In English: Food Futures

The Finnish and the global food system are facing many sustainability challenges. Promoting sustainable food production and consumption requires action at a systemic level and by all actors from agricultural producers to consumers and policymakers. A better understanding is needed of how different actors’ expectations and capacity for change meet, how cooperation and interaction can be promoted, and under what conditions policy measures are acceptable from the point of view of different actors.

This project examines agricultural entrepreneurs’ and consumers’ expectations for the sustainability of the food system. It aims at advancing a shared view about policy measures and changes that will be needed, and at increasing the ability of particularly agricultural entrepreneurs to anticipate and make changes. The multidisciplinary project carries out (1) a survey and interviews with agricultural entrepreneurs, (2) a survey for consumers and analysis of other related data, and (3) an analysis of food futures including a mapping of future images, development of a ‘future tool’, and workshops aimed at food system actors.

The project will provide extensive future-oriented information for food system actors on the ongoing and expected developments as well as on opportunities and tensions in the production and consumption of food. It identifies potential for and dynamics of change in different operating environments, develops a tool for the actors to enhance their competences in advancing and managing paths to more sustainable food futures, and creates interaction and mutual understanding among actors on ways to reach sustainability goals.