Sustainable and healthy food systems

Healthy and sustainable food systems

Every day, Nordic citizens connect with local, national, and global food systems. Food is a central part of our wellbeing, life, and culture; but the food we consume can also have a negative impact on our health and the health of our planet. Transitioning our food systems to become healthy and sustainable is a necessity for achieving the goals set out in the Nordic vision and Agenda 2030. The project Healthy and Sustainable Food Systemsseeks to advance these efforts and strengthen knowledge and provide policy tools for more healthy and sustainable food, as well as creating a platform for dialogue and discussion on the pathways forward. The project scope includes areas such as healthy and sustainable diets, behaviour change and food loss and waste, to teaching children about food production and supporting the Nordic monitoring project on diet, physical activity and overweight (NORMO).

The project is governed by the Nordic Council of Ministers for Fisheries, Agriculture, Forestry and Food, and coordinated by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Secretariat.

Contact person: Jonathan Eng, Nordic Council of Ministers, joneng@norden.org

The project consists of several sub-projects. Below is an overview of some of the current activities:

• The Nordic Food Environments and Behaviour change in cooperation with Nordregio and Nofima
  • Policy brief published in June 2023. Main report will be published at COP28, 2024.
  • Policy briefs about Greenland and Faroe Islands will be published in 2024.

• Efforts for reduced food loss and waste
  • Nordic Food Waste Summit
  • Increased Nordic Collaboration – A political commitment from the Nordic Ministers for Fisheries, Agriculture, Forestry and Food

• Putting food systems on the climate agenda
  • The project hosted a food systems takeover of the Nordic Pavilion at COP27
  • At COP28 the project will support efforts to ensure that food systems are discussed in relation to our climate.

• The Launch of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023
  • The project was assigned to host the launch of the NNR2023 – the Nordic’s biggest and most encompassing report.
  • Learn more about the launch activities here:
    • https://www.norden.org/en/event/launch-nordic-nutrition-recommendations-2023
    • https://www.norden.org/en/news/less-meat-more-plant-based-here-are-nordic-nutrition-recommendations-2023
    • https://www.norden.org/en/news/huge-interest-and-considerable-debate-launch-new-nutrition-recommendations
    • https://www.norden.org/sv/event/almedalsveckan-2023-mat-halsa-och-klimat-traffar-de-nya-nordiska-naringsrekommendationerna

• See, sow and taste – youth project about farming and biodiversity in cooperation with NordGen.

More information will be announced shortly.

• NORMO – Nordic Monitoring System on diet, physical activity and overweight in cooperation with the Nordic working group Healthy, Safe and Sustainable Diets and with additional support by the Nordic Committee of Senior Officials for Health and Social Affairs (EK-S).

More information will be announced shortly.