Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Data4Food2030 (Pathways towards a fair, inclusive and innovative Data Economy for Sustainable Food Systems)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-03-01 al 2025-08-31
The Data4Food2030 project aims to improve the data economy for food systems (DE4FS) by expanding its definition, mapping its development, performance and impact to create new insights and opportunities for a more competitive and sustainable food system in the EU and supports implementation and adaptation of relevant policies such as a Digital Single Market, Green Deal and the Common Agricultural Policy. Data4Food2030 aims to 1) enlarge the knowledge base and insight into the DE4FS, 2) develop a system that monitors and evaluates the development, performance and impact of the DE4FS on relevant EU policies 3) identify drivers and barriers and tum these into opportunities, recommendations and solutions, 4) test solutions and evaluate recommendations in case studies and through stakeholder dialogues and 5) provide future scenarios and a roadmap and sustain the monitoring system to support policy development and accelerate the desired future state of the DE4FS. Data4Food2030's approach is targeted at an improved future state of the DE4FS from which clear design principles, recommendations and solutions are derived for improving and adapting policies and practices at public and private level. As an essential part of the project, stakeholders are deeply engaged to provide input to various DE4FS concepts and evaluate several project outcomes to increase the impact of the project. Nine case studies provide real-life examples of the DE4FS at micro- and meso-economic level, deploying data and technologies, which are used for mapping and improvement to promote data-enabled business models. In this way, Data4Food2030 creates credible pathways to navigate properly through the twilight zone towards a fair, inclusive and innovative DE4FS.
Following an iterative and multi-actor approach, an open knowledge base is being developed based on; 3 versions of a definition for the DE4FS and the conceptual framework, validated with a large range of stakeholders from many disciplines and roles and through collaboration with the 9 case studies and key stakeholders. To make sure that the knowledge base does not only concern economic and technological aspects of the DE4FS, environmental, ethical, legal and societal aspects (ELSA) such as fairness, inclusiveness and the quality of human and social life are also being researched in the form of literature reviews. Nine 90-minute interviews were conducted for the nine case studies to explore Ethical, Legal, and Societal Aspects (ELSA) of key DE4FS technologies. Preliminary findings reveal strong links to conceptual frameworks, including critiques of the current linear, segmented value chain and calls for a shift toward holistic value loops aligned with open, interoperable data-sharing practices. Through literature reviews on business models, EU strategies, societal readiness, governance, and values, we applied the PESTEL framework to analyze drivers and barriers, validate insights through case studies, and deliver scientific outputs such as an accepted Springer book (draft by year-end) and cross-WP papers to ensure future contribution to the scientific community. The Monitor presents qualitative information and quantitative indicators to visualise and monitor the development of the DE4FS in several ‘dimensions’ of the DE4FS on a macro level, for EU member states and at the meso/micro level for case studies. In parallel, the project built the first models that support scenario simulations and impact forecasts. A system dynamics model, designed to analyse food system behaviour across global contexts whicn will be integrated with relevant data sources. Stakeholders have been identified and mapped into now 10 different categories. Through interview and scenario workshops stakeholders from the target groups were able to participate in key dialogues about their ideas and concerns about the DE4FS and provide their experiences with the DE4FS. Values, needs, interest and concerns related to the DE4FS led to 3 scenarios for the future DE4FS. Many activities took place inside the case study consortia, which are projects on their own, each aiming to share data from specific parts of the food system to represent to different types of stakeholders in the agri-food domain. Collaboration between the real life examples of the DE4FS (the case studies) continues to a better understanding of the concepts of data spaces and Data Sharing Initiatives (DSIs) and the interaction between case studies.
After the previous working definition of the DE4FS (Source: Conceptual Framework of the DE4FS - online webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZU43u-1k-A(si apre in una nuova finestra)) the updated Definition is more tangible and connects to the value creation aspect of where the food and data ecosystems overlap in the context in which they are developed, including societal expectations, natural constraints, existing regulations, and stakeholders’ demands.
While the term “data economy” is new for many food system stakeholders, they are aware of the role of data in their daily professional lives. Still, many stakeholders experience limited control and influence on data economy processes.
Source: Infographic – Stakeholder dialogues (Data4Food02030 website - https://data4food2030.eu/stakeholder-dialogue/(si apre in una nuova finestra))
The Monitor offers a comprehensive knowledge base on the data economy for food systems, covering state-of-play, trends, impacts, projects, and resources. It provides insights at both European country level and on data-sharing initiatives, helping assess development, structure, and improvement opportunities for institutions and businesses. Registered initiatives can benchmark themselves to understand their status, explore directions for growth, and better leverage DE4FS options. https://monitor.data4food2030.eu/(si apre in una nuova finestra)
While the term “data economy” is new for many food system stakeholders, they are aware of the role of data in their daily professional lives. Still, many stakeholders experience limited control and influence on data economy processes.
Source: Infographic – Stakeholder dialogues (Data4Food02030 website - https://data4food2030.eu/stakeholder-dialogue/(si apre in una nuova finestra))
The Monitor offers a comprehensive knowledge base on the data economy for food systems, covering state-of-play, trends, impacts, projects, and resources. It provides insights at both European country level and on data-sharing initiatives, helping assess development, structure, and improvement opportunities for institutions and businesses. Registered initiatives can benchmark themselves to understand their status, explore directions for growth, and better leverage DE4FS options. https://monitor.data4food2030.eu/(si apre in una nuova finestra)