Periodic Reporting for period 2 - FIT4FOOD2030 (Fostering Integration and Transformation for FOOD 2030)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2019-05-01 al 2020-12-31
FIT4FOOD2030 supported the EC’s FOOD 2030 policy framework. The main objective was to build a sustainable, multi-stakeholder FOOD2030 platform, mobilizing a wide variety of stakeholders from different sectors at the level of cities, regions, countries, and Europe. To reach this main goal, FIT4FOOD2030 aimed to (1) strengthen R&I policy coherence and alignment (2) build competences for food systems R&I, and (3) raise awareness. The established FOOD 2030 Platform comprises three interlinked structures: EU Think Tank, Policy Labs and City and Food Labs, which interact regularly to exchange information, learn from one another, and plan actions. To support the emerging platform current trends, policies, showcases and breakthroughs in food systems R&I were analysed. Some results of the project are the educational modules developed by the City Labs and research policy initiatives of the Policy Labs. The greatest achievement of the project is how it has already changed this system from within, by building and strengthening networks, raising awareness, empowering new groups of stakeholders, and establishing a new culture of collaboration. Worth emphasizing is the inclusion of new groups of stakeholders who have not traditionally been engaged in food-related activities, or who lack a voice in decision making, deliberation, and planning. In order to engender lasting and high-quality results, change needs to be driven by the energy derived from the well-informed engagement of a multitude of different actors joining forces in joint action. Herein lies the essential outcome of the FIT4FOOD2030 project.
A non-exhaustive summary
- WP1 organized 7 sessions for Policy Lab, 5 for City Lab and 2 for Food Lab coordinators to train them as change agents in the Labs. WP1 developed methodologies, exercises and tools (e.g. exercises on visioning a future-proof food system). WP1 led the establishment of the Taskforce for Impact (to align project activities to increase policy impact) and the working group on Tools for Transformation which developed the online repository of tools and methods in the FIT4FOOD2030 Knowledge Hub.
- WP2 delivered an overview of 60 trends in food systems (R&I) as well as an overview and analysis of over 460 food (R&I) related policies in the EU and its member states. These were translated into card games (Trends Cards and Policy Cards).
- WP3 identified over 150 cases in food systems R&I in and beyond the EU. In consultation with an expert group 16 potential showcases were selected, on three cases consensus was reached on their labelling as showcase, two were rejected and the others require further investigation. WP3 delivered two comprehensive reports looking at the 10 FOOD2030 pathways for action. One report analyzed these pathways, taking due account of FOOD2030 priorities and UN SDG/UNFCC objectives. The other report put forward a concise collection of actionable items aimed at accelerating food systems transformation and as a feedback for future innovation activities on 10 leverage areas.
- WP4 published an inventory of possible future R&I breakthroughs (available on the website). WP4 delivered an analysis of success factors, enablers and drivers for breakthroughs.WP4 developed a joint activity (tool) with SCAR Food Systems working group on the development of R&I roadmaps using foresight scenarios and the inventory of R&I breakthroughs, at national and EU level.
- WP5 established 11 Policy Labs, monitored the progress of the Labs and developed a Policy Handbook. All Labs achieved concrete outputs (e.g. policy briefs and holistic research agendas), as well as less tangible impacts such as a vibrant stakeholder network and raised awareness about the food systems approach. The EU-TT was established and produced four policy briefs. WP5 developed a Guideline for public funders about the implementation of RRI principles to improve the impact of research on food system transformation.
- WP6 provided support to twelve city-level and two regional-level City Labs in building competences on food systems (Responsible) R&I and raising awareness of initiatives and action plans among a wide-range of audiences. Concrete Lab outcomes include the diverse set of 20 competence-building modules, delivered to 2,500+ training recipients; several R&I Agendas and local Action Plans and priorities, and catalysis of local developments in 14 different corners of the EU.
- WP7 developed the FIT4FOOD2030 style, logo, templates, website and supervised the online (media) content of the project. WP7 developed a stakeholder engagement and dissemination plan and prepared newsletters to share with the FOOD 2030 Platform. WP7 prepared several (disseminated) video-clips, news-items and two-pagers about the project. WP7 launched the Sustainable Food Systems Network. WP7 organized high-level debates and scientific sessions to disseminate project outcomes and engage relevant stakeholders.
- WP8 set up the FOOD2030 stakeholder database and monitored the project's impact
- WP1 organized 7 sessions for Policy Lab, 5 for City Lab and 2 for Food Lab coordinators to train them as change agents in the Labs. WP1 developed methodologies, exercises and tools (e.g. exercises on visioning a future-proof food system). WP1 led the establishment of the Taskforce for Impact (to align project activities to increase policy impact) and the working group on Tools for Transformation which developed the online repository of tools and methods in the FIT4FOOD2030 Knowledge Hub.
