For the past three years, the project Wanted: Food for the Future fuelled the debate on sustainable food in Belgium. It was a unique project in which the Belgian Province of Flemish Brabant, Rikolto, retailer Colruyt Group, the University College (UCLL) and University of Leuven together with young people, experts, farmers, etc. look for ways to feed the growing global population in a sustainable way.
Several workshops were organised with people from the business community, governments, consumers and civil-society organisations. A new and original educational module for secondary school pupils was introduced and students developed a food lab which travelled from festival to festival.
Additionally, the partners set up three sustainable food chains. Three tasty and nutritious products from developing countries that have a low environmental impact and, at the same time, offer the farmers producing the products new opportunities. Quinoa from Peru found its way to the Belgian supermarket shelves. Food chains on seaweed from Indonesia and pulses from Tanzania are in development. The obstacles, opportunities and questions encountered during this process shaped the debate.
Why did the partners embark on this project? What lessons were learned while they were working together? What insights did the participants gain?
On Thursday 20th of September, each of the partners presented their lessons learned during an event in Leuven.
