Sustainable food systems

The nature of our globalized food system is an important driver of humanities’ pressure on the planetary boundaries. This creates the need to make quick and transformative steps in the food system in order to ‘stop doing harm’ on all levels.

We need an integrated approach to improve our food systems and combine issues that cover the complete food value chain. Think about: soil health and quality, new crops, biodiverse landscapes, new business models for farmers, production of new (regional) products, green logistics and retail, changing diets, sustainable consumer choices, and health consequences.

Ambition

This necessary transformation of our food system will affect humanity all over the globe. For this reason, we have a variety of international activities on different continents. Simultaneously and close by, the Northern region in the Netherlands has a long and rich agricultural tradition, and there are many local activities related to the challenge. Our university hosts a lot of disciplinary expertise in these and related dimensions of the food system. A variety of small-scale activities/projects exists and we are active in regional networks (AReNA, Oogst van Groningen, Regiodeal Natuur-Inclusieve Landbouw and so on). Our ambition is to further shape our task force and strengthen this transdisciplinary platform in order to combine resources, accumulate efforts, increase external visibility and join forces with external parties.