- WP2 delivered an overview of 60 trends in food systems (R&I) as well as an overview and analysis of over 460 food (R&I) related policies in the EU and its member states. These were translated into card games (Trends Cards and Policy Cards).
- WP3 identified over 150 cases in food systems R&I in and beyond the EU. In consultation with an expert group 16 potential showcases were selected, on three cases consensus was reached on their labelling as showcase, two were rejected and the others require further investigation. WP3 delivered two comprehensive reports looking at the 10 FOOD2030 pathways for action. One report analyzed these pathways, taking due account of FOOD2030 priorities and UN SDG/UNFCC objectives. The other report put forward a concise collection of actionable items aimed at accelerating food systems transformation and as a feedback for future innovation activities on 10 leverage areas.
- WP4 published an inventory of possible future R&I breakthroughs (available on the website). WP4 delivered an analysis of success factors, enablers and drivers for breakthroughs.WP4 developed a joint activity (tool) with SCAR Food Systems working group on the development of R&I roadmaps using foresight scenarios and the inventory of R&I breakthroughs, at national and EU level.
- WP5 established 11 Policy Labs, monitored the progress of the Labs and developed a Policy Handbook. All Labs achieved concrete outputs (e.g. policy briefs and holistic research agendas), as well as less tangible impacts such as a vibrant stakeholder network and raised awareness about the food systems approach. The EU-TT was established and produced four policy briefs. WP5 developed a Guideline for public funders about the implementation of RRI principles to improve the impact of research on food system transformation.
- WP6 provided support to twelve city-level and two regional-level City Labs in building competences on food systems (Responsible) R&I and raising awareness of initiatives and action plans among a wide-range of audiences. Concrete Lab outcomes include the diverse set of 20 competence-building modules, delivered to 2,500+ training recipients; several R&I Agendas and local Action Plans and priorities, and catalysis of local developments in 14 different corners of the EU.
- WP7 developed the FIT4FOOD2030 style, logo, templates, website and supervised the online (media) content of the project. WP7 developed a stakeholder engagement and dissemination plan and prepared newsletters to share with the FOOD 2030 Platform. WP7 prepared several (disseminated) video-clips, news-items and two-pagers about the project. WP7 launched the Sustainable Food Systems Network. WP7 organized high-level debates and scientific sessions to disseminate project outcomes and engage relevant stakeholders.
- WP8 set up the FOOD2030 stakeholder database and monitored the project's impact
The project realized its formal impact criteria. The Policy and City Labs have organized workshops and meetings, where they have been working towards system understanding, developing visions, stakeholder engagement, as well as policy alignment (Policy Labs) and developing educational modules (City Labs). With regard to involving stakeholders, this entailed the direct active engagement in 50+ workshops, FIT4FOOD2030 events and numerous other engagements of over 800 policy makers; 1600 researchers/teachers; almost 700 (representatives of) businesses including farmers, start-ups and retail; over 250 consumers; almost 300 NGOs and almost 200 research funders; as well as indirect engagement of another 2,500 stakeholders and an online indirect engagement of over 288,000 on online platforms and social media. FIT4FOOD2030 has also transformed EU R&I in order to future-proof food systems through its activities. There are already examples of the project’s impact beyond the initial impact indicators: through the Romanian Policy Lab, FIT4FOOD2030 was involved in the Austria EU Presidency Event (workshops) and in the Romanian EU Presidency Event (workshop and a keynote presentation by the Coordinator). Furthermore, the project has linked up more strongly with the work and needs of the Commission, by for example organizing a high-level event at the World Food Day in 2019 together with FAO and WFP. Moreover, two (online) meetings on the interlinkages between the COVID-19 pandemic and food systems were organized by the coordinator together with the EU-TT. The final 18 months of the project were about scaling-up and realizing continuity as well as about widening and broadening stakeholder involvement. Of importance is the ways that the project has encouraged and empowered its participants to seek new ways forward that take into account the specific challenges of their local or national contexts. Finally, worth emphasizing is the high priority granted to learning in the project, serving as a mechanism both for empowerment and for finding context-specific solutions to context-specific challenges. This may serve as models for future projects of a similar type. Finally, learning was granted a high priority in the project, serving as a mechanism both for empowerment and for finding context-specific solutions to context-specific challenges. All of this may serve as models for future projects of a similar type.