An innovative tool called the “SDGs Tool for Sustainability and Innovation of the Food System” has recently been developed to promote sustainability and innovation in the food system, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This tool offers four different questionnaires, each designed for a specific type of user: food-producing businesses, non-food-producing businesses, citizens, and institutions.
Four Areas of Analysis
The tool focuses on four main areas, each linked to specific SDGs:
- Nutrition for Sustainable and Healthy Diets: Aims to address issues such as malnutrition and obesity, personalized nutrition for healthy ageing, and the promotion of plant-based diets through the supply of new protein alternatives. The goal is to improve the authenticity of food and promote the consumption of forgotten crops to enhance nutrition and resilience, focusing on Europe and Africa.
- Food Systems for a Healthy Planet: This area promotes climate-smart food systems that adapt to climate change, conserve natural resources, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative supports biodiversity, ecosystem, and soil health, and promotes sustainable aquaculture.
- Circularity and Resource Efficiency: This approach aims to eliminate food waste and utilize biomass and unavoidable waste as valuable resources. It also focuses on reducing water and energy use in industrial food processes and promoting sustainable and biodegradable packaging.
- Innovation and Empowerment of Communities: Encourages the creation of innovation ecosystems and living labs that promote new sustainable business models and accessible food products. It engages people in food science and local food policy, promotes social innovation, and develops data-driven food systems.
Self-Assessment Tool and Results Visualization
The tool allows users to self-assess their contribution to achieving the SDGs, providing a visualization of the results that shows how committed the company, citizen, or institution is to sustainability goals. Each SDG is divided into a series of specific sub-goals, or targets, which for the CITIES2030 project include Zero Hunger, Life below Water, Life on Land, Responsible Consumption and Production, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and Sustainable Cities and Communities.
This tool represents a significant step forward in promoting a sustainable and innovative food system, contributing to a healthier future for the planet and its people.