Towards more sustainable food provision
|
|
|
Newsletter 01/2026
|
|
|
|
|
This is a newsletter about legumes – those small pulses with big potential, both for nutrition and for the climate. First up: a freshly published paper exploring the barriers to legume uptake in Europe, seen through the eyes of key stakeholders.
|
In our series “SPI of the month”, we turn to Germany and explore how legumes can be promoted as a sustainable alternative in our diets.
|
One powerful lever for driving sustainable food systems is, of course, policy. A recent publication by the Cleverfood project gathers policy recommendations and practical guidelines to overcome systemic lock-ins and foster sustainable food value chains across Europe – drawing, among other insights, on results from a VISIONARY case study.
|
|
We hope you enjoy the read!
|
|
P.S.: To all new subscribers - make sure to follow us on LinkedIn for bite-sized updates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New publication: Key barriers holding back European food legume value chains
|
Why are the production, processing and consumption of pulses in Europe still failing to gain momentum – despite their clear potential for more sustainable food systems? VISIONARY partners just published their paper "Weak pulse: a Q-methodology study of stakeholder viewpoints on barriers in European food legume value chains" in Food Policy, exploring these questions. Drawing on Q-methodology, the study captures the perspectives…
|
|
|
|
|
|
Policy Brief: The Food 2030 Unlock Strategy
What’s really holding Europe back from building sustainable food systems? A new policy brief from Food 2030 takes a deep dive into the barriers that slow down sustainable food value chains – and offers practical, actionable recommendations to overcome them. Drawing on insights from VISIONARY and BEATLES, it highlights how coordinated policy action can help unlock systemic change across Europe.
|
|
|
|
|
Introducing... University of Trento, Italy
|
|
Based in Northern Italy, the Universiry of Trento (UNITN) brings internationally recognised expertise in environmental, behavioural, and experimental economics to the VISIONARY project. The team leads two key tasks in WP3, focusing on behavioural experiments in sustainable farming. In Task 3.1, they coordinate the design and implementation of these experiments, supporting protocol development, partner training, and methodological alignment across countries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SPI of the month: More legumes in Germany
|
|
In Germany, the Science-Policy-Interface (SPI) on plant-based protein focuses on promoting legumes for human consumption as part of the national strategy to support healthier, more sustainable, and plant-based diets. Built around a case study on plant-based protein, the SPI brings together a wide range of actors - farmers, processors, producers, researchers, retailers, and policymakers - to identify barriers and develop coordinated…
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMING UP
|
In our next newsletter, we will introduce the team from ZALF, Germany and continue our series "SPI of the month" on Greenhouse gas mitigation via feed additives in Italy. And, of course, report on all things VISIONARY.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funded by the European Union under GA no. 101060538. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or REA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
|
|
The work of UK participants was funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee [grant numbers 10037976 (University of Aberdeen) and 10044788 (University of Exeter)].
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
