Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FOODPathS (Co-creating the prototype 'Sustainable FOOD Systems PArTnersHip')
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-06-01 bis 2023-11-30
The food sector increasingly is impacted by climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss, hunger, malnutrition, diet-related diseases, food and packaging waste and safety, scarcity of fresh water and (renewable) resources, ecosystem services, social and economic inequalities, political tensions, and safeguarding food cultural heritage. Considering today’s severe crises, an accelerated transition to sustainable food systems in Europe is imperative, while preserving the richness of our food cultural heritage. Therefore, the EC with the Member States aims to establish the ‘Partnership on Sustainable Food Systems (P-SFS) for people, planet and climate’. This Partnership should be able to confront challenges via co-funded R&I projects and food system approaches.
The CSA Project ‘FOODPathS’ main objective is to design the ‘Prototype Sustainable Food Systems Partnership’. The Prototype serves as the first version of HOW the future Partnership may function from 2024 onwards. To develop the Prototype, FOODPathS aims (i) to elaborate co-creation processes, system approaches, modus operandi, and governance models, (ii) to build a co-funding network and align funding strategies, (iii) to explore collaboration between diverse actors in a network of Food System labs, (iv) to establish an EU branded network of university-driven local food ecosystems, (v) to align strategic R&I agendas, science to Policy processes & Education (RIPE), (vi) to Green-Deal EU-widely, globally and locally for co-benefits and trade-offs, and (vii) to build a Partnership through communication, dissemination & exploitation.
The CSA Project ‘FOODPathS’ main objective is to design the ‘Prototype Sustainable Food Systems Partnership’. The Prototype serves as the first version of HOW the future Partnership may function from 2024 onwards. To develop the Prototype, FOODPathS aims (i) to elaborate co-creation processes, system approaches, modus operandi, and governance models, (ii) to build a co-funding network and align funding strategies, (iii) to explore collaboration between diverse actors in a network of Food System labs, (iv) to establish an EU branded network of university-driven local food ecosystems, (v) to align strategic R&I agendas, science to Policy processes & Education (RIPE), (vi) to Green-Deal EU-widely, globally and locally for co-benefits and trade-offs, and (vii) to build a Partnership through communication, dissemination & exploitation.
Initial work performed and main achievements are the following. Firstly, an interactive funders map and network with a multitude of funding organizations are created for exchanges on how to implement a systems approach and align funding strategies. Secondly, an extensive mapping study of 70+ case studies is carried out using the structure of a game; this has been partly explored in several Living Lab workshops. To understand the functioning of different food systems (and their approaches), relationships are established between food actors (‘players’), their food handling activities (moves), used products (‘pieces’), geographic-socio-cultural contexts (‘playing fields’), duration of actions (‘time’), (un-) sustainable outcomes (‘win/loose’), regulations, ambitions, and R&I co-funding options (‘rules’). Third, using existing ranking schemes, universities have been listed based on their sustainability performance; additionally, a review has been made of food system education programs from elementary levels to life-long learning. Fourth, under the supervision of the SCAR Strategic Working Group on Food Systems, a consolidated Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) is written and published. The SRIA serves as the backbone for the future Partnership and includes suggestions from over 250 experts and food system actors. Fifth, activities have been performed to engage with both local and global organizations and initiatives discussing trade-offs and co-benefits; this leads to the establishment of mirror groups around the globe. Finally, numerous communication and dissemination actions are undertaken to interact with the diversity of actors potentially interested and involved in the future Partnership. Their voices and active participation are highly needed in the transition towards SFS.
Results beyond the state of the arts are in particular the following. The number of funding organizations already committed to joining the Network of Funders and the future Partnership on Sustainable Food Systems is substantial. The diversity and list of performed food system cases around Europe – using a new, standardized, methodology – provides a wealth of information on e.g. co-creation, governance, co-benefits, education practices, and multi-actor approaches of public, private, academic, philanthropic, and non-governmental actors, and their networks, locally till globally. Broad audience-oriented event presentations, social network actions, Sustainable Food Systems Network events, press releases, podcasts, leaflets, etc. reflect the relevance of FOODPathS and the creation of the future P-SFS. The preparation of the SRIA, co-coordinated by FOODPathS, and its direct usage in the future P-SFS – without modifications – should be noted here as well.