This article outlines the main conclusions from Chapter 6 of the FOSTER deliverable, which addresses R&I policy support options for furthering food systems science at national, regional and local level in the EU. You can access the complete deliverable on the FOSTER website here.

The chapter titled “Governance and Policy Towards FOKIS” asserts that the shift from AKIS to FOKIS is a crucial step in advancing the transformation of food systems. This evolution demands not only technological improvements but also comprehensive structural changes and the meaningful inclusion of a broader range of knowledge contributors. By reconfiguring knowledge and innovation systems to be more integrated, equitable, and systemic, we can support the development of a food future that is sustainable, fair, and resilient.

Imagine the entire process that brings food from farms to our tables as a big system called AKIS-the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System. Right now, AKIS mostly connects farmers, researchers, and businesses, helping them share knowledge and new ideas about agriculture. This system is important for making farming more effective, sustainable, and competitive, especially in Europe, where each country has its own AKIS network involving farmers, advisors, researchers, agribusinesses, and government agencies.

However, if we want our food system to be truly sustainable, fair, and able to handle future challenges, experts say we need to move beyond AKIS and create something broader: a Food-Oriented Knowledge and Innovation System, or FOKIS. FOKIS would include everyone involved in the food system-not just the usual players like farmers and scientists, but also people whose voices are often left out, such as food workers, local communities, people of color, immigrants, and those with lower incomes.

Currently, the way food systems are managed often leaves out important perspectives and types of knowledge. Rules and decision-making processes can be disconnected, making it hard to solve big problems like food insecurity, climate change, and inequality. To fix this, FOKIS would connect science, government policies, and real-world experiences in new ways. It would encourage collaboration across different sectors and levels of society, making sure that everyone’s knowledge and needs are considered.

A key part of FOKIS is breaking down barriers between groups. For example, community-driven initiatives (CDIs) are groups working to make positive changes in the food system, such as promoting local food, supporting small farmers, or advancing sustainable practices. But these groups often struggle to get funding or have a say in how things are run, because existing power structures favor large businesses and established institutions. Strengthening the links between CDIs, government, and researchers is essential for making real progress.

FOKIS also calls for a new approach to policy. Instead of top-down decisions, where a few people make the rules, FOKIS supports more inclusive decision-making. This means involving people at all levels-local, regional, and national-and valuing different kinds of expertise, from academic research to hands-on farming experience. Policies should be flexible, open to learning, and focused on long-term solutions that benefit everyone, not just a select few.

Another challenge is the narrow way food innovation is often viewed. Right now, innovation tends to focus on producing more food or making farming more efficient. While these are important goals, FOKIS argues that we also need to think about healthy farming practices, local food systems, and the social and environmental impacts of our choices. For example, agroecology-farming that works with nature rather than against it-should be part of the conversation. So should the global impact of European food choices, ensuring they don’t harm people in poorer countries.

FOKIS emphasizes fairness. It’s not enough to simply invite more people to the table; we must also address power imbalances that keep some voices from being heard. This means listening to those who have practical knowledge about sustainable farming, as well as people who face food insecurity, including immigrants, indigenous groups, and low-income communities. Past efforts to make the food system more inclusive have often failed because they didn’t value these perspectives or give them real influence.

The European Union has policies that encourage broader participation, but more needs to be done. Research and innovation should be used in practical ways that help everyone, not just businesses or governments. CDIs, like those in the FOSTER project, are already working to build a more inclusive food system by sharing knowledge and skills with people who are often left out. They face challenges such as working across borders, dealing with power imbalances, and being recognized by government agencies. Their connections with large technology, media, and finance companies are limited, showing a gap between grassroots efforts and powerful industries-a gap that needs to be closed.

So, what would a successful FOKIS look like? It would treat the food system as a connected web, valuing all types of knowledge from cities to farms. Government policies would be joined up at every level, focused on a clear vision for the future, and able to adapt as new challenges arise. Fairness would be central, with efforts to fix power imbalances and ensure everyone can participate. Strong networks would bring together people with different views to find common ground and work toward change.

