taste, regional products, and ancient food culture. However, little is said about Spain’s huge vegetable export, and the impact of the past 50 years of agriculture on the soil, the Mediterranean Sea, and sea life.

Although there is a deep sense of identity connected to the different and unique lifestyles and food of the Spanish regions – from coastal towns to mountain villages – one overarching theme is connecting of all these regions: The current dilemma of food waste and excessive consumption. On this Study Tour, we closely study the human relationship with food and good taste, as well as the consumer’s understanding of the waste which we leave behind us.

Tour Objectives

  • Learn about food waste challenges in Northern and Southern Europe
  • Gain an understanding of the cultural challenges that underlie improving sustainable agriculture and consumption
  • Deep dive into Spanish food culture and the identities that are closely connected to each region

Possible Activities

  • Visit the busy food mecca of Barcelona with traditional food markets as well as newly established sustainable and biodynamic vegetable sellers
  • Experience idyllic coastal towns and inland farms where thinkers have thought about how good food is produced with patience and passion
  • Meet with reconservation agronomists to learn about regenerating the soil in a Catalan field