Periodic Reporting for period 3 - DIVERSIFOOD (Embedding crop diversity and networking for local high quality food systems)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2017-09-01 do 2019-02-28
Complementary approaches were developed to explore and create:
- Relevant, locally developed innovations
- New biodiversity management models
- New approaches to plant breeding and management
- New crops, diverse varieties or populations
- Diverse healthy and tasty food products and their valorisation in the marketplace
- Original experimental and communication tools to connect activities and people
- Paradigm shift for multi-actor and transdisciplinary research.
DIVERSIFOOD has described the complexity of relationships within seed systems (WP4). DIVERSIFOOD facilitated cooperation between multi-actor and participatory research networks and advocated to promote, sustain and maintain diverse and sustainable seed systems. Going beyond the dichotomy between formal and informal seed systems, DIVERSIFOOD focused on the diversity of actors and on facilitated flows of germplasm and knowledge amongst them, also through modelling approaches. Community seed banks (about 80) and civil society organisations from Spain, France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland, were studied and surveyed about their involvement in diversity management. Several workshops with international institutions, discussing these data, have produced a set of recommendations to increase the awareness of key policy makers on the importance of biodiversity management.
Investigation of the market potential for diverse food (WP5) based on 11 case studies, analysis of the label concept and new communication tools, a representative consumer survey in four countries, and the close exchange among the involved partners allowed identifying the most appropriate valorisation strategies for biodiverse food. The approach covered the whole supply chain and included the identification of needs and expectations of breeders, farmers, processors and consumers. Key success factors and bottlenecks in the valorisation of biodiverse food informed a set of policy recommendations.
The consortium developed easy-to-understand documents to be spread online and during public events (WP6). DIVERSIFOOD has published a valuable amount of accessible publications, including seven Booklets, three reports and 24 Innovation Factsheets. Several booklets are available in different languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese).
DIVERSIFOOD placed a specific focus on learning methods and on the active involvement of stakeholders in public events such as farm days, workshops and trainings. These events played a key role in the communication strategy toward partners’ networks, whereas the EU Forum in Brussels mainly addressed policy makers and NGOs, and the final Congress addressed the scientific community and sister projects.