The current food system, dominated by big business and long-standing ways of doing things, is under pressure to change. In the past, there was hope that we could balance making money with protecting the environment, but this hasn’t solved major problems because it ignored the limits of natural resources. Now, there’s a growing realization that we need more than just small fixes-we need to rethink the basic rules and who gets to make decisions.

Real transformation means focusing on people and their ability to drive change, not just fitting them into existing systems. The EU should listen to what marginalized groups need to truly change the system, rather than just making minor improvements. Moving toward a food system that is environmentally friendly and fair will require effort, adaptability, and cooperation across all levels of society.

By putting these ideas into practice, Europe can create a food system that is not only more sustainable, but also more resilient, democratic, and inclusive for future generations.

On May 20–23, FOSTER hosted its third Summer School in Sopron, Hungary, welcoming around 38 participants, including project partners from academia and CDIs (Change-Driven Initiatives), and external experts affiliated with CDIs. The FOSTER partners continued their joint efforts to transform food systems.

The FOSTER Summer School aims to cultivate mutual understanding, a shared vocabulary, and meaningful application of transformation concepts.

This year, the project focused on:

• Understanding how CDI partners are navigating food system transformation;
• Pinpointing synergies between FOSTER and CDIs;
• Learning from one another to strengthen CDIs` transformation processes.

The first day started with a comprehensive revisit of key transformation concepts, referencing themes introduced during the pre-Summer School webinar. Discussions focused on the importance of setting clear objectives and timelines, revisiting tools, and drawing lessons from prior Summer School experiences. This set the stage for re-aligning with FOSTER’s overarching mission.

Following this, project members shared updates on their ongoing work and collaboratively planned next steps for upcoming activities.

In the afternoon, project members conducted a local field visit to meet with three Hungarian food producers. These producers offered diverse perspectives on implementing transformative practices in food systems—local farmers and producers, scaling their operations and exploring innovative production methods. These exchanges illuminated key enablers and barriers to driving transformation on the ground.

To document the day and support reflection and outreach efforts, brief interviews with project members were carried out.

You can explore the Summer School video and watch the interviews below.

The second day marked a series of sessions, led by the FOSTER CDIs in cooperation with the project partners, each exploring a critical theme in food systems transformation.

One of the central themes explored during the session was the necessity of transformations within the food system, with a particular focus on the specific areas each CDI is actively working to change. Participants examined both systemic barriers and opportunities for change, highlighting diverse approaches to creating a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system.

Each CDI showcased their strategic priorities and explained the key areas in which they are actively working to implement transformational changes, aligned with the organization’s broader goals.

During the discussion, an important question was raised regarding the nature of the CDIs engagement with policies and policymakers. This prompted a broader reflection on how CDIs position themselves within the policy landscape. As part of this process, each CDI was encouraged to reflect on their existing connections with policies and policymakers by outlining three strategies they currently use, as well as identifying three key barriers they face. This exercise aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in policy engagement, and to help CDIs think critically about how to strengthen their influence and alignment with relevant policy agendas.

An important part of the conversation was learning to think in terms of food systems, which can help CDIs better reach their goals. This means understanding how different parts of the food world are connected. CDIs also spent time thinking about what kinds of knowledge they use in their work. By recognizing and using all these types of knowledge, CDIs can make a bigger difference.

A strong focus was placed on the importance of trust and mutual expectations within food systems, especially concerning the interactions between CDIs and their various stakeholders. The dialogue considered how misunderstandings, perceived inequities, and failures in accountability can destroy trust. The session also addressed how rebuilding trust may involve mechanisms like inclusive dialogue, shared governance structures, and transparent decision-making. Central to the discussion were two guiding questions: What causes mistrust in partnerships, and what strategies are effective in restoring trust and effective collaboration?

