| Posted September 20, 2021

Making Sustainable Food Systems the Norm: Watch Our VALUMICS Video!

Food is an essential part of our lives. Despite improvements in the quality and variety of food available to Europeans, consumption patterns still have a negative impact on the environment, the climate, and our health. Current food consumption is responsible for at least 25% of the overall carbon footprint per capita and unfair trading practices lead to economic and social imbalances. More than ever we need to take action and move toward healthier and more sustainable food systems. To accelerate this transition, it is crucial to better understand the context and motivations behind consumer behaviour and how this may be […]

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Join Our Conference “Sustainable Digitalisation 2.0: Covid-19 and the EU Green Deal as Paradigm Shifts” on 14 October 2021!

We live in unique times: The ongoing pandemic has brought us to a new normal, digitalisation is in full swing and there is an urgent need for action for more sustainability in all areas of life. Companies that manage to see these challenges not as a burden but as an opportunity for innovation are able to create competitive advantages and be successful. Harnessing the sustainability potential associated with their digitalisation activities enables such companies to achieve economic goals while bringing about positive socio-ecological impacts. The European reconstruction plan NextGenerationEU, which focuses on digitalisation and climate protection, and the European Green […]

| Posted September 15, 2021

Finalising the First Round of the weiter_wirken Project: Experts Shed Light on How CSOs Can Benefit From Behavioural Know-How

What hinders people from living up to their good intentions to eat more plant-based foods, drive less or reduce waste? Questions like this are ever relevant when it comes to endorsing more sustainable lifestyles. As part of the final event of the first round of our weiter_wirken project, 50 representatives from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the scientific community discussed how findings from behavioural research can contribute to close the intention-action gap. Dr. Heinrich Bottermann, State Secretary of the Ministry of Environment of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) opened the event with a welcoming speech. The panel included: Prof. Dr. Christoph Harff […]

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14 Recommendations to Turn Intentions into Action for More Sustainable Food Consumption

Although many people declare that they want to eat healthier and more sustainably, the proportion of sustainable food consumption is still shockingly low. How can we move from attitudes and intentions to actual action? How can we bring about the necessary behavioural change for more sustainable food consumption in Europe? The VALUMICS report From Intention to Action investigates multiple options to close the intention-behaviour gap and provides behaviourally-informed recommendations for policy makers, businesses, and civil society organisations (CSOs). Drawing on the latest research and insights on consumer evidence, including those of behavioural science, the report puts forward 14 recommendations for […]

| Posted September 14, 2021

BOOM Camps 2021: Shaping the Sustainable Future

What does it mean to live sustainably or how do sustainability goals intersect with future career choices? Over 70 teenagers and young adults engaged with these questions during our BOOM career orientation camps held in summer 2021. The participants of the food camp built a clay oven from scratch – a new asset for the Jugendakademie Walberberg, the camp venue. During a visit at an organic local farm they collected plants, herbs, and vegetables and tried out sustainable cooking. As part of the camp on energy and mobility, the participants were able to take home self-made solar power banks for […]

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Moving Towards Sustainable Food Systems Through Green Public Procurement – Join Our GOALAN Final Event on 6 October 2021!

What is the impact of green horticultural practices on local farmers and how does it affect the wider supply chain? How can green public procurement support farming communities but also speed up the transition to more sustainable food supply chains in general? These questions will be at the core of our GOALAN final project event on 6 October 2021 – meet us there! During the half-day online event, the GOALAN project team together with project partners will share details on the positive impacts that sustainable consumption and production (SCP) practices have had for farmers and the supply chain in Kenya. […]

| Posted September 10, 2021

How Can We Live Sustainably Every Day – An Invitation to Citizens of Wuppertal and Aachen to Join “We #MoveTheDate” Workshops in September and October 2021

Despite growing climate and environmental literacy, changing our behaviour to live more sustainably can still be challenging. The project We #MoveTheDate invites citizens of Wuppertal and Aachen to join workshops and share what motivates but also hinders them in applying new behaviours. In a separate workshop, we discuss ways to support and enable civil society organisations to activate peers and fellow citizens to #MoveTheDate. The project We #MoveTheDate has looked at city level solutions as well as at projects of local community groups within the cities of Wuppertal and Aachen that have the potential to move the date of Earth […]

| Posted September 9, 2021

Join Our Workshop “The Future We Want: Broad Commitment for a Good Life” on 27 September 2021 in Wuppertal

How can we tap into the potential of local engagement for a sustainable future? Moreover, how can we invite and encourage fellow citizens to join in on this vision? The workshop “The future we want – Broad commitment for a good life” targets civil society organisations in Wuppertal and will focus on showcasing and developing ideas to engage citizens, especially those that aren’t yet actively involved in sustainability-related topics. The workshop aims to show that everyone can actively contribute to climate protection and sustainability, and in many cases serve other personal goals at the same time. The We #MoveTheDate project […]

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Accelerate the Shift to Sustainable Food Value Chains – Join the VALUMICS Final Conference on 21 September 2021!

The transition to more sustainable and climate-neutral food systems is more urgent than ever. Changes in both our production as well as consumption patterns need to happen to support such a shift. The VALUMICS project final conference will bring together key stakeholders to discuss and exchange on how such transition pathways could look like. Throughout the last four years, the VALUMICS project has worked toward providing European decision makers with a comprehensive suite of approaches and tools to evaluate the impact of policies and strategies for enhancing the resilience, integrity and sustainability of food value chains in Europe. The project’s […]

| Posted September 2, 2021

Why Food Systems Should Endorse the European Green Deal – Join us at the Bremerhaven Food Forum 22 September

Current food systems are too linear to meet the needs of the future. In food production alone, too many scarce resources are used, ecosystems are harmed, and the air is polluted. Food waste along the entire value chain is a huge problem as are conventional food packaging and unsustainable consumption practices. This should change quickly if we are to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and implement the European Green Deal in a timely manner. Ultimately, it is the only way toward making fair, healthy, and sustainable food systems the norm. Join us at the Bremerhaven Food Forum, 22 September […]

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