What is Food 2030?
Food 2030 is the research and innovation policy framework supporting the transition towards sustainable, healthy and inclusive food systems, that respect planetary boundaries.
It is in line with, and supports the goals of the European Green Deal, Life Sciences strategy and Bioeconomy strategy. Food 2030 is underpinned by the need to foster a multi-actor and systemic approach to research and innovation capable of delivering co-benefits for people’s health, our climate, our planet and communities.
Why food systems need to change
Our food systems today are unsustainable. They are both affected by and drivers of
- climate change
- resources scarcity
- pollution and waste
- environmental degradation
- loss of biodiversity
- population growth
- malnutrition and diet-related non-communicable disease
ood 2030 is implemented through 11 pathways for action:
Governance for Food Systems Change
Urban Food Systems Transformation
Food from the Ocean and Freshwater Resources
Alternative Proteins for Dietary Shift
Food Waste and Resource-efficient Food Systems
The Microbiome World
Nutrition and Sustainable Healthy Diets
Food Safety Systems of the Future
Food Systems Africa
Data & Digital Transformation
Zero Pollution Food Systems
Since its implementation, Food 2030 has led to an EU investment of around €770 million through 117 research and innovation projects (2017-2024), as well as to the establishment of the Horizon Europe partnership FutureFoodS.
In 2025, the European Commission published the Life Sciences Strategy. It aims to make the EU a global leader in life sciences, translating cutting-edge research into real-world solutions that strengthen public health, encourage the deployment of clean technologies, and support and scale new industries and high-quality jobs in Europe. In this Strategy, the European Commission committed to deliver a new strategic R&I agenda on food systems to foster development of competitive, sustainable and resilient food systems solutions, later on called Food 2040. It will complement the forthcoming strategic approach to R&I in agriculture, forestry and rural areas announced in the Vision for Agriculture and Food (for which another survey has recently been submitted to stakeholders – closed on 25 January). The successor of Food 2030 will provide guidance and directionality for R&I activities on food systems for the next Framework Programme for R&I (Horizon Europe 2028-2034) and the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF).
This EU survey seeks to gather insights and perspectives from a wide range of stakeholders, from food industries to consumers, including researchers, civil society representatives and authorities, to support DG RTD in shaping Food 2040.
The European Commission welcomes your input to this EU survey. By sharing your expertise and views, you will help us create an effective forward-looking R&I strategic approach for food systems.
Please note that this survey should not be interpreted as pre-empting the outcome of the ongoing negotiations of the Commission’s proposal on the next Horizon Europe programme and the European Competitiveness Fund.
This survey is open for contributions until 13 March 2026, 12:00 CET.