Last week, the EU Innovation Action project FoodSHIFT 2030, funded by H2020 in line with the EU Food 2030 Policy Framework, has announced it will focus on post-COVID-19 solutions as part of the ongoing project strategy on transforming the food system. The project has established a dedicated COVID-19 Task Force, focused on supporting the project’s nine FoodSHIFT Accelerator Labs in implementing solutions at the citizen level to address the short, medium and long-term impacts of COVID-19. The project itself launched amidst the crisis – the kick-off event was held late Februrary in Copenhagen with participation of EU officers Alessandro Chiodini and Tatiana Tallarico.

• The FoodSHIFT2030 project (EU Horizon 2020 programme) is leading an ambitious citizen-driven transition of the European food system towards a low carbon, circular future even during COVID-19 lockdown.
• The project has established a dedicated COVID-19 Task Force, focused on
  supporting the FoodSHIFT Accelerator Labs in implementing solutions and initiating actions to address the short, medium and long-term impacts of COVID-19.
• In order to become better prepared for multiple waves of COVID-19 as well as other similar or even more severe crisis in the future, we need to start transforming and rebuilding our food system by increasing its
  sustainability, diversity and resilience.
• By contributing to the development of more efficient and sustainable food
  systems, healthy food consumption and citizen empowerment, the FoodSHIFT 2030 project will support EU Farm to Fork Strategy.

FoodSHIFT 2030 under COVID-19 and lock-down

Despite a Europe-wide lockdown, the newly established FoodSHIFT Accelerator Labs have been active during the crisis: Barcelona 3D printed PPE for food sector workers; Greater Athens Lab distributed food for free to vulnerable groups and Avignon provided food for the elderly and homeless in collaboration with a food bank. In Brasov, new food brands promoting local products have appeared and in Copenhagen there has been a surge in alternative logistical solutions to local food supply with urban restaurants, bars and cafés providing delivery services.

Project coordinator Christian Bugge Henriksen from the Climate and Food Security Research Group at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen says he has been impressed with the level of ongoing activity and it makes sense to incorporate learnings into the future of the FoodSHIFT 2030 project:

“We have all found ourselves in a new reality where we need to address both the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on the European food system. In the short-term we need to adapt and respond by reducing the spread of COVID-19 and supporting the food sector and their workers. In the medium term we need to mitigate and recover by ensuring continuous access to sustainable, healthy and affordable food, especially for vulnerable citizens. In order to become better prepared for the future, we need to start transforming and rebuilding our food system by increasing its sustainability, diversity and resilience. The FoodSHIFT2030 project is more relevant than ever, and we are united in our efforts to transform the European food system to better meet the needs of Europeans and the planet!”

About FoodSHIFT 2030

The FoodSHIFT2030 project is leading an ambitious citizen-driven transition of the European food system towards a low carbon, circular future, including a shift to less meat and more plant-based diets. The FoodSHIFT2030 approach focuses on supporting innovation towards a fast transition of the European food system by 2030, which is necessary in order to address the pressing challenges for food and nutrition security, contribute to the EU commitment of reducing GHG emissions by at least 40% by 2030, and revitalize urban-rural linkages and partnerships to secure the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. By contributing to the development of more efficient and sustainable food systems, healthy food consumption and citizen empowerment, the FoodSHIFT 2030 project will support the EU Farm to Fork Strategy.

FoodSHIFT2030 is a 7.5€ million Innovation Action project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme addressing the CE SFS 24 2019 call on innovative and citizen driven food system approaches in cities. It brings together leading food innovation companies and NGOs, municipal governments and research institutes to support the transformative power of citizens engaged in developing innovative and sustainable food system solutions. The project focus is citizens, it will establish and operationalize nine FoodSHIFT Accelerator Labs and 27 FoodSHIFT Enabler Labs in 36 city regions across Europe.

HCC contact: Raluca Barbu, raluca@highclere-consulting.com, 0742.222.298

 

AMB contact: Cătălin Frangulea, catalin.frangulea@metropolabrasov.ro

 

ICEBERG contact: Miruna Mureșan, miruna.muresan@iceberg.plus