The 10th EGEA conference will be taking place in Montpellier from 7 to 9 October. This edition will be co-chaired by Boitshepo Bibi Giyose (FAO) and Joël Doré (INRAE). The event will place consumers’ needs, expectations and constraints at the heart of the debate and take a comprehensive “food systems” approach. The aim will be to formulate evidence-based recommendations to translate science into action and make our food systems more sustainable, in particular by ensuring more fruit and vegetables on our plates.
Today’s food systems face a triple challenge. They have to simultaneously feed a growing population, preserve the planet’s resources and ensure livelihoods and social equity throughout the food chain (OECD, 2021). To address these challenges, the scientific evidence is clear: to protect human health and that of the planet, our food systems need to shift towards more plant-based diets with an abundance of fruit and vegetables (FAO and WHO, 2019). However, the feasibility of such a transition can only be considered through the lens of consumers, taking into account the multiple barriers – economic, cultural, social and environmental – that influence their food choices.
An exceptional programme for the 10th edition of the EGEA conference
To address these challenges, the 10th edition of the EGEA conference will focus on a key question:
Can dietary recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake be met within sustainable food systems?
For this edition, the conference will be co-chaired by Boitshepo Bibi Giyose, a specialist in food and nutrition security (FAO), and Joël Doré, a pioneer in gut microbiota research. They will be joined by more than 30 international speakers, including Francesco Branca, a specialist in the impact of food systems on global health and former director of the WHO’s Department of Nutrition, Céline Bonnet, who specialises in the analysis of public policies for a more sustainable food supply (Toulouse School of Economics, INRAE) and Fabrice DeClerck (EAT, Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT), who will all provide cross-cutting insights in an unprecedented convergence of skills and expertise.
Following an introductory session, five cross-cutting sessions will focus on examining the diversity of consumption systems and patterns around the world:
- The impacts of meeting fruit and vegetable recommendations
- Behaviours and levers for change
- Success stories
- Challenges & future perspectives
- Round-table discussion: “From expectations to action: consumer perspectives on tomorrow’s food system”
EGEA: a unique international conference
The aim of the EGEA conference, ever since it began in 2003, has been to formulate evidence-based recommendations to translate science into action and make our food systems more sustainable. To achieve this, this event brings together all relevant stakeholders – including scientists, professionals, institutional partners and consumer and civil society representatives – and draws on multidisciplinary knowledge. Initially focused on the role of the Mediterranean diet in the prevention of chronic diseases, EGEA has gradually extended its scope and now has a broader perspective on food systems. Over the years, the consensus and recommendations developed by EGEA have helped to shape public initiatives such as the European school fruit and vegetable programme.
