This sections provides information on EU-funded research programmes in the area of Sustainable food systems (not exhaustive).

JRC Activities on Sustainable Food Systems 

A Portfolio of JRC activities grouped under the Sustainable Food Systems label aims to provide systemic analyses, responses and tools that anticipate and respond to food systems policy needs. These activities integrate climatic, environmental, social, health and economic perspectives and Nurture user-communities, via the relevant Knowledge for Policy services such as on soil, food security, food quality and nutrition.

FOOD 2030 Policy Framework

The Food 2030 Research and Innovation Policy Framework was launched in 2015 at the Milan World Expo. It sets out 11 pathways where research and innovation can concretely deliver co-benefits to nutrition, climate, circularity and communities, at multiple levels: from local to international. One of these pathways is connected to the European Union – African Union Research and Innovation Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA Partnership) and focuses on food systems in Africa.

CEA First

The Consortium Europe-Africa on Research and Innovation for Food Systems Transformation (CEA-FIRST) is a bicontinental effort put together to operationalise the International Research Consortium (IRC) as a long-term platform on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) in line with the FNSSA Roadmap of the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD).

Among others it will provide public access to an extensive platform of knowledge on FNSSA, support the AU-EU Research and Innovation Partnership and foster discussions on AU-EU research priorities.

Sustainable Food System Partnership

The Sustainable Food System Partnership prepared the FutureFoodS Partnership. Various experts and stakeholders have provided:

• A narrative: the storyline of why a partnership is needed, what it is about, who will be concerned and how it might operate.
• Food 2030 pathways for action 2.0 for the future Partnership.
• Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), delivered in its final version in January 2023
• A Handbook for pragmatic changemakers, November 2025, is designed to empower anyone willing to partner and act to drive food system change, including guidelines and lessons learned

European Partnership for a Sustainable Future of Food Systems

FutureFoodS is an innovative European partnership focused on transforming Europe's food production and consumption towards more sustainable and resilient systems. This collaboration is committed to innovation and knowledge sharing among research institutions, businesses, and policymakers.

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