The much-anticipated Food Alert Report, the product of several months of dedicated effort, has been officially unveiled. The Food Alert Report Launch took place at the Permanent Representation of the Netherlands to the EU.

Event Highlights

The welcoming remarks were delivered by Head of the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the EU – Pieter Jan Kleiweg de Zwaan, and the Food Alert Project Lead – Chris Hegadorn.

Special thanks are due to Catherine Geslain-Lanèelle, the Director Strategy and Policy Analysis at DG AGRI, for her keynote reflections, which set the stage for a comprehensive understanding of the current state and future directions of food system resilience. We also extend our gratitude to Jessica Fitch (the European Consortium of the Organic-Based Fertilizers Industry), and Charlotte Epinay (Food Fermentation Europe) for sharing their sectors’ experiences and offering a diverse array of perspectives on the issues at hand. The section was moderated by Kristen Sukalac (Prospero & Partners).

Contents of the Food Alert Report
The Food Alert Report is a comprehensive document that delves into critical aspects of food system resilience. It is structured into four main sections:

1. Contextualizing the Stress-Testing Exercise and Global Food Systems – this section provides a detailed overview of the current state of global food systems, highlighting the necessity for robust stress-testing mechanisms to anticipate and mitigate potential crises.
2. Food Alert Stress-Testing Methodology and Crisis Scenario Diagram – in this section, the report outlines the methodology of the stress-testing exercise. It includes a crisis scenario diagram that connects to state-of-the-art literature, offering a clear and accessible framework for understanding the dynamics of food system crises.
3. Policy Recommendations – the report presents twelve policy recommendations categorized into three thematic groups. These recommendations are designed to enhance the resilience of the EU food system, ensuring it can withstand and adapt to various stressors. 
4. Conclusive Insights and Key Takeaways – the final section synthesizes the insights gained from the stress-testing exercise and the policy recommendations. It provides a clear set of takeaways that can guide future actions and strategies to strengthen food system resilience.

Originally shared by EIT Food on the basis of the Food Alert Report.

Moving Forward
The launch of the Food Alert Report represents a significant step forward in the collective effort to build more resilient food systems. The insights and recommendations contained within the report will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders across the food system spectrum.For those who could not attend the event, the report is available online.

Food Alert Partners include:  Chris Hegadorn (Lead Organizer, Sciences Po Paris), Centre for Systems Solutions, Prospero & Partners, Chatham House, European Policy Centre and INRAE. The Food Alert Report Lead Sponsors are: EIT Food, and the Permanent Representation of the Netherlands to the EU.