TFA2 Results Showcase Practical Progress Toward Sustainable Food Systems Across Europe
The latest outcomes of Thematic Focus Area 2 (TFA2) within the FISSH project, implemented under the Interreg Europe programme, demonstrate how European regions are translating sustainability goals into practical action across food value chains.
Through interregional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and regional stakeholders engagement, partners are implementing concrete solutions that support food SMEs, strengthen local economies, and advance low-carbon, resource-efficient food production.
Interregional learning strengthens cooperation and knowledge exchange
A key milestone of TFA2 activities was the Interregional Learning Event and study visit hosted in South Ostrobothnia in September 2025. Project partners gathered to exchange knowledge, explore regional good practices, and deepen collaboration on sustainable food production and value chains.
The event combined seminars, workshops, and study visits to research and innovation facilities, providing participants with first-hand insight into sustainable food technologies, product development, and low-carbon business practices. Engagement with regional industry representatives and innovation actors further strengthened cross-regional learning and supported the development of shared strategies for sustainable transformation in the food sector.
Regional stakeholder engagement supports policy implementation
Alongside interregional learning, partners organised meetings with regional stakeholders to disseminate the results of TFA2 activities and discuss the implementation of policy changes in their regions.
These meetings brought together SMEs, public authorities, research institutions, and sector organisations to exchange knowledge, assess regional needs, and explore pathways for integrating project results into policy frameworks. Stakeholder discussions focused on innovation support, funding mechanisms, ecological production methods, digital tools, and local product valorisation.
By involving regional actors directly in the policy learning process, partners are helping ensure that sustainability transitions reflect local priorities and lead to concrete policy improvements.
Regional initiatives delivering practical sustainability solutions
Across partner regions, TFA2 activities have supported a range of targeted good practices addressing different stages of the food value chain:
- In East-Flanders, the Food Loss Scan enables food-producing companies to identify sources of waste and implement reduction strategies, improving efficiency while lowering environmental impact.
- In Kujawsko-Pomorskie, a short food chain pilot in Toruń connects consumers directly with local producers through the online marketplace Naszelokalne.pl, strengthening regional identity and supporting traditional food production.
- In Coimbra, a multi-actor strategy coordinated by the Intermunicipal Community of Coimbra Region enhances the sustainability and competitiveness of traditional certified cheeses through coordinated governance and value chain collaboration.
- Food SMEs benefit from practical tools supporting carbon footprint assessment and structured sustainability management, enabling step-by-step progress toward low-carbon operations.
- In Central Macedonia, initiatives supporting organic farming expansion and integrated crop management promote environmentally responsible agricultural production while strengthening local market opportunities.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate how regional innovation can generate measurable environmental and economic benefits while reinforcing resilient local food systems.
Key lessons from TFA2 activities
The Good Practices identified through TFA2 reveal common factors enabling successful sustainability transitions:
- Practical, easy-to-use tools help SMEs implement sustainability in daily operations.
- Data-driven monitoring supports informed decision-making and long-term accountability.
- Multi-actor cooperation amplifies impact across value chains.
- Local identity and short supply chains strengthen market competitiveness.
- Innovation and traditional knowledge work best in combination.
- Capacity building ensures long-term organisational change.
- Financial and policy support accelerates adoption of sustainable practices.
- Measurable results build trust and momentum for further transformation.
A shared pathway toward resilient food systems
The results of TFA2 confirm that sustainable transformation of the food sector is already underway across Europe. Through interregional learning events, stakeholders engagement partners are building a shared knowledge base and translating experience into policy change.
By combining practical tools, collaborative governance, and targeted policy support, the FISSH partnership is helping regions move toward more sustainable, competitive, and resilient food systems — one coordinated step at a time.
