How is sustainability shaping the future of the food sector?
As demand for healthier, eco-friendly, and higher-quality food continues to rise, the food industry faces a major challenge—how can innovation and sustainability be balanced? Participants of the first international event within the FISSH project, held on February 11-12, 2025 in Ghent, Belgium, sought to address this question.
Challenges and innovations in the food industry
The event began with study visits to some of innovative places setting trends for the future of the sector. The first stop was Food Pilot – a modern research and development center supporting innovations in the agri-food sector. Participants had the chance to see tools and technologies that help create new food products, improve production processes, and assess the environmental and health impacts of food.
During lunch, served by local catering company specializing in sustainable gastronomy, participants experienced circular economy principles firsthand. Meals were served in jars that are reused after industrial cleaning. The next stop was local coffee roastery, where the hosts showed how sustainable coffee production can be put into practice and a company that produces plant-based food products that combine the taste of meat with climate benefits, offering alternatives for flexible vegetarians and meat lovers.
Sustainability in action: workshops and best practice presentations
The second day focused on workshops and presentations of good practices from partners’ regions. One key workshop highlighted the Rapid Scaling Tool, a methodology for assessing innovation implementation in the food sector based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition, project partners shared examples of actions they are implementing in their regions. These included projects on intelligent agriculture, raw material management in pasta production, and promoting local food markets.
FISSH: a collective future for sustainability in the food industry
The "Food Industry SMEs Sustainability Support and Help" (FISSH) project is an initiative under the Interreg Europe Programme, aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in the food industry by promoting sustainable business strategies and the implementation of innovative solutions. The project’s goal is to exchange knowledge and good practices among partners working to implement sustainable business strategies across Europe. The next FISSH project meeting will take place in September 2025 in South Ostrobothnia, Finland.