RegioFoodS

Food systems evolve within complex spatial environments where actors, production methods, and cultural practices interact to create foodscapes. Although this complexity is widely acknowledged, most studies focus on isolated scales or components, often overlooking vulnerabilities and the interdependencies that create systemic lock-ins.

RegioFoodS addresses this gap over 36 months through collaboration among researchers, public and private organisations, and practitioners from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. The project will:
• define and compare the main components of seven regional food systems (RFS) in the Nordic–Baltic region and assess their vulnerabilities (WP1);
• map RFS stakeholders, establish seven Regional Task Forces, and trace the flow of three selected foods from production to disposal in each region (WP2);
• evaluate long-term resilience and identify leverage points for action (WP3);
• develop scenarios to 2050 and create seven cross-sectoral regional strategic plans based on the project’s data (WP4);
• launch a Transnational Nordic–Baltic Observatory on Food System Resilience, supported by the Task Forces (WP5);
• carry out communication activities and build synergies with other initiatives (WP6).

RegioFoodS integrates innovative methodologies, including food systems analysis, problem-solving frameworks, and the Theory of Change, to design effective interventions that strengthen the sustainability and resilience of regional food systems.

The project will deliver a robust methodology for mapping and assessing long-term food system resilience in the Nordic–Baltic region, applicable at national and transnational scales. It will identify leverage points, support coordinated governance, and provide policy recommendations. A key focus is the role of food businesses in strengthening resilience.

By engaging stakeholders and building regional expertise, RegioFoodS enhances the capacity of regions to address food system challenges with solutions that are relevant, sustainable, and future-proof. Cross-border collaboration will help drive a just transition. The project aligns with national Food System Pathways, the SDGs, the European Green Deal, the Nordic Vision, Generation 2030, and the Karlstad Declaration.