DSM takes initiative for Food Boost Challenge in Limburg

DSM together with educational institutions in Limburg, GGD Zuid Limburg, Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo and other parties start a sequel to the Food Boost Challenge to make healthy food and a balanced lifestyle more attractive and interesting for young people.

DSM has been a partner of the Food Boost Challenge from the start. This is an initiative of Foodvalley NL, Medical Delta Living Lab VIT for Life and HortiHeroes. They bring together business, education, science, and government. The initiative is open to anyone who wants to contribute.

The Food Boost Challenge is an initiative with, for and by young people. They are involved from research to solution and implementation. Young people ask each other what they see as healthy food, how important they think it is, on what basis they choose, what they need and how they think their eating habits can become healthier. Then they are challenged to come up with their own ideas to make healthier eating more attractive. The results of these discussions will be elaborated with the help of knowledge institutions, the expertise of DSM and other partners. On this basis, concepts can be developed that take these outcomes further, for example new tasty and healthy products, apps or wearables, a different layout for stores and adjustments to the environment, such as canteens and festivals, so that young people actually start eating more healthily.

This new Food Boost Challenge 2.0 is a continuation of the first challenge that started since the summer and focused on fruits and vegetables. It involves various partners from business, education, and community organizations. These partners will be given the opportunity to join in on follow-up challenges such as this one. Experiences gained and infrastructure built are thus included in each new Food Boost Challenge.

Good nutrition is the foundation of good health. Diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are on the rise worldwide, also in the South Limburg region. Covid has certainly not helped in this. Various initiatives are underway in the Limburg region to turn the tide, involving many enthusiastic parties. This broad commitment is badly needed if we are to make a difference. With this initiative DSM is looking for synergy where it can and wants to give healthy food an extra impulse.

Social commitment

DSM announced on September 22 a series of new, ambitious and specific commitments for 2030 that make a meaningful contribution to improving the world's food systems and focus on the health of people, planet and environment. The Food Boost Challenge is one of the ways in which we in the Netherlands are giving substance to these commitments.

DSM has been socially active with young people in South Limburg for decades - for example, with chemistry lessons from DSM employees in the classroom, the Chemistry Day at Chemelot and JetNet in Limburg. We would like to continue activities for young people in areas where DSM has a lot of knowledge these days: nutrition and health. DSM is a purpose led company that is proud of its rich history in South Limburg and feels strongly connected to the region. With the many, successful transformations of DSM, the interpretation of the social contributions of the company is also changing.