A dedicated and plant-focused leader says goodbye

It could just as easily have been a hospital that Anna Haldrup is retiring from. She got accepted into medical school but instead chose to train as a nurse. However, her fascination with genetic engineering and plant breeding drew her toward agronomy studies, and this fascination became the focal point of her entire career. Most recently, she held the role of department head at UCPH FOOD, a position she will step down from May 1.

It has been eight years of rapid development both in food science and the food industry, as well as in the role that food and food production play in the green transition. During these eight years, there has also been a significant increase in funding opportunities within plant-based foods and biosolutions. And Anna has been focused on strengthening the Department’s position in all of this.

"I had a clear goal from the start of shifting the institute toward more basic research and for us to become the main applicants on the really big research projects instead of being invited partners in others’. Another ambition of mine was to firmly establish ourselves in plant-based food research early on, because it was clear that our field and funding opportunities would move strongly in that direction, and students were increasingly requesting teaching in the area. And we've very much succeeded. Our two largest projects, for which we are the lead institutions, are about plant-based foods - produced sustainably and made so tasty that consumers will embrace them,” says Anna.

It’s been an absolutely fantastic time. There are so many kind and helpful people here at the Department. It's been a really wonderful work environment for me. People here are good at staying focused on the task...

The same proactive focus on shifting toward future-relevant areas where food research can play a key role has also been reflected in the Department’s study programs during Anna’s 8 years as leader. A plant specialization has been added to the master's program in Food Science and Technology, and in 2024 the Biosolutions master’s program was launched in Kalundborg - a collaboration between KU FOOD and the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN).

At the same time, Anna is proud of the collaboration with the dairy industry and the evolution of the 104-year-old dairy engineering program toward greater sustainability and internationalization.

An annoying question and a bittersweet goodbye

Anna’s career has taken her to both Danisco and Carlsberg, as well as previous roles as head of the Department of Plant Biology and as Deputy Director for Research and Innovation at the University of Copenhagen. But UCPH FOOD has left a special mark on her.

"It’s been an absolutely fantastic time. There are so many kind and helpful people here at the Department. It's been a really wonderful work environment for me. People here are good at staying focused on the task. And they're passionate about ensuring their research makes an impact, which has led to an extremely good collaboration with the industry. So, even though I’ve known for eight years that I’d eventually have to say goodbye, it’s still sad,” Anna says.

But even though it’s a bittersweet farewell, Anna is optimistic about FOOD’s future — the dedicated employees she has so appreciated remain at the institute, and a generational shift has taken place.

Anna also highlights that  FOOD also continues to be the lead institution on important research projects, and from leadership roles to tenure-track assistant professors to PhD students, the department is very well staffed.

What life as a retiree will bring is a bit harder for her to answer:
“It’s an annoying question, because I don’t know. I don’t know how much I should look forward to it or how much I should be terrified,” she says with a smile, and continues:

“I need to practice taking time off and try to enjoy the flexibility I’ll have in my calendar. I definitely want to spend more time with my family and friends and get more exercise. But I think it will be hard to completely step away from my time as department head, so I also hope I can find a way to use my knowledge and network going forward — for example, to facilitate collaborations between the university and industry,” Anna concludes.