SU-EATABLE LIFE Project
The EU food chain is carbon-intensive, accounting for about 30% of CO2 European emissions, and it is intensive also in terms of water use.
The three-year SU-EATABLE LIFE project aims to demonstrate the potential of reducing CO2 eq. emissions and water use related to food consumption in Europe through the adoption of healthy and more sustainable diets. As part of the project, a series of engagement activities will be carried out at university and company canteens located in Italy and UK, using a dedicated digital platform to involve people. The project aims to show that it is possible to engage EU citizens to adopt a sustainable and healthy diet, with benefits for their personal health and for the environment as well, leading to a saving of about 5,300 tons of CO2 eq. and about 2 million cubic metres of water within the three years of the project.
Considering the entire European population and adopting a medium-to-long term perspective, this approach could significantly contribute to reach the EU target of achieving a 40% reduction in CO2 by 2030. The project has the ambition to involve different stakeholders, such as schools, universities, municipalities, private companies, NGOs as well as the public at large.
The SU-EATABLE LIFE project has received funding from the EU LIFE program
LIFE is the EU financial instrument supporting environmental and climate action projects throughout the EU. Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed more than 4,500 projects. For the 2014-2020 funding period, LIFE will contribute approximately €3.4 billion to the protection of the environment and climate.
Project partners
The project is coordinated by Prof. Riccardo Valentini, Full Professor of Forest Ecology at Tuscia University, Italy, member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The project partners are:
Fondazione Barilla
Barilla Foundation is an independent multidisciplinary research center, which aims to provide People, Institutions and Media with activities and scientifically robust analysis related to food and its relationships with societies and environment.
GreenApes
greenApes is a Benefit Corporation which activities have the purpose of promoting sustainable lifestyles. In the greenApes app, users share their green ideas, actions and tips with the community. Doing so they inspire each other and get rewarded with eco-friendly gifts and discounts.
Wageningen University
Wageningen University is the leading EU university in the Life Sciences. Researchers and students at University focus on the field of nutrition, health, nature and the living environment. The chair-group Health and Society, department of Social Science is specialized in innovative approaches in health and nutrition promotion.
The Sustainable Restaurant Association
The SRA is a NGO supporting 8,000 restaurants and food service providers. It develops Sustainability Ratings and offers consultancy and training services, aiming to make sustainability part of the DNA of food service businesses and to invite consumers to understand what makes food good.
In collaboration with
Networking
The project timeline
SU-EATABLE LIFE Final Conference | Online
The Su-Eatable Life final conference took place on ZOOM.
During the conference, the results obtained through the application of the Su-Eatable Life programme in company and university canteens in 2019-2021 have been presented, with description of practical tools and solutions developed by Su-Eatable Life to foster the adoption of healthier and more sustainable eating habits.
Watch the video of the event here.
Podcast | Zero Waste Kode
Emily Shankar (The Sustainable Restaurant Association) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and pilot engagement activities in canteens during a dedicated episode of the Zero Waste Kode podcast by GreenKode.
Listen to the podcast here.
Presentation | Good Food Makers by Blu1877
Katarzyna Dembska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project to Good Food Makers, a global accelerator for startups by Blu1877, Barilla’s venture group.
Online conference | New European Bauhaus - LIFE platform meeting
Laura Bouwman (Wageningen University) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project as best practice during the session "How to monitor and measure behavioral change? Projects that are successful in bringing about measurable change" hosted within the LIFE platform meeting on the New European Bauhaus organized by NEEMO and DG-ENV.
Watch the event here.
Webinar | JAMK University
Katarzyna Dembska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project to JAMK University of Applied Science students (Finland) during the 'Food and Consumer "nudging" webinar', focusing on behavioral change theories, nudging classification and examples, ethical implications, etc. of the project.
Conference | COP26 Glasgow
Riccardo Valentini (Project coordinator) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during the session entitled "Tackling climate change from Farm to Fork: Transformative pathways for more sustainable food systems" hosted at the EU Pavillion, Glasgow, as part of COP26.
Watch here.
Online conference | Plant Protein Science and Technology Forum
Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during the session entitled "Promoting Healthy and Sustainable Diets: The Double Health and Climate Pyramid" hosted within the Plant Protein Science and Technology Forum.
More info here.
Interview | Radio Vaticana
Katarzyna Demska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and the first results obtained at Ducati's canteen during an interview with Radio Vaticana.
Interview | Radio Budrio
Katarzyna Demska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and the first results obtained at Ducati's canteen during an interview with Radio Budrio.
