Project Title: Software Solutions for Sustainable Food Urban Policies in Schools
Project Acronym: SoS-4-SoUPS
Scientific Coordinator: Prof.ssa Giulia Camilla Mattavelli – https://www.iusspavia.it/it/rubrica/giulia-camilla-mattavelli
CUP: J33C22002860001
Description: Sustainable urban food policies should address access to nutritious, high-quality food in sufficient quantities for every consumer, while also considering the economic, social, religious, and cultural components of the community. Scientific evidence shows that nutrition in early childhood is crucial for healthy and proper development, and that early experiences strongly influence the eating habits and food preferences of children and future adults. In this context, the growing demand for diversified diets - driven by individual preferences, health needs, and the multicultural characteristics of contemporary society - highlights the challenge of designing flexible food policies that also promote participatory interventions encouraging healthy eating habits. Moreover, the way food is chosen, valued, and consumed is closely linked to food waste, particularly in schools, where discarded meals have a significant impact in terms of inefficient resource use and environmental damage.
This project aims to assess the role of food preferences and food waste in schools through the implementation of a specifically developed software designed to optimize the sustainable management of collective catering in a selected local community. Through an evidence-based approach, dedicated software, and initiatives promoting food culture, the study seeks to encourage healthier and more inclusive eating patterns, along with more efficient food-waste management in school catering services. The findings will provide an effective multi-stakeholder model for local policymakers, with the potential to be replicated in other urban contexts within school catering services.
Funding Body: European Commission
Project Start Date: 15/11/2024
Project End Date: 14/09/2025
Websites: https://onfoods.it/ ; https://mensana-scuola.planeat.eco/
The project was selected within the Research and Innovation Programme ONFOODS – “Research and innovation network on food and nutrition Sustainability, Safety and Security.” It was funded under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) (Mission 4, Component 2, Investment 1.3) by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, Extended Partnership PE00000003, MUR Decree No. 1550 – 11/10/2022.