Throughout the day, by engaging in a structured dialogue guided by strategic questioning, CDIs identified critical issues and uncovered hidden patterns, ultimately revealing the most effective approach to navigate their transition.

Day three started with a dynamic reflection session that encouraged everyone to voice their thoughts, feelings, and experiences so far. The session created an open space where participants could talk about what resonated with them, what could be improved, and what ideas they had for the future. It wasn’t just about gathering feedback—it was about listening and co-creating the path forward. The discussions highlighted both the strengths of the current format and opportunities for new directions, ensuring that each voice played a role in shaping what comes next.

A dedicated session on governance and policy was also organized, focusing on key insights derived from the FOSTER D4.1. This session invited participants to critically reflect on a set of governance recommendations, categorized into four thematic clusters: (1) expanding the knowledge scope of Knowledge and Innovation System (KIS), (2) ensuring policy alignment and integration, (3) promoting justice and food democracy, and (4) strengthening collaboration and network-building. The primary objective of the session was to assess the relevance and applicability of these recommendations to CDIs. Participants engaged in meaningful dialogue, offering valuable perspectives on both the feasibility and impact of each recommendation. The feedback gathered during this session provided important insights that may inform future strategies and policy development within FOSTER.

This year’s Summer School provided us with fresh perspectives on transformation. It served as a valuable platform for collaborative learning, allowing us to come together, share experiences, and reflect on the evolving role of CDIs in driving meaningful transition. The discussions and activities highlighted the power of collective engagement in shaping adaptive and forward-thinking strategies.

This article outlines the main conclusions from Chapter 2 of the FOSTER deliverable, which addresses R&I policy support options for furthering food systems science at national, regional and local level in the EU. You can access the complete deliverable on the FOSTER website here.

The chapter entitled “Bottom-up Identification of Improved K&I Governance Mechanisms to Support Food System Change” explores essential pathways for transformation. It emphasizes the integration of diverse knowledge systems, the mitigation of power asymmetries, and the promotion of inclusive, collaborative decision-making processes.

To achieve more fair and sustainable food systems, a change needs to take place in the way decisions and rules are made in the food system. 12 recommendations are formulated on how these decision-making processes can better support food system transformations. These recommendations show that for true change to happen, governance structures need to be dynamic and reflexive. In governance, different forms of knowledge need to be integrated to address challenges in a fair way and collaborations are crucial. Furthermore, justice and food democracy must be central in the transition.

To realise more equitable and sustainable food systems, a change needs to happen in the way decisions are made in the food systems and in how policies are designed. Food system governance describes the way decisions are made about the food system. A structured review of literature on food system governance is performed to formulate recommendations for how governance frameworks can better support transformations in food systems. This led to 12 recommendations divided over four themes.

I. Integration and alignment of policy and governance
Current challenges like sustainability challenges are complex. To tackle these challenges, it is needed to look at relations between different parts of the food system, and relations between the food system and other systems (like the mobility system, or energy system). The engagement of citizens and other stakeholders is crucial to take on a full perspective. This, however, brings along challenges as there are many inequalities in food systems. Good governance therefore needs to address power imbalances and prioritise equity. Advises are given for a form of governance in which different people and stakeholders are heard, regional diversities are recognised, and a diversity of practices is present.

Concrete recommendations given, are:

• Strategic and future oriented vision on knowledge and innovation
• Coordination of policies across different sectors (horizontal) and between various levels (vertical)
• Reflexive learning in knowledge and innovation
  II. Broadening of the knowledge scope
  Three ways are given to broaden the knowledge scope in food systems. This can be done by establishing 1) connections between science, policy, and practice, 2) collaborations between science and non-scientific stakeholders (transdisciplinary approaches) and 3) collaborations across various scientific sectors (interdisciplinary approaches). Transdisciplinary approaches are seen as crucial to achieve a shared understanding of food systems and to identify where change can happen. For this, the contribution of citizens is important. Right now, transdisciplinarity is often not supported. This hinders the ability to respond to needs for food system transformation.

