FoodSHIFT 2030 project announces food system support for COVID-19 recovery
FoodSHIFT 2030 project announces food system support for COVID-19 recovery
- 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 1 9 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.
This week, the EU Innovation Action project F oodSHIFT 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 February in Copenhagen with participation of EU officers Alessandro Chiodini and Tatiana Tallarico.
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.
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