About the project
FOSTER ('Fostering food system transformation by integrating heterogeneous perspectives in knowledge and innovation within the ERA') is an EU-funded research project aimed at transforming Europe's food systems to be more sustainable, resilient, and equitable. The project brings together a consortium of research institutions and Change Drive initiatives from Spain, the Netherlands, Serbia, Germany, and Hungary. These initiatives collaborate with their research partners to co-create research questions and projects that address various aspects of the food system, contributing to comprehensive food system transformation. By integrating diverse knowledge, FOSTER explores effective strategies for systemic change and enhances governance structures at local, national, and European levels to support and sustain this transformation. The outcomes will support the development of summer schools on various themes and offer tools and best practice examples to advance food systems transformation and enable systemic change.
Our local research partner is the Food Policy Council for the Stuttgart City Region (Ernährungsrat StadtRegion Stuttgart e.V.), which was established from a long-standing initiative and has been financially supported by the City of Stuttgart since June 2022. This organization aims to create a platform for regional food production and fair conditions for producers, trade, and consumers, similar to initiatives in Cologne, Berlin, and Freiburg.
In the initial project phase, we worked to understand the Food Policy Council’s vision, needs, and challenges, which helped us identify leverage points for their food system transformation efforts. In the next phase, while not directly part of the "Stuttgart Bean Day" project, we are supporting this initiative through our research. The "Stuttgart Bean Day" promotes the inclusion of local legumes in institutional catering, offering advice, recipes, and action programs to kitchens, caterers, and farmers. Funded by the Ministry of Food and the City of Stuttgart, the project aims to enhance local food systems. Our research will involve collaboration with the Food Policy Council and a local canteen to support the canteen's transformation efforts and contribute insights that may benefit the Food Policy Council and similar initiatives.
