In 2022 werd de Vlaamse voedselstrategie voorgesteld. Ze vormt de basis om te werken aan een beter voedselsysteem in Vlaanderen en om dringende uitdagingen aan te pakken in verschillende domeinen: gezondheid, milieu en klimaat, economische en sociale veerkracht, innovatie. In deze sectie behandelen we in het Engels het internationale luik van de Vlaamse voedselstrategie (Go4Food).
In the Flemish food strategy, a systems approach is applied, because everyone, from field to fork, is involved in the transformation of the food system. The strategy consists of four pillars: healthy and sustainable food for all, food system within ecological limits, full commitment to a resilient food economy and food connects farmers to citizens. Nineteen strategic objectives have been formulated under these pillars. A food coalition composed of representatives from the agri-food chain, civil society, research and policy, participated in the development process.
The strategy consists also of cross-policy food projects on various topics, from sustainable protein supply through reducing food loss to promoting local food, and results in several food deals, promising leverage actions where several partners step up and fill gaps in action, research and policy in a targeted manner.
In March 2023 the Flemish Government organised during the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union the Open Food Conference. Over 20 partner organizations and 700 international participants – from policy makers, scientists and NGOs to farmers and stakeholders in the food industry and the agrifood community – had an open dialogue on the future of sustainable food. Goals and ambitions were set.
Some of the key messages from the more than 30 sessions:
- We need a systemic approach in building and implementing a strategy towards sustainable food systems (that incorporates short-, medium- and long-term goals).
- There is no dichotomy between food security and the sustainable transition. The two
- challenges go hand in hand.
- We need a new narrative for agriculture that re-values agriculture and depolarizes the debate: a positive story that brings hope and perspective.
- The protein shift towards more plant-based and alternative proteins offers opportunities for prosperity, environment and health in Europe. There is a large support for a European protein strategy, currently being discussed.
- The healthy choice should be the easiest choice. Healthy food environments should be shaped and the potential of public procurement should be harnessed, as it is considered one of the most powerful tools to change dietary habits in a more sustainable and healthy way.
The Flemish food policy fits into the EU framework of the Farm to Fork strategy. This strategy is part of the European Green Deal and aims to make food systems fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly. The European Commission launched its proposal in 2020.
The United Nations (UN) encourages actions to transform global food systems and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In September 2021, the UN Food Systems Summit took place, where the Flemish Minister of Food spoke in the role of National Convenor for the Member State Dialogue in Belgium. The international best practices and outcomes of the UN summit inspired the Flemish food strategy in the making. The UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment took place in Rome in July 2023.