About HDHL F4H
Aligning research for healthier people and a sustainable food system.
Abstract
HDHL Food4Health addresses the intertwined challenges of food and diet-related Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Climate Change by fostering collaboration and aligning research efforts across food, health, and environment areas. Through a participatory approach, HDHL Food4Health widens the HDHL network and organises co-creation workshops to identify common Research & Innovation (R&I) priorities. It aims to overcome siloed approaches by coordinating activities among government, academia, industry, and citizens, enhancing societal impact at national and regional levels. Leveraging its connections with researchers, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders, HDHL supports its members in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by aligning food and health systems. The initiative facilitates joint funding calls and implements transdisciplinary research actions to maximise impact and address urgent societal challenges. By promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange, HDHL Food4Health aims to catalyse a shift towards healthier and more sustainable food systems, ultimately contributing to improved public health and environmental sustainability.
The main objective of HDHL Food4Health is to align common R&I priorities among funding programmes by identifying research and policy needs, whilst continuing to align both with the Horizon Europe (HE) Partnerships and the needs identified by the European Commission.
Theory of Change
HDHL Food4Health works across many levels — from aligning funders to supporting policy and practice. The Theory of Change helps explain how these pieces fit together. It shows how the project’s objectives feed into activities, how these produce concrete results, and how those results lead to broader societal and environmental impacts. The sections below give a concise overview of this logic.
Change Pathway
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- Deepening the ERA & access to excellence (EI2, EI4): stronger coordination, wider participation, shared tools & training.
- Coordinated national/regional programmes (EI3): pooled resources, aligned agendas, joint calls.
- Prioritised investments for twin transitions (EI1): clear RIPI priorities steering funds where they deliver most value.
- Alignment with societal needs (EI5): co‑creation, citizen engagement (e.g., food policy councils), practice & policy uptake.
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- Agreed common RIPI priorities and coordinated funding agendas (EO1)
- Multiannual joint calls funding transnational R&I projects (EO2)
- Joint activities advancing technology, regulation & societal uptake (EO3)
- Contributions to SDGs 2, 3, 12 (EO4)
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WP1 – Coordination & Alignment (ZonMw)
WP1 ensures the smooth coordination and management of HDHL Food4Health, keeping the project on time, on budget, and aligned with its objectives. It connects the CSA with the broader HDHL initiative, Horizon Europe Partnerships and Missions, and other relevant projects. WP1 also supports the functioning of the Strategic Board and HDHL governance bodies, represents the project at key events, and maintains close liaison with the European Commission.
WP2 – RIPI Priorities (EV‑ILVO)
WP2 identifies and aligns common Research, Innovation, Policy and Implementation (RIPI) priorities across HDHL Member States, widening countries, Horizon Europe Partnerships, FOOD2030 projects, and other initiatives. Through an inclusive and multidisciplinary process, WP2 brings stakeholders together to update and harmonise priorities at the intersection of nutrition, health and environment. These priorities provide the strategic foundation for joint actions in WP3, WP4 and WP5.
WP3 – Joint Research Calls & Activities (ILSI)
WP3 explores and implements funding mechanisms that best support the RIPI priorities developed in WP2. It maps opportunities for collaboration with national, regional and nongovernmental funders, and prepares at least one transnational joint research call. WP3 also connects Early Career Networks (ECNs) across domains, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and contributing to longerterm uptake of research into practice and policy.
WP4 – Co‑creation pathways to uptake (EPHA)
WP4 strengthens connections between research, policy and practice by piloting open, inclusive and participatory pathways for implementing evidence. It brings together topdown structures (e.g., national consultative groups) with bottomup approaches (e.g., citizen food policy councils), documenting what works through a living compendium of good practices. The aim is to accelerate societal uptake of research results, enhance trust in science, and ensure that R&I responds to real societal needs and values.
WP5 – Fostering integrated collaboration (ZonMw)
WP4 strengthens connections between research, policy and practice by piloting open, inclusive and participatory pathways for implementing evidence. It brings together topdown structures (e.g., national consultative groups) with bottomup approaches (e.g., citizen food policy councils), documenting what works through a living compendium of good practices. The aim is to accelerate societal uptake of research results, enhance trust in science, and ensure that R&I responds to real societal needs and values.
WP6 – Communication, impact building & dissemination (EFAD)
WP6 makes project results visible, accessible and useful to a broad range of stakeholders. It leads strategic communication and dissemination, develops targeted training and materials, and coordinates engagement activities. WP6 also designs the HDHL Food4Health Impact Framework — a tool for measuring both short and longterm impact, supporting projects and funding programmes in planning for, achieving and demonstrating meaningful contributions to the SDGs.
Relation to HDHL
The CSA HDHL Food4Health operates under the HDHL network, but is not identical to HDHL. HDHL runs additional, ongoing activities; Food4Health benefits from HDHL’s established network, infrastructure and experience—creating strong synergies in agenda‑setting, calls and dissemination.
Funding
Horizon Europe
- Call: HORIZON‑WIDERA‑2024‑ERA‑01
- Topic: HORIZON‑WIDERA‑2024‑ERA‑01‑01
- Type of action: Coordination and Support Action
- Grant Agreement: 1011883513
Contact
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.