Concrete recommendations given, are:

• Transdisciplinary approaches for sharing knowledge amongst different groups
• Support and provide space for alternative practices and diverse forms of knowledge
• Understand different stakeholder perspectives
• Increased focus on the role of urban areas
  III. Justice and food democracy
  Food systems are full of injustices, inequalities, and ways in which people are excluded. It is important to address these inequalities in food system transitions, but aspects of justice are often overlooked. Prioritising justice, equity and the active participation of all stakeholders promotes transformative change that benefits both people and the planet. Food democracy emphasises active participation of stakeholders and in particular marginalised groups, transparent decision-making processes, and engagement of individuals and communities at local level. These principles can lead to a better reflection of shared values, ensures justice, and empowers communities to work on meaningful transformation.

Concrete recommendations given, are:

• Addressing unequal power distributions
• Fair and equitable representation of minority and underrepresented groups
  IV. Collaboration and network building

Addressing the complexity of food systems requires building networks and collaborations. Effective transformation depends on the co-creation of solutions by diverse stakeholders. This helps to integrate diverse perspectives and leads to innovative and context-sensitive solutions. Creating trust is essential. Intermediaries play an important role in transitions by supporting capacity building, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and speeding up transformations through stakeholders engagement. Reflexivity – ongoing reflection and learning – helps to maintain the equity, relevance, and adaptability of transition efforts, allowing stakeholders to refine their strategies and respond to emerging challenges.
Concrete recommendations given, are:

• Increased deliberation on decision making
• Strengthen the involvement of intermediaries in collaborations
• Building capacities of stakeholders to make them better change agents

FOSTER wants to integrate the voices of various stakeholders in the governance of food systems. This requires a shift in what knowledge is considered and how innovation is addressed. The recommendations mentioned above are ingredients to guide this shift in governance and therewith help stakeholders to work towards their desired future food system.

This article outlines the main conclusions from Chapter 5 of the FOSTER deliverable, which addresses R&I policy support options for furthering food systems science at national, regional and local level in the EU. You can access the complete deliverable on the FOSTER website here.

The chapter titled “Network analysis” examines the key stakeholders involved in the FOSTER Change-Driven Initiatives (CDIs) and presents stakeholder maps that illustrate both the current and desired landscape of stakeholder engagement, highlighting gaps, opportunities, and potential areas for collaboration.

A Network Analysis has been made to assess the FOSTER CDIs relationships with several actors in the food system at a regional, national and European level. This assessment allowed us to take stock of the CDIs current relationships, desired relationships and missing or inactive relationships so as to create a map of each CDIs network. The goal of this exercise is to give clarity to the CDIs, the research partners and policy makers of the network the CDIs operate in, so we can understand what is holding CDIs back and what opportunities exist for helping the CDIs ambitions and guiding researchers and policy makers on how to make better decisions for supporting the CDIs ambitions.

FOSTER is like a vehicle and the passengers are researchers, policy makers and civil society (the latter via the CDIs). We have put these people in a vehicle together, so they can discuss and talk to each other on their journey about what they all think their end destination should look like. While we agree on the need for a changed food system, visions on what that food system looks like and how one can get there differ amongst FOSTER partners.

On their journey the FOSTER partners are using a map which is supposed to guide them with knowledge and innovation to support in making decisions about which road to take towards the future. But the map is difficult for the FOSTER partners to understand because it was designed for farmers and primary producers. So, the researchers, CDIs and policy makers have decided they want to improve the map and make changes to it so they can all read it better. The Network analysis is an important step in this process as the CDIs represent budding food system actors. Understanding perceptions of their current network is key to understanding the challenges CDIs face and to uncovering opportunities to increase their influence and power in the food system.

