Centre receives extended funding from Mistra for food research

The research funding agency Mistra has decided to continue funding Mistra Food Futures for research on a sustainable and resilient food system. In this second phase, the program is allocated SEK 64 million for a period of four and a half years. In its first phase, the research program has worked on scenarios and goals for Sweden's future food system, food system targets and indicators, and barriers and bridges to food system transformation.

“The overarching vision of the program is to be a science-based platform that contributes to transforming the Swedish food system into one that is sustainable, resilient, and delivers healthy dietary habits,” says Centre director Line Gordon.

Mistra Food Futures, hosted by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU, takes a holistic approach to all stages of the food system and develops strategies that will contribute to a sustainable and resilient food system. The program was awarded research funding from Mistra and started in autumn 2020. At the beginning of the year, the program's work was evaluated by an international panel of experts.

Due to the current complex world situation, the program will in phase two put even more focus on resilience and food preparedness and include research on the transformation of the Swedish food system in a global context. The program will also initiate Mistra Food Futures Academy to train the next generation of researchers in the field. To increase the implementation of the research, a so-called transition lab will be launched together with the program partners.

The program host is SLU and the main partners are the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University, RISE and the Beijer Institute at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The programme has a large number of partners from academia, state agencies, industry organisations, and businesses.