Joint policy brief on funding food and health R&I through FP10
Stakeholders active at the nexus of food, health and sustainability are calling for enhanced flexibility of funding under FP10 that facilitates integration of research disciplines, uptake of research results, and a shift from individual to systemic determinants of health. United through the Healthy Diet, Healthy Life (HDHL) initiative and the European CLEVERFOOD and FOODPathS projects, experts have outlined their recommendations to help shape Europe’s next Horizon R&I funding programme (FP10). They also offer pathways to hit the ground running for Europe’s health, wellbeing and competitiveness.
A competitive Europe relies on the health of its population. HDHL, CLEVERFOOD and FOODPathS therefore commend the EC for its significant efforts and investments in health, food and sustainability through past Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development. However, despite these investments Europe still faces major challenges: chronic diseases, unhealthy diets, unsustainable and vulnerable food systems, and social inequalities.
If European partners are serious about its long-term competitiveness and its health and well-being, the research and innovation underpinning it needs much stronger integration of health, food and sustainability. The upcoming Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2028 – 2034 is a key opportunity to build on the strong foundations established in Horizon Europe 2021 – 2027 and to transform food, health and social systems.
The key recommendations outlined in the statement are:
- Make partnerships and other funding instruments more functional, coherent, and flexible to support inter- and transdisciplinary research and implementation
- Integrate health, food and sustainability research across sectors and disciplines and involve all levels of governance
- Strengthen pathways for research output to reach policy, practice and innovation
- Prioritise integrated research agendas that address social, commercial, and systemic determinants of health and food systems, moving away from individualistic narratives
We invite all stakeholders to read the full policy brief here and join in advocating for stronger integration of health, food and sustainability research that supports Europe’s future competitiveness as well as its health and well-being.