Food System Working Group

Contacts:

Karri Kallio, R&D manager, SEAMK

karri.kallio@seamk.fi

Taru Mäki, R&D Manager, SEAMK

taru.maki@seamk.fi

Description of the aims and goals of WG’s activities

The Food Systems Working Group has been active since 2021 and currently involves almost 30 member regions. Its main aim is to facilitate regional collaboration and influence regional policymaking towards more sustainable food systems. The group operates primarily through regional administrations and EU-level research projects, partnerships (e.g. FutureFoodS), and Smart Specialisation (S3) thematic platforms. By connecting regional stakeholders, the WG supports knowledge exchange, joint initiatives, and policy learning to strengthen the regional dimension of Europe’s sustainable food transition.

Challenges to address

Our thematic challenges are related to:

  1. Strengthening consumer trust in European food safety.
  2. Generating value from the high diversity of European food systems.
  3. Enabling local and small-scale actors to access R&I outcomes and improve their market position.

Member list

Name of entity/organization

State/Region/City

Inagro

Belgium/Flanders/Brussels

Central Denmark Region

Denmark/Jutland/Viborg

Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia, ProAgria Oulu

Finland/Oulu region/Oulu

Regional Council of Satakunta

Finland/Satakunta region/Pori

Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences

Finland/South Ostrobothnia region/Seinäjoki

South Savo Regional Council

Finland/South Savo region/Mikkeli

Bretagne Développement Innovation

France/Bretagne/Rennes

Pays de la Loire

France/Pays de la Loire/Nantes

Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia

Greece/Region of Central Macedonia/Thessaloniki

AgrifoodFVG cluster agency

Italy/Friuli Venezia Giulia/Trieste

Regione Sardinia

Italy/Sardinia/Carliari

Laimburg Research Centre , Procvinca do Bolzano

Italy/South Tyrol/Bolzano

Tuscany Region Brussels Office

Italy/Tuscany/Florence

Vidzeme Planning Region

Latvia/Vidzeme Planning/Valmiera

Oost NL

Netherlands/Gelderland/Arnheim

Regional Government Province Limburg

Netherlands/Limburg/Maastricht

Noord Holland

Netherlands/North Holland/Haarlem

Regio Foodvalley

Netherlands/Wageningen

Zuid-Holland

Netherlands/South Holland/Hague

Mid-Norway European Office

Norway/Trøndelag/Steinkjer

Agency for the Management of Agriculture and Fisheries of Andalusia

Spain/Andalucia/Seville

Agrifood Research and Technology Center of Aragón (CITA)

Spain/Aragon/Zaragoza

HAZI Foundation

Spain/Basque country/Vitoria-Gasteiz

Institute for Business Competitiveness of Castilla y León

Spain/Castilla y León/ Valladolid

Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda

Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona

Estremadura, CICYTEX

Spain/Estremadura/Merida