Researchers at the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute (ECI) have developed a new report bringing together food system data from across the 27 countries of the European Union. It aims to help researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders understand the status of the different parts of the food system, how they are connected and where further research or changes may be needed.
Produced as part of the Food Systems Science Network (FoSSNet) project, the report looks at the factors that shape the food system, the people and organisations involved in producing, processing, distributing and consuming food, and the effects on the environment, society and the economy.
Drawing on existing research and data, the report brings these different elements together using the FoSSNet Conceptual Framework. It highlights how they interact, as well as gaps in the available evidence. This provides a starting point for exploring potential pressures and challenges within the food system and identifying areas that need further investigation.
Dr Monika Zurek, Associate Professor and Lead of ECI’s Food Systems Transformation Group, said:
We hope this report will be a useful starting point for researchers, policymakers and others working on food systems in Europe. By bringing together evidence from across the EU food system, it allows people to explore different parts of the system and see how they are connected. It also helps to identify gaps in our knowledge and consider where further research and policy attention are needed.”
The report is accompanied by an interactive online tool, allowing users to explore the evidence and navigate between different parts of the food system.
Read the pre-print report: EU Food System Map
Access the interactive online tool via the FoSSNet website.