Citizen Science Food

General introduction

Is it possible to use citizen science to map the awareness of Flemish citizens about their food environment, and to discover pathways to more sustainable and healthier food practices? That is central research question in the Citizen Science Food project. Two objectives are cleverly linked 1) to gain more insight into the behavior and perception of Flemish citizens regarding food environments and 2) to link the obtained data back to target group-oriented action labs that make a customized effort to improve food environments. The different groups here are citizens and local actors (short chain actors, retailers & cities and municipalities) which we classify in terms of their context (rural/urban area), target group (e.g. children and young people) and setting (e.g. around schools, in sports and recreation centers). These actions can thus take the solutions previously proposed by citizens into account.

Research approach

Data on different aspects of the physical food environment in Flanders are collected via an application, a website and the social citizen platform HOPLR. Through game methods and feedback systems, Flemish citizens are stimulated to indicate what food they buy, where, for what reasons and how they think it can be adjusted towards healthy and sustainable food patterns. The results of the application are used in the action labs with (local) actors.  We also draw elements for the action labs from the relevant food deals and from the strategic objectives of the innovative Flemish Food Strategy.  

Relevance/Valorisation

We expect concrete cases or actions to bubble up from the three action labs that deliberately vary in terms of context, target group and setting - or at least more conscious behaviors among those involved.  The application can continue to exist after the project to continue mapping the changing food environment, and the transition to more sustainable and healthy, from the citizen's perspective.