Conference | Food & Science Festival
Mantua, Italy. Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the debate "Farm to Fork - measuring the sustainability of food systems" hosted within the Food & Science Festival 2021.
Online conference | FOOD4CLIMATE @ ALL4CLIMATE - ITALY 2021
During the event "FOOD4CLIMATE - Our food choices for climate action", organized by SU-EATABLE LIFE and hosted within the #All4Climate - Italy 2021 agenda, healthy and sustainable diets have been discussed as a strategy to mitigate climate change, with the participation of Italian and international experts. The results and lessons learned from the European project SU-EATABLE LIFE, have also been presented.
Watch here.
Webinar panel | Climate Action for Associations: Future Food Systems
Workshop | Driving the transition towards healthy and sustainable food consumption patterns in post-COVID-19 Europe
The online workshop, promoted by the SU-EATABLE LIFE project team, brought together representatives of four EU projects operating in the field of sustainable food systems, in order to identify and share concrete solutions towards healthier and more sustainable food consumption patterns (including food waste management) and to support networking between projects.
Online conference | International Conference on Salutogenesis
Leah Rosen and Laura Bouwman (Wageningen University) moderated the session on Digital Salutogenic Interventions and presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project at the 6th International Conference on Salutogenesis.They delved into how salutogenesis, the everyday life perspective, and gamification are applied within the SU-EATABLE LIFE project to allow for a shift in more sustainable eating practices in canteen settings and beyond.
Online conference | Europe and Food
Riccardo Valentini (Project Coordinator) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the online event targeting EU policymakers "Europe and Food: Ensuring environmental, health and social benefits for the global transition" hosted by the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition Foundation.
Watch here.
Workshop | #Project1hour Ducati
Riccardo Valentini (Project Coordinator) spoke about the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the workshop on sustainable daily behaviors with Ducati employees, organized by the Company on the occasion of World Earth Day 2021 as part of # Project1hour, a Volkswagen's global initiative on sustainability.
Online conference | A One health Approach to food: the Double Pyramid connecting food culture, health and climate
Riccardo Valentini (Project Coordinator) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the online event "A One Health approach to food: the Double Pyramid connecting food culture, health and climate" co-hosted by the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition, SU-EATABLE LIFE and Food Tank, under the patronage of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO.
Watch here.
Press Lunch | World Water Day 2021
Riccardo Valentini (Project Coordinator) and Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE sustainable cookbook during a press lunch organized in view of World Water Day 2021 with the Italian press.
Read the press release here.
Online conference | Dispute Talks
Riccardo Valentini (Project Coordinator) and Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during the online talk entitled "The true cost of food" organized by the Swiss Institute of Rome in collaboration with Bites of Transfoodmation, which took place on March 10, 2021 at 6:30 pm on the Zoom platform.
More info and registration here.
Audition | Senate of the Italian Republic
Riccardo Valentini (Project Coordinator) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project to the Agriculture Commission of the Senate of the Italian Republic during a special session dedicated to climate change and its impact on agriculture.
Online conference | GiovedìScienza
Riccardo Valentini (Project Coordinator) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE during the webinar "Sustainable agricultural practices only at home or on a global scale?" (IT language) organized by GiovedìScienza.
More info here.
Online conference | Maker Faire
Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during the online event entitled "The food system after Covid-19. The future of healthy and proper nutrition" organized within Maker Faire 2020.
Follow the event (Italian language) here.
Online conference | Focus Live
Riccardo Valentini (Project Coordinator) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during the online event "Planet Earth 2020: a journey into the planet's ecosystem", hosted within Focus Live 2020.
Watch here.
Guest lecture | University of Worcester
Rosie Rayner-Law (Membership Projects Manager @ the SRA) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project to students and shared with them information about food sustainability and sustainable diets.
Online conference | Emerging Topics about Mediterranean Diet
Simona Castaldi (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the virtual international conference "Emerging topics about Mediterranean diet" organized by Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU) together with Federation of the European Nutrition Societies (FENS), during the symposium "New food products in the Mediterranean diet".
More info here.
Guest lecture | JAMK University of Applied Sciences
Katarzyna Dembska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during a guest lecture hosted within the 'Bachelor in Tourism and Hospitality management' course of the JAMK University of Applied Sciences (Finland).
Presentation | UN Global Compact Denmark
Andrew Stephen (CEO @ the SRA) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results to 40 companies participating in a meeting organized by UN Global Compact Denmark, during its speech entitled "How can companies reinforce their CSR strategy and work with the SDGs through their canteens or lunch providers? ".
Guest lecture | ISA Lille
On Nov 2-3, Katarzyna Dembska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during a guest lecture hosted within the 'MSc in Sustainable Product Development' of the ISA Lille Institute (France).
