Brussels, April 30th, 2025 — As the demand for sustainable food systems grows more urgent across Europe, the upcoming FOODPathS Festival (20–22 May 2025) in Brussels will unite a diverse alliance of leaders, researchers, policymakers, funders, educators, and civil society to shape our collective future. This three-day hybrid event will serve as a dynamic forum to launch and shape a new partnership model for food system transformation.

Organised by the Horizon Europe-funded FOODPathS project, the festival will present a unique multi-actor prototype—a strategic framework designed to connect Research & Innovation, Policy, Education, and Society across Europe. Participants will be invited to explore and help shape this model, contributing insights on governance, funding, education, and priorities for future research.

"The transition to sustainable food systems requires collective intelligence and true partnerships," said Hugo De Vries, Coordinator of FOODPathS (INRAE). “The FOODPathS Festival is an open invitation to collaborate—across disciplines, sectors, and scales— to build a new narrative and guide for all to contribute to reshaping our future."

Programme Highlights:

• Day 1 – Launch & Vision: Launch of the partnership prototype and keynote speeches by thought leaders, including Erika Staël von Holstein (Re-Imagine Europe), Caroline De Gruyter (journalist), Marco Cucé (Philea), and Esteban Arriaga (FEBA).

• Day 2 – Participation & Prototypes: Interactive discussions and workshops to refine the partnership model, plus site visits to innovative food systems initiatives.

• Day 3 – Moving Forward: Dialogue on uptake, future work, and strategic next steps for the European Partnership for Sustainable Food Systems.

Throughout the Festival, attendees will have the opportunity to network, share case studies, and build long-term collaborations aimed at food systems transformation at local, national, European, and global levels.

A Festival for Collective Action
Unlike traditional conferences, the FOODPathS Festival is structured to foster inclusivity, creativity, and concrete outcomes. Sessions are designed to stimulate real conversation, hands-on collaboration, and actionable results, culminating in guidelines for an ideal multi-actor partnership model that can be adapted across Europe and beyond.

Registration Information
Participation in the FOODPathS Festival is free of charge, but in-person attendance must be confirmed. Plenary sessions will also be live-streamed for remote participants. Registration and programme details are available here.