FoSSNet Oxford Conference 2025

Resources & Highlights

Day 1 – 25th March 202

Session 1: Defining Food Systsems and Food Systems Science

The first session of the FoSSNet 2025 Conference set the stage for an ambitious and collaborative journey: the development of a conceptual framework and definition for food system science. This foundational step aims to create a shared understanding of the field — one that can guide research, policy, and practice moving forward.

Throughout the day, participants were invited to contribute to the evolving definition, reflect on the current state of food system science, and help shape its future. Talks and discussions explored its role in transforming food systems, and laid the groundwork for building a dedicated science network that can support cross-sectoral collaboration.

This first step is just the beginning — feedback from the community will be essential to refine and strengthen the framework as it evolves.

Click on the images to access the respective presentation’s slides.

Day 2 AM – 26th March 2025

Session 2: Assessing the State of Food Systems Science

Session 2 focused on assessing the current state of food system science (FSS) in Europe and laying the foundation for a Pan-European FSS network. The aim was to build a shared understanding of how FSS is currently organised — across both research and education — and to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities that can guide future collaboration.

Keynotes by Silvia Scaramuzzi (University of Florence) and Thom Achterbosch (WUR) introduced recent research and mapping efforts, highlighting areas such as network structure, research needs, and the application of systems thinking in R&I projects. A co-designed portfolio analysis of over 30 EU-funded projects revealed thematic imbalances (e.g. a strong focus on processing and supply, but less on diets and governance), as well as the need for shared datasets, better evaluation tools, and more interdisciplinary work.

Participants then broke into interactive breakout sessions featuring short project pitches, where speakers shared insights on their networks and initiatives — including their structures, unique approaches, and the organisational challenges they’ve faced. These discussions led to a focused conversation on the organisational gaps and opportunities within the field, feeding into the development of a science network that is inclusive, transparent, and built to last.

The session concluded with a plenary synthesis, capturing collective reflections and surfacing priorities for shaping the network — from supporting early-career researchers to strengthening connections between research, policy, and education. This session marked a key step in aligning efforts across Europe to support a stronger, more connected field of food system science.

Click on the images to access the respective presentation’s slides.

Day 2 PM – 26th March 2025

Session 3: Food Systems Science in Food Systems Transformation

Session 3 focused on the practical role of food system science (FSS) in enabling food systems transformation (FST). Building on the conceptual groundwork of the previous sessions, it brought the community together to reflect on how science can actively support systemic change — and what’s needed to make that happen.

The session had two main goals:
🔹 To explore the role of FSS in transformation
🔹 To develop recommendations for a science network that can support this across Europe

It opened with a keynote by Corinna Hawkes (FAO) on embracing complexity, systems thinking, and systems doing, followed by a Breakout group activity, where participants discussed challenges and shared successful examples of transformation.

The second part of the afternoon featured a panel and second round of breakout discussions, framed by the roundtable “Expectations toward food system science: What do we need for food system transformation?”, with Visi Garcia (Catalan Government) and La Michelle (FAN International). Discussions highlighted how to strengthen science-policy-society interfaces and better involve diverse actors.

By the end of the session, participants began shaping concrete recommendations for a Pan-European FSS Network, including:

• Identifying key challenges to FSS impact

• Highlighting enablers of transformation

• Proposing structural steps to support a collaborative, action-oriented science field

This session marked a key step in defining the vision and infrastructure of food system science as a driver of transformation.

Click on the images to access the respective presentation’s slides.

Day 3 –  27th March 2025

Session 4: Strategising the actions to establish the Food Systems Science Network and mobilise its members

The final day of the Conference shifted the focus from defining food system science (FSS) to building the network that will carry it forward. Following a recap of previous sessions, the day centered on turning ideas into action — how to structure the network, engage stakeholders, and lay the groundwork for FoSSNet’s long-term impact.

The session opened with a summary of Day 2’s key takeaways, including the importance of engaging diverse actors, recognising differing motivations, and creating inclusive spaces for participation. Discussions moved toward how to make the network work, exploring recommendations on transparency, collaboration models, and managing conflicts of interest – all with an eye toward co-creation and legacy-building.

Click on the images to access the respective presentation’s slides.

Key contributions included talks by George Beers (WUR), who brought insights from the innovation governance field, and Trang Nguyen (WUR), who presented a social network analysis of the Fornet project, demonstrating how relationships between actors can shape network effectiveness.

The day culminated in a hands-on breakout activity, where participants contributed to shaping the value proposition of the FoSSNet network — defining its purpose, identifying key actions, and providing input on how to move forward together. The session emphasized creating an inclusive, collaborative, and well-strategized science network that bridges disciplines, sectors, and geographies.

With energy and commitment high, Day 3 marked a forward-looking close to the conference, setting the stage for the joint development of a Pan-European Food System Science Network that is both ambitious and grounded in community ownership.