FOODPathS Festival: Building tomorrow’s Sustainable Food Systems together

Day 2: 21 May 2025 — Landing the SFS Partnership prototype into the reality

09:00-09:15 | Discussing the Partnership’s puzzle pieces – Introduction (Plenary, livestream📺)

Day 2 dives into the key “puzzle pieces” of the FOODPathS prototype. After a brief intro, participants join parallel sessions on topics like education, funding, inclusiveness, and more. Each session offers space to exchange experiences, share best practices, and give feedback on how FOODPathS results could be applied at local, national, or global levels.

09:15-10:45 | From the prototype to the reality (Parallel sessions)

Choose from the following sessions:

Session 1.1 – A “Manual” for a Partnership

Setting up or involved in a partnership? This session introduces the FOODPathS Manual—a practical guide built on 3 years of work. It covers key elements like governance, funding, engagement, and more. Join the interactive discussion to explore the Manual, suggest missing pieces, and share ideas for its use.

Session 1.2 – Transforming funding approaches for transformative food systems R&I

To transform food systems, R&I funding must support systems thinking and co-creation. Over two years, the FOODPathS Funders Forum explored how to better align strategies and stakeholders across the funding cycle. In this interactive “drive-through” session, we’ll revisit key insights and invite you to validate and build on them. Help co-shape the future of research funding!

Session 1.3 – Enhancing collaboration through the Knowledge Hub

This joint session with FOODPathS and FutureFoodS explores building a shared European Knowledge Hub to accelerate food systems transformation. You’ll hear key insights, see case studies from Food System Labs, and help co-design a collaborative space to connect people, ideas, and initiatives. Join us to shape a platform that bridges silos and drives sustainable change.

☕ ☕10:45-11:15 | Coffee Break, Networking & Posters ☕☕

11:15-12:45 | From the prototype to the reality (Parallel sessions)

Choose from the following sessions:

Session 2.1 – Portfolio management, science advice and education: what is the link?

This session presents the ‘RIPE’ framework, focusing on science-to-policy and education. It will explore how portfolio management helps align food systems education with policy goals. Short talks and a panel discussion will dive into stakeholder needs and critically assess RIPE’s role in bridging education and policy.

Session 2.2 – Inclusive Partnerships in real-life: a major challenge

This session explores how food system actors are engaged, their voices heard, and their actions aligned to tackle global and local challenges. After a short intro on creating inclusive partnerships, speakers will share practical examples to spark discussion with attendees.

🥗 🥗12:45-14:15 | Lunch Break 🥗🥗

14:15-15:30 | Bringing all the puzzle pieces together (Plenary, livestream📺)

The session will start with the presentation of the main insights coming from each parallel sessions, followed by a panel discussion in which food systems’ actors will comment and discuss around the morning sessions

14:15-14:45 | Reports from parallel sessions

Short pitches from rapporteurs of each session.

14:45-15:30 | Composing the puzzle: how can it work in the real world?

From 15:30 | Discovering, sharing and learning: examples of partnerships in the real world (Study visits, capacity building)

Participants can explore real-life partnerships through optional study visits. A separate registration link is sent by the EUFIC team after conference sign-up. Most visits take place on a different venue with FOODPathS staff guiding the way (except Option 2). Spots are limited and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Options include:

Option 1 – Visiting the Ferme du parc Maximilien & Cocktail (📍Quai du Batelage 2)

The Ferme du Parc Maximilien, an urban farm since 1989, promotes environmental awareness and education through ecological events in Brussels. It offers a biodiversity hub with sustainable initiatives like collective gardens, renewable energy, and waste management. Beyond education, it fosters cultural initiatives and social cohesion through partnerships. The tour will highlight urban farming innovations and end with local product tastings and a cocktail.

Option 2 – How to Apply Social Norms to Reduce Food Waste & Networking-Apéro (Capacity building 📍Ateliers des Tanneurs)

Ever cooked too much food or been too shy to ask for a doggy bag? It’s all about social norms—unwritten rules shaping our behavior. If you’re working to reduce food waste, the CHORIZO Project offers a capacity-building program to help! Learn to identify social norms, understand their impact on food waste, and design your own interventions. The session ends with networking over drinks and snacks!

Option 3 –  “No Waste Republic”: the “taste” of food circularity (📍Rue Ropsy Chaudron 24)

No Waste Republic, founded in 2022, is pioneering the food industry’s shift to a circular model by upcycling surplus bread into high-quality breadcrumbs for breaded products. During this visit, explore the challenges and opportunities of reducing food waste and creating a circular business. Learn how innovations like No Waste Republic are turning discarded ingredients into delicious products, with a chance to taste their sustainable creations.

Option 4 – Visiting the BIGH aquaponic urban farm and products’ tasting (📍Rue Ropsy Chaudron 24)

BIGH (Building Integrated GreenHouses) is a Brussels-based company pioneering sustainable urban agriculture with aquaponic farms on unused rooftops. They combine fish farming, hydroponics, and smart energy to produce fresh vegetables, herbs, and fish with minimal environmental impact. Visit their flagship project, Ferme Abattoir, to explore their eco-friendly food systems, learn about aquaponics, and taste their products.