Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems Research Group
Topics
Links between food supply and demand
Food production systems and food consumption are two very different social structures, each functioning according to its own unique rules. In our research, we link the two sides of the food system to make sure that both support broader shifts that need to take place.
Sustainability and resilience transition
Food systems need to change. However, this change will not take place on its own – it needs to be envisioned and steered. Our group explores the opportunities of making food systems more sustainable and resilient without sacrificing local and global cultural and economic links that communities have with food.
Food system regulations
This research group explores novel ways in which to regulate food systems and assesses the performance of existing regulations. The group is particularly interested in green public procurement, urban food strategies, and legal support set to incentivise actors across food systems.
Consumption patterns, diets, and food-related practices
Individuals’ daily food consumption is linked to a broad range of environmental and health issues. Furthermore, consumers are expected to play a crucial role in the transition to sustainability. Our group studies food-related practices and the primary and secondary factors shaping these practices with the goal of looking for ways in which to help consumers make more sustainable and healthy food choices.
Food culture and cultural aspects of food
Food plays a crucial role in our lives. It is deeply linked to our identities, social relations, daily rituals, etc. This group focuses on exploring the cultural role of food and how it links to broader social processes and broader food system transitions.
Gender relations within food production and consumption systems
Food-related practices – both at the production and consumption levels, are strongly linked to gender-related perceptions prevalent in society. This research group explores these relations examining the power relations behind them.
Group members
Projects
- FoodCityBoost – Integrated assessment of urban farming impacts and policies for boosting sustainable urban agricultural development linking urban, peri-urban, and rural areas
The FOODCITYBOOST project proposes an integrated assessment of urban farming impacts and policies for boosting sustainable urban agricultural development. - TransformERS – Transformations International Experience and Research Network for Sustainable Futures
TransformERS inform research, policy and practice about transformations that deliver justice in a changing global context by bringing together and positioning research relevant to societal transformation. - Vegetal Agency and Contemporary Art: Towards Sustainable Relationships with a More-than-human World
Activities
- Making foraging into cultural heritage
The research group is looking for new technological solutions to involve society in research as well as further its interest in research results. In 2024, the research group has initiated a citizen science activity which accumulates stories on people’s gathering experiences. These stories are openly available online and create unique research material.
Current citizen science project (in Latvian) - Seminar series
The research group maintains a seminar series that covers the most relevant food-related research. The series brings together people interested in food-related research from Latvia and beyond. - Symposium in the autumn of 2024
One of the unique international themes in which the research group has expertise is the link between modern societies and wild produce. In 2024, the research group is organising an international symposium on this topic to advance the field, which will be attended by researchers from all over Europe. - Encouraging scientific discussion
The research group has ensured that one of the largest rural and food researchers’ congresses - congress of the European Society for Rural Sociology - will take place in Riga in 2025. Active preparations for this congress are currently ongoing. In 2025 researchers are also organizing a congress dedicated to wild produce in Finland. In 2024 the group members are participating in organizing the International Farming Systems Association (IFSA) congress in Sicily, Italy (the congress will take place in the summer of 2024). - City food strategy
The research group is working to develop an urban food strategy for the city of Rīga. - Consultations for the Ministry of Climate and Energy
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