Transition to more sustainable and health-promoting agri-food systems

The agri-food system is an important part of the bioeconomy, food security and our daily lives. At the same time, we find sustainability challenges at all stages from production, processing, distribution, trade to consumption. There is a need for greater diversity in what we produce and where we can buy food, and to achieve more local and circular solutions. There are different views on what a sustainable development direction entails. We explore the barriers and opportunities that play a role in the transition to more sustainable and health-promoting agri-food systems. We are engaged in projects related to direct sales channels for local, preferably organic, food. Initiatives such as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), REKO networks and direct sales to restaurants, public institutions, etc. often represent sustainable alternatives to "mainstream" trade. These types of initiatives often involve more sustainable production, consumption and diet, including a more plant-based diet.

Furthermore, we have a special focus on the opportunities that lie in cross-sectoral collaboration to promote a transformation of the food system, such as within inclusion, job training, food provision in schools and kindergartens, awareness raising, education, as well as waste management and recycling of waste resources in a circular economy. We collaborate with public entities at different levels, farmers, organizations and other social actors.

In some of the projects we have an action research approach and use tools for good dialogue and co-creation. This allows us to bring out multiple perspectives on challenges, opportunities and what can be done to achieve increased sustainability and innovative solutions. We often use elements from the Living Labs approach in such projects.

We also conduct evaluations and trailing research on various measures and initiatives, for example evaluations agricultural policy environmental measures, trailing research of experiments with bioeconomy program subjects in high schools, and trailing research on the introduction of co-creation in municipalities.