The main information the researchers in FOSTER wanted to understand can be summarised as the following:

1. Who do the CDIs have contact with in the food system at this moment?
2. What is the relationship with each actor they work with?
3. Are there actors in the food system they have no contact with and if so why? And would they like this to change?

If you are an actor of the food system, lets say a farmer, you will have a network of other people around you, who help you do your job. For example, the processor who comes to collect the produce you grow, or the company who supplies you with fertiliser. As a farmer you rely on these people to achieve your goals in the food system. If for example you didn’t know any processors you would not be able to get your produce to the market as efficiently as a neighbouring farmer and you would have a harder time selling your produce to make an income.

In the same way the CDIs have a network around them which is crucial to them carrying out their work. The CDIs work across different parts of the food system addressing diverse goals such as digitalisation of agriculture or amplifying the voices of underrepresented stakeholders. Others aim to promote healthy and sustainable dietary habits. These efforts involve a wide range of stakeholders with different geographical scopes and different perspectives on cooperation and engagement. The CDIs were asked to describe their relationships and had the following insights to share:

• Governmental organisations are important for all CDIs because they want to be able to influence policy making. These connections however are few and far between because the CDIs lack the economic weight and influence that other actors like food companies have to sway and influence governmental organisations.
• NGOs are actors who can share the same vision as CDIs and are important for collaborating on and sharing information on topics they both care about.
• Financial organisations are important for CDIs creating funding and acquisition opportunities. The large contrast in collaborations with financial organisations with some CDIs having multiple connections in their network to others having zero is one interesting area we can explore further in FOSTER. Is it important for everyone to have such an actor in their network?

This process of looking inward and comparing to their fellow CDIs was carried out for industry associations, manufacturers and media in order to get a rich picture of each CDIs network. With this information now gathered FOSTER can work with the CDIs to better understand their networks and guide them in building new connections. This can help them in taking the necessary steps to building the new FOKIS map which will guide them to their destination.

FOSTER is a vehicle driving food system actors to a destination they know of but are not in agreement on what it looks like or how to get there. The current map FOSTER partners have to guide them AKIS is not easily understandable or made for the partners. One step in creating this new map is to understand the who CDIs work with so we know how they work and how they can better understand the new map we are creating (FOKIS).

By: FOSTER and FossNet

On 29 and 30 April 2025, the START Centre for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems organised the Green Minds Gather Annual START Conference, to further the dialogue and start hacking the key challenges of the agrifood sector: https://start.uni.dk/start-conference-2025

The conference brought together 370 various key stakeholders, from Danish and international researchers, practitioners from the agrifood industry and policymakers from Denmark and the EU. All academic disciplines were invited to collaborate in addressing the current challenges, shaping key questions, and expanding our vision on agri-food for the future. Through high-level keynotes, panels, workshops, poster sessions, demonstrations and networking activities, the conference fostered active engagement and in-depth discussions on the challenges and potential solutions.

On 30 April the Interactive Track Session was held on Learning and Knowledge Flows by the HEU FOSTER and FossNet projects, organised by Floor Geerling-Eiff and Kelly Rijswijk (Wageningen Economic Research, part of Wageningen University and Research). The presentations provided an introduction into Learning and Knowledge Flows in Agri-Food Knowledge and Innovation Systems. Second, the development of a foundation from which a new Knowledge and Innovation structure for Europe’s food system can emerge, was explained from the Horizon Europe FOSTER project perspective. Third, the construction of a long-lasting pan-European network for Food Systems Science, advancing open and inclusive science and education for food systems transformation, was presented from the Horizon Europe FossNet project perspective. And to conclude the presentations, lessons learned in multi-actor collaboration between research, education and end-users in the Dutch Green Pact collaboration were shared from the Wageningen University & Research Knowledge Share (WURKS) programme.

