FutureFoodS

Why this project?

FutureFoodS is a European partnership focusing on the transition of European food production and consumption towards more sustainable and resilient systems. This partnership brings together experts, research institutes, businesses and policymakers to develop collective solutions to the complex challenges facing our food systems, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and food security.

By integrating pioneering technologies, circular economy principles and sustainability strategies, FutureFoodS aims to minimise the environmental footprint of food production, improve consumer health and ensure the economic viability of the food chain. The partnership is committed to innovation and knowledge sharing to achieve a resilient and sustainable future for Europe’s food systems.

The mission of FutureFoodS is to mobilise research and innovation in Europe to accelerate the transition from linear food chains to circular food systems within the boundaries of our planet.

Methodology and expected results

FutureFoodS is a 10-year Horizon Europe partnership striving for the sustainable future of food systems. There are four research themes:

• Changing the way we eat
• Changing the way we process and supply food
• Changing the way we connect to food systems
• Changing the way we manage food systems

European food systems are particularly complex. Using a system-based approach, we aim to identify all elements and interdependencies within food systems, including production, processing, packaging, logistics, marketing, retail, consumption and waste management, across regions and actors.

During the course of this partnership, six external project calls will be organised with topics based on a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, which will be continuously updated. A monitoring centre is being set up to monitor and analyse transitions in the food system. A participatory approach is being implemented to integrate all system actors, including policy. Living labs will play an essential role in this approach and will be connected in a network for gathering knowledge. Furthermore, activities will be organised for sharing knowledge, boosting and expanding the FutureFoodS network and increasing the impact of project activities and results.

Target group

This partnership is relevant to all actors involved in food systems, including production, processing, packaging, logistics, marketing, retail, consumption and waste management.

Project partners

FutureFoodS brings together 86 partners from 29 countries, including national and regional authorities, funding bodies, universities, research organisations, foundations and industrial clusters. The partnership is coordinated by the National Research Agency (ANR) in France, together with the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) in Germany. Flanders’ FOOD is managing the work package around the living labs network, together with the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS) in Poland. The partners from Flanders are Flanders’ FOOD, ILVO, VLAIO and FWO.

Keen to join?

More info on participating in the external calls can be found at:

Funding opportunities