Research and innovation priorities for more sustainable food systems in Europe and globally

In the face of climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, food insecurity and hidden hunger, there is an urgent need to reverse the unsustainable trajectory of food production, processing, distribution and consumption in the EU and globally. Making sustainable and healthy diets accessible to all, improving equity, building resilience and transforming governance of food systems are four critical and interlinked areas of intervention. These areas offer important opportunities for the EU to lead targeted support for research and innovation (R&I) and effectively accelerate the transformation towards sustainable food systems in Europe and globally. Based on international expert consultation, this policy brief highlights 16 critical R&I needs to be addressed by the EU and provides cross-cutting recommendations. Specifically, due to the interconnectedness of food systems, the global dimension must be included in R&I efforts to be effective. Moreover, strengthening R&I processes for collaboratively developing pathways to shifting diets bear a great leverage for efficient transformation. Finally, inclusive, multi-actor and participatory approaches, suitable to the specific context, are a prerequisite to generate relevant results and to achieve more sustainable food systems.