FOSTER Platform  
In FOSTER, we aim to share science-based information about food systems with the public. For that, we established our FOSTER Platform, the place for communication, learning and foresight results. The FOSTER digital Platform was updated with the links from the Horizon Scanning activities – the links were rechecked, and some new links were added.
The FOSTER context scenarios are also available on the platform. Meanwhile, we prepared our repository of other EU projects, where you can get some useful information about food-related projects and get links to these projects.

We would also like to know your questions about food systems and their futures, therefore, waiting for your questions or suggestions!
Click on “ask your question” button to leave your questions.

Network analysis
The development of the agricultural knowledge and innovation system (AKIS) over the past decades presents significant achievements. The AKIS has successfully linked farmers to innovation networks in technology development, education and finance, under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). However, the AKIS networks are centred on primary production systems, and several food system actors and approaches are underrepresented. Various expert reports on EU’s innovation policy on food systems have expressed the need for a reorientation of innovation towards the transformation of food system outcomes and better embedding of all actors across the entire European food system.

FOSTER aims to develop diagrams for food knowledge and innovation system (FOKIS) in the Change Driven Initiatives (CDIs) countries (Hungary, Germany, Netherlands, Serbia and Spain). These diagrams will be centred on the CDIs, and include relevant FOKIS actor categories, such as public authorities, research and education organisations, third sector organisations/ associations, third sector NGOs, consumer associations, incubators, accelerators, investors and financial agents, along with their linkages and knowledge flows.

Additionally, FOSTER aims to establish a set of actions for CDIs to implement, either to create new relationships not reflected in the current diagram or to strengthen the existing weak ones.

The first stage was to gather and analyse information about networks of our CDIs. Previously, the CDIs were proposed to fulfil an excel sheet, the so-called “stakeholder tool”, indicating not only their current and desired stakeholders, but also the scope of their connection (including current and desired engagement status, impact of stakeholder on the CDI, strategic importance of the connection and knowledge directional flow). This work helped us to identify how weak or strong these connections are, and to categorize the stakeholders into categories and subcategories. We defined the main categories: government agencies, research, technology providers, NGOs, education, advisory, consultancy and law, financial institutions, providers, producers and retailers.

Then, we did the analysis of categories of the CDIs stakeholders and visualized information in the stakeholder maps of each initiative.

Stakeholder map of the FOSTER CDI Delta Foundation

Our next step is to compare the stakeholder maps of the CDIs to identify similarities and differences, and to engage the CDIs in some future actions.

Deliverable in work
We are also busy working on the Deliverable 4.1, which will provide insights into the policy options for improving the governance of the knowledge and innovation system in Europe from a top down and bottom-up perspective. FOSTER aims to critically reflect on the current system and if it is fit for purpose in the food system transition. More information regarding this will be shared later.

FOSTER two-day event in Brussels
On October 9th and 10th 2024, FOSTER had a two-day event, comprising a Project Meeting and a Joint Workshop of the FOSTER consortium and the FOSTER science-policy expert panel. The event was held in Brussels, Belgium at the Representation of the State of Lower Saxony to the European Union.

Project meeting 2024!
On October 9th, project members – including academic partners, CDIs and the Chair of the FOSTER Expert Panel, Janet Dwyer (University of Gloucestershire) – came together to reflect on FOSTER’s progress over the past two years. The main theme was exploring FOSTER’s contributions to transforming the food system and enhancing knowledge and innovation within it.

During the meeting, members shared project status updates, recapped recent Summer School activities, and discussed foresight tools used in those sessions. CDIs shared experiences, successes and challenges from their recent work, following by a dedicated session focused on their stakeholder maps. The project’s communication and dissemination activities were reviewed, and members previewed the first version of the FOSTER video, soon to be shared with a wider audience.

More information you may read here.  

Joint Workshop of FOSTER consortium and FOSTER science-policy expert panel

On October 10th, the Joint Workshop allowed CDIs and expert panel members to meet in person for the first time. This exchange facilitated a dialogue aimed at improving governance and policies that foster knowledge and innovation. The project’s ultimate goal is to identify ways to adapt, include, and govern knowledge and innovation systems that help transform Europe’s food system to enhance public health, protect the environment, promote fairness, and support sustainable businesses.

 
The FOSTER Expert Panel, established to translate research insights into policy recommendations, comprises experts in policy processes. In this first Sci-Pol Expert Panel meeting, participants explored a range of EU-level policy instruments that could impact food initiatives. This direct exchange with food initiatives provided valuable insights for policies supporting the shift toward healthier, greener, and more resilient food systems in Europe

Throughout various sessions, CDIs presented their missions and visions, sharing insights and exploring opportunities for innovation and transformation with the expert panel. Later, invited policy advisors joined for informal discussions with CDIs, fostering connections between food initiatives and formal research, innovation, and knowledge structures.

This gathering introduced participants to the FOSTER project’s mission and vision, the participating food initiatives, and relevant EU policy instruments, setting the stage for continued collaboration in promoting food system transformation.

Hohenheim’s Agricultural University Day

At the University of Hohenheim’s Agricultural University Day, our FOSTER project partners Uli Ostarhild from the Stuttgart Food Policy Council and Prof. Verena Seufert from the University of Hohenheim had the opportunity to discuss the question “Working the fields together – how can practice and science research together at eye level?”. The discussion took place in a fishbowl format and included several ‘tandems’, i.e. project partners from both science and practice, showcasing examples of transdisciplinary research projects in an agri-food system context. The FOSTER team provided an example from the civil society perspective, while other examples came from transdisciplinary projects focusing on production and processing.

But what does transdisciplinary research actually mean? In contrast to disciplinary or interdisciplinary research, in transdisciplinary research stakeholders from practice are involved in the scientific process on an equal footing from the outset.

As the Stuttgart Food Policy Council, we are starting our triangle project in the next few weeks together with the FOSTER team from Prof. Verena Seufert, and a large industrial company as a third (practice) partner on the topic of sustainable regional public catering.

We are very confident that this research approach within the framework of FOSTER food systems will lead us to direct and effective solutions for more sustainable public catering. Our vision is to make a contribution to a transition towards a more climate-friendly diet with many stakeholders, locally in Stuttgart, along the entire supply chain, from production to the dining table.

Next year, FOSTER will have its third in-person Summer School!

Annual Foster co-learning in Summer Schools aims to build capacities in working within transdisciplinary arenas across sectors based on RRI principles including gender aspects, ethics and open science.

With this co-learning, we aim to collaborate for sharing knowledges on food system functioning and transformation.

The event will be held in Hungary in May 2025!

More information soon.