To coordinate EU food policy priorities, the EU-funded FOODPathS project began last Friday with seventeen key organizations in the network. The project will create a prototype of the “Partnership for Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) for people, planet and climate” – a new European governance model to co-finance future research and innovation (R & D) activities at local, national and regional levels. the EU. level. As European food systems are affected by complex challenges that require a systemic approach, FOODPathS creates a powerful network with various public and private entities to facilitate the transition of food systems.
“FOODPathS will catalyze collective action leading to future sustainable food systems in Europe; at the same time, we want to strengthen the rich food cultural heritage of EU Member States in a sustainable way!” Said Hugo De Vries, director of research at INRAE and coordinator of the FOODPathS project.
A powerful network, involving all actors is key to changing our food systems
The transition to more sustainable and healthy food systems depends on the interactions between all actors in the food system. However, the different perspectives and interests of the actors can easily lead to barriers. To overcome them, we need coordinated R&D actions and good practices, changing the way we produce, process and eat food, connect citizens with food production and govern food systems in Europe.
Through FOODPathS, researchers, NGOs, policy makers, citizens and entrepreneurs will participate in the creation of a first version of the Association. This includes the creation of a strategic roadmap setting out the research priorities to be co-funded over the coming years. In addition, the project will explore various concepts of Living Lab, which put users at the center of innovation processes through real-life environments. These co-creation projects aim to involve various stakeholders at different levels. FOODPathS will then play a key role in understanding, demonstrating, and monitoring the sustainability performance of food systems. FOODPathS will also support knowledge transfer through improved training networks, courses and outreach activities.
The FOODPathS consortium also hopes to connect with other networks and stakeholders to help each other to facilitate the transition of food systems.
FOODPathS partners
- INRAE - National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (France)
- University of Aarhus (Denmark)
- Jülich Research Center (Germany)
- FoodDrinkEurope (Belgium)
- ANIA – National Association of Food Industries (France)
- FIAB – Spanish Federation of food and beverage industries (Spain)
- Confagriculture (Italy)
- EFFoST (Netherlands)
- Polish Academy of Sciences – Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development (Poland)
- ICLEI (Germany)
- Cariplo Foundation (Italy)
- European Foundation Center (Belgium)
- EUFIC – European Food Information Council (Belgium)
- ZonMw (Netherlands)
- ISEKI-Food Association (Austria)
- Transfer INRAE (France)
- Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
Source:
EUFIC – European Food Information Council