On January 22nd, 2026, we held our 1st Network of Interest (NoI) annual meeting, bringing together 32 members from the initiative. The event happened in the broader framework of the VISION4FOOD NoI, our collaborative growing community of 70+ members that connects diverse stakeholders to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration across food innovation ecosystems. Members engage through the project’s Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP) and project activities, contributing expertise that directly supports project actions and dissemination
The event aimed to present the project’s main concept and its first major results, alongside presentations from synergy projects within the food system ecosystem. Our coordinators from White Research led the organisation and moderation of the event, marking it the first in a series of events organised under our NoI initiative.
Perspectives on Innovation in Europe’s Food Systems
The meeting followed a structured agenda, designed to move from an overview of the VISION4FOOD vision and its community, to present examples of research and data-driven innovation approaches from our synergy projects.
Participants were guided through the following key presentations:
- Welcome and Network Introduction (White Research):
- An interactive introduction to VISION4FOOD and our NoI, presenting the project’s mission and community while actively showcasing the KEP and engaging participants by presenting the opportunities for collaboration through the community’s tools.
- Research Insights on Food Innovation (Copenhagen Business School):
An insightful presentation from our partners at the Copenhagen Business School, Showcasing the project’s first major results. The presentation included themes of key drivers and barriers shaping food innovation across Europe, drawing on research from Greece, Spain, Poland, Finland, and Italy and exploring political, economic, social, and technological perspectives. - Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability (BioCoS, Food Data Quest):
A thoughtful introduction to our synergy project FoodDataQuest, highlighting a DNA-based, AI-driven system for food sustainability and traceability and illustrating in practice how data-driven solutions can enhance transparency, prevent fraud, and drive systemic change. - Living Labs and Policy Alignment (SUSMETRO, FEAST & CLEVERFOOD):
An insightful presentation of two impactful initiative from our synergy projects: the FEAST Community of Practice and the FOOD2030 Unlock Strategy. The presentation illustrated how living labs and connected lab networks can help overcome barriers and lock-ins in food system transformation.
Highlights from the Session
The session fostered a shared and engaging understanding of VISION4FOOD’s integrated approach while highlighting its strong complementarity with other EU initiatives. By bringing together research evidence, data-driven solutions, and living lab methodologies across projects, the session created space for connection and exchange, showing how these approaches can jointly support more sustainable and resilient food systems across Europe.
The session also highlighted concrete opportunities for NoI members to be actively involved, including sharing mutual opportunities, contributing expertise, engaging through the KEP, participating in future events, and supporting dissemination and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle.
Looking forward
This meeting marked an important step in building a shared space for exchange, learning, and collaboration around food system innovation.
Moving forward, NoI members will be invited to remain actively engaged through the KEP, upcoming meetings, and joint dissemination activities. These continued interactions will support our ambition to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems and contribute to more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems across Europe.
If you are interested in joining the conversation, you can get involved by registering to the VISION4FOOD Network of Interest.
If you missed the event, you can rewatch the recordings on our YouTube channel or find them below.