Eat4Change
Eat4Change was a WWF-led, international project co-funded by the EU, pushing for a shift toward more sustainable diets and food production practices. Eat4Change strived to engage citizens, particularly youth, to take an active role in society and change their diets more plant-based for the wellbeing of people and the planet. The project started in May 2020 and continued to April 2024.
#Eat4Change
We did it: Over 100 million people in Europe and Latin America are more aware of sustainable diets
Global food production and consumption are the single largest human pressures on nature. Together they generate more than a quarter of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. Our international project, Eat4Change, gathered eleven organizations from Europe and two from Latin America to tackle the impacts of food production and consumption on climate and biodiversity, achieving great results.
The European project partners in Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, and UK together raised awareness of the dietary choices on global climate goals and SDGs among over 100 million Europeans, and the project partners in Argentina and Brazil raised awareness of sustainable food production practices among 2 million people. We engaged almost 10 million consumers to take an active role and make the shift towards more plant-based, more sustainable diets.
According to an external project evaluation, Eat4Change project contributed to raised awareness of EU public on the environmental impacts of food and to increased engagement of EU citizens to support sustainable food systems. Project inspired people to shift towards more plant-based diets and become active in encouraging others to do the same.
Besides changing diets, there needs to be a change in food systems. Therefore, we persistently engaged EU policy makers to ensure that EU regulations support transition towards sustainable food systems by organizing numerous meetings and events. We also provided opportunities for youth to lead and participate in advocacy work. Our advocacy was part of the big Together4Forest campaign which resulted in a historical deal that will forbid selling products linked to deforestation on EU markets. We also engaged 1200 stakeholders to take steps towards more sustainable supply chain decisions and promoting sustainable diets.
We believe in youth and see the power they have for changing consumption habits and policies. Young people have been involved in the project from various countries beyond the project partner countries. Together we created a new concept for training young leaders, and we trained them over 1000. Not to mention the international youth summits and over 300 youth-led action projects. To take the message further we also trained around 200 youth workers and created a replicable and impactful training program for them.
Food production practices and consumption habits change slowly. However, we saw incredible interests and enthusiasm for mitigating climate change and protecting biodiversity through sustainable diets. We took important steps, and we keep doing the work, even if it’s one meal at a time.
Background of the project
Particularly in Europe, diets are far from sustainable, with consumption of animal-based products exceeding the boundaries of sustainable or healthy consumption. Numerous recent studies have shown that a global shift towards healthier, more sustainable diets will combat climate change, improve human health and food security, reduce biodiversity loss and save lives.
Eat4Change engaged especially 15–35-year-olds European citizens to decrease animal-based products in their diets and increase the consumption of plant-based food. The project also highlighted global interconnections and dependencies and demonstrates how individual diets can impact on the wellbeing of people and the planet and support achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). The project contributed to positive economic, social and environmental impacts in Europe and developing countries.
Goals of the project
By 2024 targeted European Youth 1) have greater awareness of the impact of diets on “People and Planet” and a critical understanding of their role as consumers and active citizens 2) contribute to sustainable development goals and climate actions by embracing more sustainable diets, influencing peers and supporting engagement with corporates and policy makers for improved practices and policy coherence.
How?
A holistic approach is required to build sustainable food systems which operate within planetary limits and social boundaries. This project created transformation from three angles:
- working to engage citizens, on healthy and sustainable diets
- working with food producers and retailers on sustainable agricultural production
- working to create an enabling policy environment. All project activities are supported by a robust evidence base.
Eat4Change Youth Summit in Brussels, Belgium 2021.
Who?
Click on the name of the organisation and explore their Eat4Change activities and materials.
WWF Finland coordinated overall implementation of the project in addition to leading communications, marketing and markets work. Finland has substantial experience in managing EC funded projects and provided support to 12 partners throughout implementation.
AIESEC built its work in Eat4Change on its 70 years of experience in 120 countries in developing solution oriented, self-aware youth leaders with the ability to empower others.
WWF European Policy Office (EPO) with its unique expertise in EU policy making and advocacy will supported engagement with EU institutions.
WWF Austria led youth engagement activities using extensive know-how of developing and implementing national/international youth empowerment and leadership programs.
WWF Belgium used its agriculture and social sciences’ research expertise to lead the evidence base work in the project, overseeing the coherence and quality of the studies.
WWF Sweden has nearly two decades of experience with food consumer guides; an internationally recognized social media team and established models for work with youth and schools.
WWF France built its work in Eat4Change on its expertise on sustainable diets and production practices to feed into consumer tools and engage with civil society through its work with companies and policy makers.
WWF Greece has 25 years expertise in environmental education, volunteer youth programs and capacity building with specific experience on education and campaigning for sustainable food consumption.
WWF UK brought 58 years of experience in engaging people and raising awareness, expertise of dedicated teams on food, climate and a solid track record of working with large multinational corporations.
Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVS) has been working to conserve Argentina’s natural resources for 40+ years and built its work in Eat4Change on its expertise with the agriculture sector to support linking European consumption to Argentine production.
WWF Brazil built its work in Eat4Change on its experience of conducting partnerships and projects in important ecoregions such as the Amazon, and Cerrado, stimulating sustainable economic alternatives that both involve and benefit local communities.
Associação Natureza Portugal (ANP) knew how to create stable partnerships and engage stakeholders on the subject of sustainable consumption and communicate in innovative ways.
Estonian Fund for Nature brought experience of engaging people on environmental and climate issues. This knowledge will be used to relate when working with youth.
Eat4Change International Youth Team consisted of youth between the ages of 18-30 and worked closely with Eat4Change staff to ensure that the youth are at the center of the project. They brought their ideas, insights and knowledge to the project activities and worked as a team to create youth-led actions.
Publications
DEAR programme
Eat4Change project is mainly funded by The European Commission’s Development Education and Awareness Raising Programme (DEAR). The DEAR programme supports projects that engage the European Union public in worldwide issues of social, economic and environmental development. DEAR activities also contribute to the EU’s support for the universal Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.
Visit the DEAR Programme website to read more: http://dearprogramme.eu/
