In honour of the 40th anniversary of EU programmes for Research & Innovation, such as H2020 and Horizon Europe, Prof. Jacqueline Broerse, director of the Athena Institute, showcases the achievements of their food systems transformations projects.
Prof. Broerse, coordinator of the FIT4FOOD2030 and FoodCLIC projects highlights that successful food systems transformations require more than just integrating knowledge from science, policy, and practice.
In a feature by Universiteiten van Nederland, she emphasizes that co-designing and co-implementing strategies to produce, acquire, and distribute food, along with using reflexive learning approaches, tend to make food system changes more effective and lasting. Engaging the various stakeholders involved in these processes, creates habits that become embedded in their daily lives and eventually their communities. And reflecting on whether and why new processes work can reinforce synergies and mitigate potential conflicts. Reflexivity and co-design are especially important in ensuring that food-deprived communities and vulnerable groups benefit from the food policies meant to support them. As Prof. Broerse says,
"The important work in FIT4FOOD on bridging the gap between science, policy and practice is now continued in FoodCLIC through a reflexive process of co-designing and co-implementing real-life interventions in food distribution and markets, urban agriculture, and food procurement that deliver co-benefits, and result in integrated food policies."
The FoodCLIC project will continue to contribute to making healthy and sustainable foods are available, affordable, and attractive to all citizens in urban food environments via Living Labs throughout Europe.
For more information about these projects and other food systems research conducted at the Athena Institute in Amsterdam, navigate to their website.