FOSTER – Fostering food system transformation by integrating heterogeneous perspectives in knowledge and innovation within the ERA

Project Objective:
The vision of the FOSTER project is to build the foundations for new structures and methods of Knowledge and Innovation (K&I) governance for the entire food system in Europe. A new structure is needed because the current Knowledge and Innovation governance system within the European Research Area (ERA) is not sufficient to address the emerging challenges facing Europe. Although significant progress has been made in recent decades in meeting existing food demand, the growing awareness of the health and environmental burdens of the European food system requires a new level of Knowledge and Innovation (K&I). For this reason, FOSTER aims to contribute by collecting and testing different scenarios through pilot initiatives.

About the Project:
The European food system has achieved high levels of safety in terms of food quality and traceability, but it is currently under considerable pressure to feed a large population in a sustainable manner. In this context, the EU-funded FOSTER project will provide new insights into how food systems can be designed and governed more effectively. The project will create a platform for sharing information and knowledge, as well as trends and future scenarios for food systems to be developed within the EU. FOSTER will also organize a summer school focused on integrating similar initiatives from the food sector. Project results will be disseminated through workshops and conferences. FOSTER brings together 17 partners and will run for four years.

BioSense role on the project:
BioSense is an academic partner within the Serbian CDI (Citizen-Driven Initiative) under Work Package 3 (WP3). Digital Village is one of the six initiatives engaged as a CDI (Change-Driven Initiative) within FOSTER and was developed through collaboration between the Delta Foundation, BioSense, and Mokrin House. The initiative focuses on the digitalisation of rural agriculture and village life. Originating in the village of Mokrin (Vojvodina, Serbia), it supports farmers in the use of digital tools and technologies to improve production efficiency and sustainability. In addition, BioSense contributes to Work Package 5 (WP5), specifically Task 5.3 “Scaling out and deepening FOSTER CDIs towards European youth, women, and underrepresented communities” and Task 5.5 “Wider dissemination of project results and organisation of the final conference.”