Online conference | Chiavi di Volta Festival
Simona Castaldi (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during the online event "Climate and people. Between food sustainability and demographic forecasts", hosted within the Chiavi di Volta Festival organized by the alumni of the Galilean School of the University of Padua.
Follow the event here.
Online conference | CICAP Fest
Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during the online event "Building healthier, more sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems" organized as part of the CICAP Fest in collaboration with Barilla Foundation.
Watch here.
Conference | Food & Science Festival
Mantua (Italy). Riccardo Valentini (Project Coordinator) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during the event "Metamorphosis. Food in a changing world" hosted within the Food & Science Festival.
More info here.
Online conference | ASVIS Festival
Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during the online event "Semi Ritrovati. A journey to discover agricultural biodiversity" organized by CMCC Foundation (Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change) as part of the ASVIS Festival - the Italian festival on sustainable development.
Watch the event here.
Interview | Festival Francescano
Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) interviewed Stefano Zamagni and Riccardo Valentini (Project Coordinator) during the online event "Transition towards sustainable development: what role for food systems?", organized as part of the Festival Francescano in collaboration with Barilla Foundation. During the interview, prof. Valentini presented the first results of the SU-EATABLE LIFE project.
Watch the interview here.
Webinar | EAT-Circular – Save it for Good! The double pyramid
Katarzyna Dembska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the webinar "EAT-Circular - Save it for Good! The double food pyramid" organized by EIT Climate-KIC and Bruno Kessler Foundation.
Watch the webinar and download the slides here.
Online presentation | Master course "Food & Beverage"
Katarzyna Dembska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project and its first results during the online presentation of the master course "Food & Beverage: management and sustainability of catering services" organized by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Piacenza, Italy).
Register here to the event.
Sustainability Panel | Total Produce
Katarzyna Dembska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the quarterly panel on sustainability promoted by Total Produce.
Interview | Food Tank
Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) was interviewed by Danielle Nierenberg, president of Food Tank, on the SU-EATABLE LIFE project.
Watch the video interview here.
SU-EATABLE LIFE: first results
SU-EATABLE LIFE project presents the first results of the experimental trials started at the beginning of 2020 in various Italian and UK company and university canteens.
Watch the video-interview here (in Italian).
Online conference | Food Systems Dialogues (FSDs)
Katarzyna Dembska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the online conference "COVID-19 Food Systems Dialogues (FSDs) event: A just transition within livestock production" organized by 50x40 - Towards a fair, healthy and compassionate food system.
Online conference | Wired Next Fest 2020
Riccardo Valentini (Project Coordinator) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the second Wired Next Fest 2020 e-conference, dedicated to the theme of sustainability.
Watch the video on www.wired.it.
Virtual Summit | Water: between emergency and restart
Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during her speech "Mediterranean diet and the water footprint connected to our eating habits" hosted within the "Virtual Summit - Water: between emergency and restart" organized by Future Food Network.
Online conference | Food for Earth 2020
Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the "1 Day Marathon" on food systems and sustainability organized by FAO and Future Food Institute on the occasion of the World Earth Day 2020.
Workshop | Worcester University
Worcester, UK. The SRA team presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project to nutrition and sustainability students at Worcester University as part of their study course.
Meeting | Working Group on Food - RUS
Rome, Italy. Katarzyna Dembska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during a meeting with about 30 University representatives promoted by the Working Group on Food of RUS - the Italian University Network for Sustainable Development, held at La Sapienza University.
SU-EATABLE LIFE: start of the experimental phase in canteens
After the launch in January in four UK canteens (City University London, University of Worcester, two company canteens operated by catering companies Artizian and Fooditude), the experimental phase of the SU-EATABLE LIFE project also started in three Italian canteens (University of Parma, Barilla Group - Novara Plant, Ducati Motor Holding), with the operational support of catering companies Felsinea Ristorazione and Camst Group and the participation of ER.GO (Emilia-Romagna Regional Authority for the Right to Higher Education).
Download here the press release.
Workshop | The right to good, healthy and sustainable food canteens
Siena, Italy. Andrea Magnani (Senior Project Assistant) has taken part in the workshop "The right to good, healthy and sustainable school canteens" organized by the Monte dei Paschi di Siena Foundation, presenting the SU-EATABLE LIFE project to Hilal Elver, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food.
Conference | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020
Davos, Switzerland. Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the panel "Investing in food systems transformation" with FAO Director-General Qu Dongyou. The panel has been co-organized by the Swiss Federal Office of Agriculture and Food Systems Dialogues during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020.
