FoSSNet Kick-off Meeting

FoSSNet officially kicked off in February 2024 with an online meeting where all partners participated and shared their plans and activities. Two months later, in April, the consortium met once again, this time in person in Roskilde, Denmark. 

Hosted by the FoSSNet coordination team at Roskilde University, partners gathered for the onsite kick-off meeting. This three-day event, held from 24 to 26 April, included interactive workshops where partners collectively brainstormed and defined activities for the project’s first year. 

What topics were addressed during the meeting? 

The workshops during the onsite kick-off meeting covered critical questions that sparked interesting discussions and valuable exchange of ideas.  

The first day focused on the design of the FoSSNet conceptual framework to find a shared understanding and language of food system concepts, not only for the science community but also for the people working on the ground, to help achieve a sustainable transformation. Potential collaborations and synergies with other projects/initiatives working in food systems were also explored.  

The second day included discussions on how to build and grow a long-lasting pan-European food system science network and covered the inclusive approach that FoSSNet aims to implement throughout its lifespan. The day ended with reflections on challenging questions about food systems literacy, namely what it is, how can we achieve it and assess it. 

On the third and last day of the meeting, partners participated in discussions about food systems research agenda and in a final workshop to co-create the communication strategies for the FoSSNet project. 

Food for thought for FoSSNet’s next steps and activities 

The in person kick-off meeting was a valuable opportunity to reflect about and align the project’s direction based on key elements frequently mentioned during these three days: the importance of systems thinking and inter- and transdisciplinarity to achieve food systems transformation.  

The closer interaction and constructive mindset allowed a deeper understanding of the work each partner is developing and, at the same time, to collect feedback and diverse perspectives to enrich it. Partners left Roskilde with lots of inspiration and motivation to continue working on the project’s activities, which will soon be reflected in exciting outcomes and opportunities for you to get involved with the project. Stay up to date with the FoSSNet developments by following our LinkedIn page.