GreenGrocer WP5

Balancing the Interests

Balancing the interests of different actors in the food system.

Objectives

This WP aims to address SO4 and SO6. We do this by

Bringing together multiple actors across the food system, policy and academia to help create more useful and accessible solutions that will shape the food system and how data is used
conducting primary research among key players across the food system (from producers to retailers) to help identify the most innovative and accessible solutions and ensure alignment between those providing, enforcing and using the solutions
Exploring trade-offs and synergies across different proposed solutions to identify market readiness, scalability, needs and barriers to use

This WP evaluates trade-offs and synergies between environmental concerns and other aspects of the food system (e.g. food accessibility, food security, employment, land use, food waste, packaging etc.). Insights will help to identify policy mixes consistent with a sustainable and equitable food future for all. Feedback from key industry, policy and academic experts will be gathered and used to inform decisions made about final solutions to increase the likelihood of uptake of the final solutions proposed.

SO-4 Identify and evaluate innovations that deliver sustainable EU food production, consumption and trade

To identify and map opportunities and innovative solutions, including existing good practices that address the identified impacts and promote the uptake of sustainable food production (including harvesting) and/ or food supply practices, including consumption practices, with minimum impact, we:

Map food innovations: seaweed, insects, cellular agriculture, cold chains, and restaurant waste reduction.
Identify barriers to uptake of food innovations within the EU via industry workshops and case studies.
Assess the scalability and impacts of innovations in EU-wide food system transition scenarios.

SO-6 Accelerate uptake of new scientific knowledge and tools by key food system actors

To support to actors across the food systems through new available knowledge, shared existing data on environmental and climate impacts of food systems and identification of innovative solution we:

Increase dissemination and uptake of data via an specialist AI agent (also meeting SO-3).
Deploy new food impact data to ~20,000 EU farms to guide sustainability appraisal of farm techniques.
Improve the scientific basis of the CoolFarm Tool — a platform used by 10,000+ farmers / 150+ companies
Identify key barriers to use of existing food footprinting tools across the EU's food and beverage sector

Tasks

T1:Stakeholder Advisory Group

T2:Stakeholder insights: Pain Points Between Today and TRL 7-9

T3:Evaluation of potential solutions for industry readiness

T4:Standard uptake through engagement with the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group

T5:Develop policy recommendations for selected EU countries

T6:Pratice Abstracts

Deliverables

2027

D1:Stakeholder insights report
A report synthesising stakeholder research on food footprint data needs, priorities, access barriers and opportunities to guide the development of useful and accessible solutions.

D3:Policy brief 1
An initial policy brief translating emerging project findings and stakeholder insights into recommendations for feasible sustainable food transitions in selected EU countries.

D5:Practice Abstracts Batch 1
A first batch of EIP-AGRI practice abstracts presenting practical project knowledge, approaches and tools in an accessible format for practitioners.

D7:Gaps and Solutions Platform
An online platform matching innovative solutions with food-sector sustainability disclosure challenges and information gaps to support standard setters, companies and financial institutions.

2028

D2:Stakeholder evaluation
An evaluation of stakeholder feedback on proposed data tools and food system solutions, assessing industry readiness, accessibility, uptake potential and scalability.

2029

D4:Policy Brief 2
A second policy brief drawing on later project findings and stakeholder engagement to recommend context-specific measures supporting sustainable food transitions in selected EU countries.

D6:Practice Abstracts Batch 2
A second batch of EIP-AGRI practice abstracts sharing further practical findings and innovations with practitioners to support uptake of project results.