In the workshop sessions, the various participants discussed which actors and connections are needed to accelerate learning and knowledge flows​ to address systemic challenges for future-proof sustainable agri-food systems. This was followed by a lively interaction on the requirements to stimulate innovation via knowledge flows and learning in multi-actor collaboration, engaging with academia. The fruitful discussion ended with various views on how to accelerate knowledge flows and learning in agri-food systems by education.

The results of all Interactive Track Sessions will be published in the Green Minds Gather Policy Input Paper.

This article outlines the main conclusions from Chapter 3 of the recent FOSTER deliverable, which addresses R&I policy support options for furthering food systems science at national, regional and local level in the EU. You can access the complete deliverable on the FOSTER website here.

The chapter, “Inclusion of Structurally Excluded People,” examines the marginalised perspectives within food systems and their potential to drive meaningful change.

Food systems shape how we produce, distribute, and consume food, but many decisions around our food are dominated by elites in the establishment while many other stakeholders are excluded. This article explores why including underrepresented voices matters, drawing on recent literature. By examining structural challenges and real-world solutions, we show how including diverse perspectives can make food systems more equitable, sustainable, and legitimate.

Imagine a table where decisions about our food – how it’s grown, sold, processed and shared – are made. Often, large corporations and government officials have most seats at this table. Yet, citizens and consumers, small farmers and low-income communities are scarcely represented at this table. This underrepresentation and exclusion causes inequalities in a system that feeds us all. Recent research and policy debates emphasize the need for promoting inclusivity, ensuring everyone affected by food systems, especially marginalized groups, have a voice in decision-making. Inclusivity creates fairer and more sustainable outcomes. This article unpacks who is left out, why their inclusion matters, and how we can build a more democratic food system.

Who is underrepresented, and why?

Right now, powerful players like commercial retailers, large-scale farmers and financial institutions have a large influence on decisions around our food system. Studies also note that Western scientific knowledge dominates discussions around food, while local, practical and Indigenous knowledge is generally underrepresented. As a result, citizens are generally underrepresented in decision making around our food systems. Indigenous peoples, women, migrant communities, LGBTIQ+ individuals, youth, groups with a lower socio-economic status and smallholder farmers are even less present on the abovementioned table – while their perspectives can offer valuable insights into sustainable practices.

Several barriers keep these groups out:

• Power Dynamics: Economic and political elites control decision-making, often meeting behind closed doors and also dominate participatory processes,
• Scientific Language: The use of complex academic and political language makes it hard for community members to engage.
• Resource Constraints: Time, money and education limit participation. For instance, small producers struggle with costly regulations designed for big players.
• Mindsets: Some policymakers assume citizens don’t care about food systems beyond buying food, ignoring diverse needs across cultures or identities.

Including underrepresented groups isn’t just fair. It is essential for better outcomes:

• Fairness and justice: Everyone affected by food policies deserves a say, respecting their rights and viewpoints.
• Learning from others: Including diverse perspectives deepens our understanding and sparks innovative solutions.
• Sustainability: Inclusive perspectives of various stakeholders lead to more supported and practiced solutions that can promote the likelihood of lasting, supported changes.
• Legitimacy: Decisions reflecting societal needs gain wider support, making policies more effective and trusted.

Inclusion through participation

There are various formats, like food policy councils, citizen juries, and participatory budgeting that have all worked well to give communities a direct role in decision making around food. One needs to be aware that underrepresented groups cannot just be expected to join participatory processes on their own – they need to be specifically approached for this. In processes of participation, promoting that all voices are heard equally is important. Building trust and promoting knowledge sharing – respecting different views – is key in this.

While there are good examples of participation that promotes inclusivity, there are also examples where it fails to do so. Even well-meaning inclusion efforts can fall short. Research often overlooks certain groups, like youth or informal organizations, because they’re less vocal or visible. Inviting marginalized communities to existing structures may not be enough if those structures don’t change. For instance, newcomers may lack the know-how to effectively participate. True inclusion might require rethinking how decisions are made, giving more power to those on the margins.

