The Food Systems team at Ecologic Institute, a private, not-for-profit research entity based in Berlin, is looking to join a consortium that plans to submit a proposal for Topic 1 of the FutureFoodS Call 2024.

Our contributions to a project in the frame of the FutureFoodS Partnership could focus on the following themes:

A) Research on socio-economic dynamics for sustainability transformations: We investigate socio-economic, ecological and cultural dimensions, identifying leverage points and barriers to sustainable and resilient food systems. Our research examines critical factors shaping food system transitions, such as socio-cultural drivers of dietary shifts towards more plant-based diets. We emphasize a holistic perspective that integrates equity, profitability, and accessibility, while addressing the broader systemic impacts of these transformations.

B) Multi-stakeholder engagement and participatory approaches: We leverage our extensive network to foster collaboration and co-create solutions. With strong connections to practitioners across Germany’s food value chains, we design and lead participatory processes (e.g., Living Labs, Q-method studies) that promote cooperation and deliver actionable outcomes. Our expertise includes organizing stakeholder dialogues and professional events to facilitate knowledge exchange and support impactful decision-making.

C) Evaluation of policies, practices, and governance: We assess the effectiveness of policies, governance frameworks, and practical approaches to support sustainable and equitable food system transitions and promote a bioeconomy. We aim to bridge policy and practice, analyzing topics like the impact of agricultural subsidies and working on model projects and living labs to test innovative solutions in real-world contexts. Our approach addresses fragmentation and polarization while fostering systemic improvements. Through three successive EU projects, coordinated by Ecologic Institute, we leverage our expertise in sustainable resource management, participatory strategy development, and regional development to support the implementation of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, as well as of national and regional bioeconomy strategies across Europe.

Ecologic Institute dedicates itself to working in societal-political aspects of sustainability research. Innovative research approaches, practical relevance, and a transdisciplinary working style ensure the scientific quality and societal relevance of our work. Multi-stakeholder engagement is a core component of the projects we are implementing.

For more information on Ecologic Institute’s Food Systems team, please visit https://www.ecologic.eu/food.