EU Funds for Research on Sustainable Food Choices and Labour Market Transition
Researchers at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences will lead two new European research projects that, in different ways, focus on major transitions our societies are facing.
How does the digital and green transitions affect labour market needs in various European countries and regions? How well are different sectors able to adapt and meet new skill requirements? Are there any best practices to learn from or develop?
These questions are at the core of one of the two European collaborative research projects that together have received 7.9 million Euro from the EU's research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe.
Aiming to Strengthen Labour Markets During Transitions
Associate Professor Maria Tsouri is looking forward to starting the new project SkillResilience4EU, which she will lead together with several European partners.
– Digitalisation and the green transition are major processes that impact skill needs in the labour market in various ways. In this project, we will study the discrepancy between the skills needed and the skills available in different sectors and regions, explains Tsouri.
More specifically, they will take a closer look at five affected industries: tourism, transport, agriculture, food, and energy.
The project will result in a management tool for policymakers and decision-makers, as well as a self-assessment tool for individuals and employers. The aim is to provide further recommendations, frameworks, and tools that can be used to enhance the ability of various countries and regions to adapt, develop skills, and make sure vulnerable groups and regions are not left behind during these transitions.
Associate Professor Maria Tsouri is leading the research project SkillResillience4EU. (Photo: Private).
More Knowledge About People's Food Choices
The second project that has received EU funds is titled Foodmission and is led by Professor Natalia Mæhle. This project will investigate how consumers can drive a more sustainable food system.
- We want to find out how consumers make decisions when choosing their food. We will look at the whole process – how they select and buy food, how they use it, and what ultimately ends up as food waste. But to understand consumer behavior, we need data. In the past, it has been challenging to obtain good data on this exact topic, says Mæhle.
To get a better picture, researchers want consumers to report their food choices continuously over a certain period.
- The plan is to develop a digital platform where consumers in different parts of Europe can themselves enter information about their food purchases and eating habits. But to achieve this, we need drivers to keep engagement high. Therefore, we also have game developers on the team, she adds.
A part of the goal is for consumers to also learn about sustainable food choices while participating in the project.
-Through the digital platform, they will be able to access information about the CO2 footprint of various food items and find recipes for sustainable dishes. We hope to see that during the test period they might change their behavior, says Mæhle.
Professor Natalia Mæhle is leading the research project Foodmission. (Photo Ingvild Festervoll Melien).
Facts about SkillResillience4EU
- A collaboration between 10 partners from 8 European countries
- The project has been awarded 2.9 million Euro from Horizon Europe
- The partners in the project are Berufsförderungsinstitut Wien, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, University of Crete, Municipality of Platanias, Simplon.co, Utrecht University, University of Warsaw, London School of Economics and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.
- The project will start in January 2025 and will last for 3 years.
Facts about Foodmisssion
- A collaboration between 10 partners from 8 European countries.
- The project has been awarded 5 million Euro from Horizon Europe.
- The partners in the project are University of Thessaly, Institute of Retail Consumer Goods, re:edu Gmbh, Spherical Pixel S.L., Università degli Studi di Verona, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Adiconsum Associazione Difesa Consumatori APS, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Centre for Systems Solutions, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia - Chamber of Agricultural and Food Enterprises.
- The project will start in January 2025 and will last for three and a half years.