HAS active in 'Transition to a sustainable food system' program

HAS University of Applied Sciences will have an active role in a new research program called "Transition to a Sustainable Food System. Within this three-year program, thirty scientists from the wo and hbo are working together with a large number of companies, NGOs and innovative networks on the transition of the food system as a whole.

Lector Frederike Praasterink of the Future Food Systems lectureship at HAS University of Applied Sciences explains why the program is so important. "Food is a crucial part of our culture and well-being. At the same time, current food consumption and production patterns strongly contribute to a number of pressing sustainability challenges in the area of human, animal and planetary health and well-being. These sustainability challenges are not isolated problems: they are related symptoms of an unsustainable food system that has changed considerably in character in recent decades due to a strong focus on productivity, market forces and profit maximization."

Fundamental transition needed

She continues: "This has led to major social costs in terms of health, well-being and the environment. It is therefore evident that it is not enough to make the current food system more sustainable: a fundamental transition of the food system as a whole is needed. Within the project we focus on the Dutch food system with attention to international dimensions."

Sustainable food system

What a sustainable food system entails, however, is not clear in advance: sustainability is a multidimensional concept. In the practice of policy, business or citizens, different visions are used. The researchers therefore focus within the programme on the questions: what is a sustainable food system and which steering mechanisms can accelerate a transition to a sustainable food system in the Netherlands? These include foresight into future sustainable food systems, research into regional food systems and area-based approaches, and into the governance of a sustainable food system. In addition, the HAS is the coordinator of the program.

"A tremendous task to lead this large and diverse consortium with such an urgent task" says Frederike. "Students will also be involved through internships and graduation assignments to work on (partial) transitions. Today's 'Generation Z' is already much more aware of the big social challenges; they want to be part of the solution, not the problem."

Read the full article on the HAS University of Applied Sciences website.