Ecofoodsystems

EcoFoodSystems aims to develop a systems-based approach for agroecological transitions of urban and peri-urban food systems for improved health and climate resilience

Agroecological transitions towards climate-resilient food systems are essential for sustainable environmental, food security and livelihood outcomes. Transitioning to resilient, environmentally sustainable agroecological models of production requires overcoming major barriers to scaling at multiple levels (farms, landscapes, national & global value chains). Research and innovation activities are needed to enable scaling of agroecological innovations and evidence-based transitions to climate-resilience food systems across interlinked urban, peri-urban and rural communities.

Despite important advances around national scale food system data (e.g. Food System Dashboards), significant gaps remain on how to translate data into actionable information for decision makers, especially at the subnational level. The EcoFoodSystems project will place particular emphasis on linking national to subnational food systems (including data systems for decision-support) in each of the three countries under study to demonstrate how to generate sustainable data streams for decision-making that are relevant and actionable for both scales. 

EcoFoodSystems recognises the food systems connectivity between rural hinterlands and city regions as a key nexus for agroecological transitions towards more climate-resilient food systems. By 2050, more than two thirds of the world population will be living in urban areas, the majority living in cities.

A rural-urban food systems transition focus is critical to ensuring sustainable rural development in concert with transitioning of food systems in city regions towards more sustainable, resilient, and healthy dietary outcomes.

Evidence-based agroecological transitions towards climate-resilient food systems are important for sustainable environmental, food security and livelihood outcomes.

Transitioning to resilient, environmentally sustainable agroecological models of production requires overcoming major barriers to scaling at multiple levels (farms, landscapes, national & global value chains).

Research and innovation activities are needed to enable scaling of agroecological innovations and evidence-based transitions to climate-resilience food systems across interlinked urban, peri-urban and rural communities.

Despite important advances around national scale food system data significant gaps remain on how to translate data into actionable information for decision makers, especially at the subnational level.

The EcoFoodSystems project places particular emphasis on linking national to subnational food systems (including data systems for decision-support) to generate sustainable data streams for decision-making that are relevant and actionable for both scales. 

Partners

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND GALWAY

The National University of Ireland Galway is the lead applicant in LEG4DEV and is a public research university located in the city of Galway, Ireland.

Wageningen University

Wageningen University & Research is a public university in Wageningen, Netherlands, specializing in technical and engineering subjects and an important center for life sciences and agricultural research

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CIAT-Bioversity Alliance

Bioversity International is a global research-for-development organization that delivers scientific evidence, management practices and policy options to safeguard agricultural biodiversity.

Rikolto International

Rikolto is an international NGO with more than 40 years’ experience in partnering with farmer organisations and food chain stakeholders across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

University of Galway, University Rd, Galway, Ireland