The SysOrg project: summary of main results and proposed recommendations
The SysOrg project was completed in June 2024. Its results from cross-case analysis of five case territories from four project perspectives enabled to develop tailored recommendations to foster the transformation of food systems.
The project “Organic agro-food systems as models for sustainable food systems in Europe and Northern Africa” (SysOrg), funded though the Joint SUSFOOD2/CORE Organic Call 2019, analysed five case territories in Europe – bio-district Cilento (Italy), Copenhagen municipality (Denmark), North Hessia Eco-Model region (Germany), Warsaw City County (Poland) – and Northern Africa – Kenitra Province (Morocco) – over the course of three-and-a-half years. Analysis was performed from four perspectives: sustainable and healthy diets, organic food and farming, food waste and system transition status. Data were collected using desk research, a household survey and semi-structured interviews with selected initiatives active in the realms of the four perspectives in each territory. Data analysis was performed at territory and, for Diet, Waste and Organic perspectives, at national level, followed by perspective-driven cross-case analyses.
Sustainable and healthy diets
National-level analysis within the Diet perspective revealed large discrepancy in dietary guidelines between the five countries (from absence of such in Morocco to a great variation in the level of detail in others). On territory level, recall-based household survey results revealed overall healthier and more sustainable diets in Copenhagen and Warsaw, though the samples are not representative.
Organic food and farming
National-level analysis of organic market development disclosed distinctive differences between the countries, with Denmark, Germany and Italy taking up the leading position. Territory-level analysis disclosed the highest self-reported share of organic foods in Copenhagen and North Hessia. The main barrier for increasing the share of organic foods in the diet across all the territories surveyed was price.
Food waste
National-level analysis of food waste revealed household waste to be one of the leading food waste categories in Germany, Poland and Denmark. Territory-based analysis showed discrepancy between the household and per capita food waste levels (e.g., the highest per household and lowest per capita waste in Kenitra) and the types of dominating food waste (partly used food in Warsaw, Cilento, Copenhagen, meal leftovers after storing in North Hessia, and leftovers in Kenitra).
System transition status
Within the Transition perspective, all territories have a sizeable number of initiatives engaging in activities for transforming their local food system, most of which are active on niche level. Some initiatives are already supporting/steering collaborations within the food system, acting as intermediaries conducive for a system change.
Recommendations
Among the suggested recommendations, highlighting the role of organic food as a leverage, utilizing the potential of out-of-home consumption as an awareness-raising arena for sustainability and canteens – as a place for food and sustainability education, shifting the focus of food waste policies to household food waste behaviour changes and strategies for retailers and food companies were outlined.
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