VISION4FOOD’s 1st Network of Interest Annual Metting: Connecting Food Innovation Ecosystems

On January 22^nd, 2026, the VISION4FOOD project held its 1^st Network of Interest (NoI) annual meeting, bringing together 32 members from the initiative. The event happened in the broader framework of the VISION4FOOD Network of Interest, a 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. White Research led the organisation and moderation of the event, marking it the first in a series of events organised under the 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 synergy projects.

Participants were guided through the following key presentations:

• Welcome and Network Introduction (White Research, VISION4FOOD):
  An interactive introduction to VISION4FOOD and its 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, VISION4FOOD):
  An insightful presentation of the project’s first major results, including 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 the FoodDataQuest project, 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 the FEAST Community of Practice and the FOOD2030 Unlock Strategy, illustrating 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 NoImembers 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.

Recordings of the presentations are available on the project’s YouTube channel, at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@VISION4FOODProjectEU

Looking forward

This meeting marked an important step in building a shared space for exchange, learning, and collaboration around food system innovation.

Moving forward, NoImembers will be invited to remain actively engaged through the KEP, upcoming meetings, and joint dissemination activities. These continued interactions will support VISION4FOOD’s 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: https://vision4foodproject-kep.eu/noi_registration