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Interreg builds resilient and sustainable food systems
A resilient food system is shaped long before a meal reaches the plate
It depends on access to healthy planting material, reliable public meal services, strong local producers, effective procurement and what happens to food that is not consumed.
Many organisations across the Baltic Sea region already knew what needed to change, but lacked the knowledge and experience to tackle it alone. Interreg gave them the capacity to act together on this: to combine expertise across countries and sectors, build skills and develop solutions that respond to shared needs.
Testing these solutions in different countries and local settings makes them more robust and easier to adapt elsewhere. Organisations across the region can build on tested models, tools and guidance, saving time and resources. New connections across the food system also help strengthen local supply, reduce waste, use resources more efficiently, and better prepare for change and disruption.
At EU level, this work reflects the direction of the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Common Agricultural Policy, including their aims for food security, vibrant rural areas and safe, nutritious food. It also connects with EU efforts to prepare for disruptions to food supply and with binding food-waste reduction targets for 2030.
Stronger food supply
- Action plan for local seed potatoes for national authorities and sectoral agencies to improve access to disease-free planting material and locally bred potato varieties
- Portfolio of solutions for land-based aquaculture for public authorities and businesses to develop fish and shrimp farming that reuses water from energy production and geothermal systems
- Manual for sustainable culinary tourism services helps food producers in rural areas diversify their businesses and develop new sources of income
- Support for e-marketing of local bio products helps rural SMEs reach new customers and strengthen their competitiveness
- Solutions for a commercial Round Goby fishery helps turn an invasive fish species into a food resource
Healthier meals at schools and public institutions
- Farm-to-School programme connects schools with local farmers, producers and distributors to bring more fresh, locally produced food into school meals
- Sustainable Public Meal Toolkit+ helps public authorities and meal providers make catering in schools, hospitals, day-care centres and other public institutions healthier and more sustainable
- Crisis Management Support Package helps public authorities and meal providers prepare action plans to keep public meal services running during crises
- Dynamic Food Procurement helps municipalities and public kitchens adapt their purchasing to local food supply
Circular food systems and less waste
- FoodLoops cooperation model helps municipalities, schools, caterers, farmers and waste-management services prevent food waste, improve bio-waste sorting and turn unavoidable food waste into compost
- Setting the Table for a Circular FoodShift framework helps municipalities plan food-waste prevention, local sourcing, circular cooking and public procurement
- Digital hub of tools and good practices helps municipalities plan more circular and sustainable food systems
- Solutions for shifting from single-use to reusable food packaging and crockery help reduce packaging waste in food delivery and catering systems.Â
Supporting the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
Our projects play a vital role in achieving the ambitious goals of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). Its Policy Area Bioeconomy identifies stronger food-system resilience and rural cohesion as regional priorities, including through cooperation among food-system actors, more resilient local production and shorter supply chains. Interreg projects help put these priorities into practice by testing solutions and sharing experience across the region.
More solutions on the way
Ongoing projects are testing new ways to make food systems healthier, more inclusive and more resilient. They are developing sensory food education for healthier school meals and inclusive school food environments where all children, including those with special needs, can enjoy balanced meals and participate equally.
In rural areas, new approaches connect local food, nature and cultural traditions with well-being tourism, helping small businesses reach new customers and local communities thrive. Other solutions focus on revitalising local marketplaces, engaging young people to help connect local producers with consumers and turn markets into attractive, community-driven spaces that strengthen local economies and resilience.
20+ years of cooperation in the region
In the early 2000s, Interreg projects worked on enhancing the competitiveness of local food industry and food suppliers in the region. Not only did they help innovate processes in the food production, but also boosted local and regional food chains from a farmer to a consumer, and improved access to new markets.
A growing importance of healthy and sustainable food brought first concepts of eco-regions into life. Moreover, Interreg paved a way for ecological recycling agriculture, which recycles nutrients through a balanced diverse crop rotation. 20 information centres educated farmers, children, policy makers and others how to reduce the environmental impact of the food sector. Diet for a Clean Baltic changed food habits in municipalities around the Baltic Sea, e.g. at schools and social institutions in Swedish Södertälje municipality. Interreg achievements firmly resonated through the Sustainable Food Systems Program of the United Nations.
In the years 2014-2020, by reaching out to 4,000 SMEs and 330 food networks, Interreg strengthened food distribution among small food producers, farmers, food processors, stores, restaurants and others. An open demo-farm network of fruit-growing companies in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland trained over 500 enterprises, and established an exchange among fruit-growers within and across the countries. Reviewed and optimised authentication and quality methods for berries and berry-based food products opened up new markets for local producers. Experimenting with macroalgae cultivation untapped the potential of aquaculture. Finally, Interreg projects built a path for more sustainable public catering services across the region.
Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat
IB.SH Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein
Grubenstraße 20
18055 Rostock, Germany
Phone +49 163 600 5203
Mail [email protected]
We support smart ideas that shape the Baltic Sea region with EU funding.
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Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat
IB.SH Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein
Grubenstraße 20
18055 Rostock, Germany
Phone +49 163 600 5203
Mail [email protected]
We support smart ideas that shape the Baltic Sea region with EU funding.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Your shortcuts
About us
Funding
Projects
Copyright © IB.SH
Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat
IB.SH Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein
Grubenstraße 20
18055 Rostock, Germany
Phone +49 163 600 5203
Mail [email protected]
We support smart ideas that shape the Baltic Sea region with EU funding.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Your shortcuts
About us
Funding
Projects
Copyright © IB.SH
Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat
IB.SH Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein
Grubenstraße 20
18055 Rostock, Germany
Phone +49 163 600 5203
Mail [email protected]
We support smart ideas that shape the Baltic Sea region with EU funding.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Your shortcuts
About us
Funding
Projects
Copyright © IB.SH