Professor, Dr. Scient. Flemming Besenbacher is Chairman of the Board of Carlsberg Group and the Carlsberg Foundation and Deputy Chairman of Innovation Fund Denmark. He is a recognized and highly cited scientist associated with the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) at Aarhus University.

All though Denmark is a small country, we have proven that we provide intelligent and efficient solutions to the world’s global challenges. We are leading within circular economy, but now, my ambition is, that we must also take the lead when it comes to food waste and food loss. Researchers have concluded, that as an individual, the greatest contribution one can make is to reduce ones food waste, and the UN has identified it as one of the 17 sustainable development goals, so the potential is enormous. We must embrace this challenge and utilize our ability to work across sectors and think innovatively in order to contribute with solutions, which can prevent food waste and food loss and make progress that will benefit the entire world.

Birgitte is Secretary General of DanChurchAid, one of Denmark's largest independent humanitarian organizations working to alleviate poverty in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. 

In DanChurchAid we are working on two levels to prevent and reduce food waste: Internationally through our work on enhancing small farmers’ access to markets and strengthen ethical trade in global supplier networks from some of the world’s poorest countries in Africa and Asia. In Denmark we contribute through our three Wefood stores, by cooperation with suppliers and business partners, with our knowledge regarding concrete steps for reducing food waste, specifically against Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 about reduction of food waste, and we offer Danish customers the option to shop sustainably.

With my involvement in this think tank I want to further the synergy between Danish and international agendas. I can draw on my own and DanChurchAid’s experience and link to the achievements gained by local and Danish business’, authorities and civil society organisations in the world, e.g. through P4G and World Food Summit.

Christine is Head of Department, National Food Institute, DTU, a trained human biologist, Ph.D. from the University of Copenhagen and MBA from DTU Business. The institute's tasks are lifted in an interdisciplinary collaboration between the disciplines nutrition, chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, epidemiology and technology.

One of the three vision statements at the National Food Institute, DTU, is to produce sustainable technological solutions within food production. Unfortunately, food production has an impact on climate and we need to do better. The solutions to these challenges are also needed to make it possible to feed the growing population and promote food safety and healthy food.

The possibilities for the think tank are great as we have experience in Denmark with solutions across disciplines and across different sectors. Together governmental agencies, industries and universities have had successes and been able to solve societal challenges in the past. Food waste and food loss are global challenges. Hopefully, we will be able to show initiatives that can inspire other countries and sectors as well.