Exhibition | We, food, our Planet: Feeding a sustainable future
Parma, Italy. The SU-EATABLE LIFE project is part of the exhibition "We, food, our Planet: Feeding a sustainable future", organized by Barilla Foundation in collaboration with National Geographic Italia within Parma 2020 (Parma Italian Capital of Culture 2020).
The exhibition is open from Jan 11th to Apr 13th, 2020.
Info and program here.
Workshop | Dietheek
Duiven, the Netherlands. Laura Bouwman (Wageningen University) gave a workshop for 60 dieticians about 'salutogenic thinking', including its application to the SU-EATABLE LIFE project.
SU-EATABLE LIFE Mid-term Conference
Milan, Italy. The SU-EATABLE LIFE project, its preliminary results and the ongoing experiments in canteens have been presented during the Mid-term Conference to be held at the 10° International Forum on Food and Nutrition organized by Barilla Foundation.
Watch the video of the event.
Conference | The truth in our plates: Food sustainability and ethics in the Anthropocene
Rome, Italy. Katarzyna Dembska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the conference "The truth in our plates: Food Sustainability and ethics in the Anthropocene" organized by the John Cabot University.
Conference | EFAD
Berlin, Germany. Laura Bouwman (Wageningen University) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE PROJECT during the 12° EFAD conference.
More info here.
FOOD2030 | FAO event World Food Day 2019
Brussels, Belgium. Andrea Magnani (Senior Project Assistant) represented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the event "FOOD2030: Nourishing people and nurturing the planet through sustainable healthy diets for all" organized by FAO, the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions for the World Food Day 2019.
Conference | Acqua Roma
Rome, Italy. Gregory Eve (CEO greenApes) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the conference Acqua Roma organized in collaboration with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences.
More info here.
Conference | Sustainable Food Systems = Sustainable Diets
Rome, Italy. Tashina Petersson (PhD candidate) presented the paper "Reducing carbon emissions and water footprints through sustainable diet promotion in university and company’s canteens: the SU-EATABLE LIFE project" at the International Conference on Sustainable Food Systems = Sustainable Diets.
More info here.
Press conference
Milan, Italy. Simona Castaldi (Research Project Manager) participated to the press conference aiming to launch the 10° International Forum on Food and Nutrition organized by Barilla Foundation, presenting the SU-EATABLE LIFE Mid-term Conference to be held in Milan on December 3, 2019.
Twitter chat | World Food Day
The SU-EATABLE LIFE project team members presented the initiative during the Twitter chat "Healthy and sustainable diets for a zero-hunger world" promoted by Barilla Foundation.
Meeting with Italian stakeholders
Parma, Italy. The SU-EATABLE LIFE team members met the managers of the Italian company canteens involved in the experimental phase of the project.
Conference | TEDx Mestre
Venice, Italy. Alessandra Varotto (Communication Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE PROJECT during the workshop "The future is on our table" at the TEDx Mestre 2019.
More info here.
Booklet | On climate & the future of food
The SU-EATABLE LIFE project has been included in the booklet "On climate & the future of food" published by the The Global Alliance for the Future of Food as one of the most important initiatives on climate and food supported by its members. The booklet has been presented in New York on Sept 25th, 2019 on occasion of the Climate Week NYC 2019.
More info here.
Event | Foodprint
London, UK. The Sustainable Restaurant Association presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the launch of its new impact programme to help measure and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of restaurant menus.
More info here.
Conference | FAO's International Symposium on the Future of Food
Rome (Italy). Simona Castaldi (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the panel "Building consumer confidence in food systems" at the FAO's International Symposium on the Future of Food.
Watch the video here.
Conference | ANDID National Conference
Florence, Italy. Katarzyna Dembska (Project Nutrition Advisor) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project at the 31° ANDID (Italian Dietitians National Association) Conference.
Meeting with UK stakeholders
London, UK. R. Valentini, S. Castaldi, L. Bouwman and G. Eve met UK universities and canteens managers interested in the project at the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s headquarter.
Panel | Food & Cities - Milan Design Week
Milan, Italy. Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project within the panel on "Food & cities: The transformation of agro-food systems starts from cities" organized by BCFN Foundation and Milan Urban Food Policy Pact on the occasion of the Milan Design Week.
Twitter Chat | World Water Day
Marta Antonelli (Research Project Manager) presented the SU-EATABLE LIFE project during the Twitter Chat "Water & Food sustainability: Your choices matter" promoted by BCFN Foundation.
Survey on sustainable diets
The survey on sustainable diets developed in the framework of Action A.1 "Observatory on Sustainable Diets" is online.
