FOODPathS lays the foundation for a future-proof food system

What does it take to create food systems that benefit people, the planet, and the climate? This question took centre stage during the closing meeting of the international FOODPathS project, held on 1 and 2 October 2025 at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) in The Hague. The project marked a stepping stone toward a new European partnership focused on sustainable food production and consumption.

European collaboration

In recent years, FOODPathS has brought together researchers, policymakers, and funding organisations to identify barriers standing in the way of sustainable food systems. ZonMw was one of the partners involved. The collaboration laid the groundwork for the European Partnership for Sustainable Food Systems for People, Planet and Climate (FutureFoodS). During the meeting, the partners presented their key recommendations. These address inclusivity and governance in food systems, the integration of research and innovation, the use of knowledge in policy, and broader opportunities for collaboration. The recommendations are expected to be published at the end of November 2025.

“What makes FOODPathS so valuable is the combination of knowledge development, innovation tools, and stakeholder engagement,” said Guido Landheer, Deputy Director-General Agro at the Ministry of LVVN. “Together, these three pillars accelerate the sustainability transition and safeguard Europe’s food security.”

Healthy and accessible nutrition

According to Eileen Gibney, Chair of the Healthy Diet, Healthy Life initiative, the coming years will bring significant societal challenges in the area of food systems. “As we continue to change and innovate together to meet these challenges, we must ensure that we build a food system that is nutritious, safe, and accessible to everyone.”

Rosalinda Scalia, Deputy Head of the Bioeconomy and Food Systems Unit at the European Commission, also underlined the importance of cooperation. She referred to the role of the European Competitiveness Fund and the Horizon Europe programme, calling on stakeholders to stay engaged and to continue mobilising the FOOD 2030 community.

From FOODPathS to FutureFoodS

The closing meeting at the Ministry of LVVN focused on the exchange of knowledge between international partners and Dutch examples from practice. LVVN and ZonMw aim to approach nutrition, health, and food production from a systems perspective and to better align future research funding for greater effectiveness.

FOODPathS concluded with the presentation of the Prototype SFS Partnership, a blueprint for FutureFoodS. This gives the European cooperation for sustainable, healthy, and inclusive food systems a clear and practical continuation.

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