Food-related health problems are a major challenge for European societies Over the past decade, most EU Member States have identified food and health as key priorities. This is in response to the increases in obesity and diet-related chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases amongst their populations. Also an insufficient nutrient supply in subgroups of the populations and special demands in ageing societies are identified as abiding challenges.

Attempts to increase public awareness of appropriate ways to eat more healthily do not seem to have led to significant changes in patterns of food purchase and consumption. It has become obvious that the development of effective measures for improvement requires further systematic research and innovative approaches. One main question that INPROFOOD will tackle is the role of innovations in foods and what they could do in counter-acting the alarming rise of food-related health problems.

Advocating and promoting the production of knowledge that is close to the concerns of European citizens, the European Commission has emphasized that simply inventing new technologies is not enough to overcome the pressing societal challenges in Europe (European Commission 2009). Therefore, if we are to reach the objective we must engage in a purposeful communicative exchange between research, business and civil society actors on the nature of the problem and the role that innovative technological approaches (besides or complementary with social measures) could play in tackling it. In relation to the food and health problem outlined above, this implies taking into account the various factors that determine diet, physical activity behaviors and uptake of technologies by citizens.

Eighteen partners from 13 European countries had joined forces in INPROFOOD to address this hugely ambitious task during 3 years of intensive activities. Their aim was to foster dialogue and mutual learning between industry, academia and civil society already in the earliest stages of the research processes - directed towards developing innovative approaches (technical and social) for dealing with the food and health challenge.

The project was led by the Life Science Center at the University of Hohenheim, Germany.

Tangible benefits for all science engagemebt professionals

You’d like to engage teenagers and adults with food and health issues? Try out the great PlayDecide game, available online along with session results from all around Europe.

The “INPROFOOD” project was funded by the European Commission using the Framework Programme 7 under DG Research, grant agreement No.289045.