FOOD 2030 and Beyond: Competitive, Sustainable, and Resilient Food System

6 March 2025.  “FOOD 2030 and Beyond: Competitive, Sustainable, and Resilient Food Systems” workshop in Brussels, hosted by the European Commission’s DG Start-ups, Research, & Innovation.

This event gathered key policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss EU policy priorities, innovation gaps, and the future of sustainable food systems. Engaging plenary panels and breakout sessions explored solutions for strengthening resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness in the sector.

The goal of this event was to lay the groundwork for a new vision for Food2040 and tackle the challenges ahead.

One of the discussion tables, explored key topics: 

• how to make the sector more competitive and resilient, 
• how to maximize the impact of research and innovation, 
• and which areas of innovation to prioritize for the future.

The participants to this workshop included:

• Joanna Drake, Deputy Director General, DG Research & Innovation, European Commission
• John Bell Director Healthy Planet, DG Research & Innovation at European Commission
• Rosalinda Scalia Deputy Head of Unit Bioeconomy and Food Systems at European Commission
• Klaus Berend, Director for Food Safety, Sustainability and Innovation at European Commission
• Ricard Ramon Deputy Head of Unit at European Commission 
• Silvia Scaramuzzi Associate Professor at Università degli Studi di Firenze 
• Christopher Brewster Professor at Maastricht University/ Senior Scientist at TNO 
• Laura García Herrero Research fellow on sustainability - Corporate social responsibility expert
• Maroun El Moujabber Professor at CIHEAM-IAMB, Bari, Università degli studi di Bologna
• Nikos Zampoukas, policy officer in the European Commission developing research and innovation policy for aquaculture, fisheries and marine biotechnology. 
• Minna Huttunen, Seconded National Expert, Policy Officer, DG RTD, Directorate General for Research and Innovation European Commission
• Marin Lysák Ph.D., CLEVERFOOD | Food2030 Networks | Assistant Professor Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
• George Beers, Programme manager Wageningen University & Research
• Gertrud Buchenrieder, Professor bei Universität der Bundeswehr München
• Eduardo Cuoco, Director IFOAM Organics Europe / Head of Secretariat TPOrganics
• Filippo Renga Coordinator of EU & International Activities @ the Osservatori Digital Innovation,
• Chiara Corbo, Head of Smart AgriFood Observatory and Food Sustainability Observatory at Digital Innovation Observatories / Osservatori Digital Innovation
• Sandra Cesari de Maria, Programme Manager at Politecnico di Milano | AgriTech
• Dana Bonaldi, International and EU Projects Development presso Osservatori Digital Innovation
• 
  Nikolaos Marianos, Managing Director and European Projects Lead, GreenSupplyChain Digital Innovation Hub, Greece 
  

The INCiTiS-FOOD project was showcased by  Mladen Radisic (Foodscale Hub) and Gertrud Buchenrieder (Bundeswehr University Munich).

Related: 

5 March 2025. The INCiTiS-FOOD Open Call for Local Innovation Hubs - Webinar for Q&A

• Dr Emmanuel Olatunbosun Benjamin - Co-coordinator of the INCiTiS-FOOD project and Research Fellow at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Germany. He is also the Technical Advisor for Aglobe Development Center, Nigeria. His research focus encompasses agribusinesses financial inclusion, climate change mitigation and adaptation, climate-smart agriculture and aquaculture, energy economics as well as gender analysis. During the webinar, he introduced the INCiTiS-FOOD project and its objectives.
• Dr Oyebola Oyediran Olusegun - Senior Lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and Co-PI for the INCiTiS-FOOD project. With over a decade of experience in food systems, aquaculture, and fisheries management, he leads the University of Ibadan Living Lab, which has developed food system innovations and held trainings for numerous farmers, and practitioners. In the webinar, he shared insights on the innovative technologies used in the Incitis Living Labs, with a focus on the University of Ibadan Living Lab.
• Maja Radišić - Head of Operations at Foodscale Hub, with 15+ years of experience in business acceleration and international project management. During her career, she has been involved in numerous large-scale international projects, with a project portfolio of over 100M EUR (involved in project implementation and/or proposal preparation). As the Open Call Manager, she guided participants through the application process and give key details to help them apply successfully.

Related: 

12 March 2025. CLEVERFOOD project organise the first of a training series about the power of mapping the food systems. 

• Join an interactive one-hour session exploring the power of mapping in food systems. Learn how to identify key stakeholders, assess vulnerabilities, and uncover critical management points that shape the way food flows within a system. 
•  Using a real-world example from the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, we’ll demonstrate how mapping can drive transformation—and discuss the barriers that come with it. 
• You’ll also gain hands-on insights into practical tools for system and stakeholder mapping, helping you navigate the complexities of food systems in your own context.