Food systems touch every aspect of our lives, but decision making around food often excludes many people who should have a seat on the table. Inclusivity in decision making often leads to better outcomes and can be done through a variety of approaches. When we break down barriers and invite underrepresented groups, we can create a table where everyone has a seat. Some good examples show what is possible, but participation of citizens and underrepresented groups must go beyond token gestures to shift power dynamics. For researchers, policymakers, and citizens, the challenge is clear: listen to all voices, not just the loudest.

This year’s Summer School is designed to deepen our collective understanding and collaboration around food system transformation. Our key objectives include:

• Reflecting on how CDI partners are currently engaging with food system transformation;
• Identifying synergies and areas of alignment between FOSTER and the CDIs;
• Exploring how CDIs can strengthen their transformation efforts by learning from one another.

The opening day will set the tone for the Summer School, revisiting insights from our recent webinar and providing an overview of each FOSTER partner’s progress and activities. This will help establish a shared foundation for all participants.

We also look forward to hearing from CDIs and APs as they share their transformation journeys, particularly in relation to themes that have emerged from earlier phases of the Summer School.

Together, we will synthesize our learnings to date and revisit key frameworks and concepts around food system transformation. Emphasis will be placed on embracing diverse perspectives and worldviews as essential to advancing the FOSTER mission.

Finally, we will reflect on our collective contributions to the FOKIS pathway and provide dedicated time to further develop ongoing writing and research papers.

FOSTER aims to create a strong path toward sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems, which is crucial in addressing global challenges such as food security, malnutrition, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Knowledge & Innovation (K&I) play an important role to drive the development, dissemination, and adoption of sustainable practices.

We consolidated the project’s findings into a comprehensive deliverable designed to support the development of more inclusive and effectively governed food systems, with the goal of improving health, sustainability, and economic outcomes across Europe.

This deliverable represents significant and extensive work, offering valuable insights into how we will achieve our main goal—transitioning from Agricultural Knowledge & Innovation System (AKIS) to Food-Oriented Knowledge & Innovation System (FOKIS). It is intended to explore how inclusive governance, policy, and a multi-actor and systemic approaches to knowledge creation can contribute to a shift from AKIS to FOKIS, also empowering societal organisation seeking to change food systems.

This work delves into “ingredients”—specifically, recommendations that should be considered in the policy and governance of FOKIS. These “ingredients” will help create more inclusive and effective knowledge and innovation systems.

Read the full Deliverable 4.1 “R&I policy support options for furthering food systems science at national, regional and local level in the EU” https://fosterfoodsystem.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RI_policy_support_options_for_furthering_food_systems_science_at_national_regional_and_local_level_in_the_EU.pdf    

This conference is organised by the European Union, Austrian Development Agency and the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU) and dedicated to advancing sustainable development and action-oriented research in the realm of green agriculture.

Read more about the conference https://www.greenconferencearmenia.com/

FOSTER was represented by project members Floor Geerling-Eiff and Lusine Aramyan, who outlined the project’s goals and vision.

By collaborating with existing food system initiatives, we aim to strengthen our efforts and ensure the project’s success.

This year’s event is hybrid, bringing together experts and participants online and onsite in Oxford.

The FoSSNet Conference 2025 offers two interactive online breakout sessions, providing a unique opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of food systems science. This conference is open to both early-career professionals and experienced researchers looking to build a European network.

FOSTER is represented by several project members, including:

• Monika Zurek from the University of Oxford, who will participate in the opening and highlight the theme “Defining Food Systems and Food Systems Science.”
• John Ingram from the University of Oxford, who will give a lecture on the FoSSNet Food System Conceptual Framework and the definition of Food Systems Science.
• Thom Achterbosch from Wageningen University & Research, who will present FoSSNet’s stocktake on Food Systems Science and Education in Europe.

See the agenda of the eventhttps://fossnet.eu/oxford-conference-plenary-sessions/.

Stay tuned for more updates from FOSTER.