Three workshops to outline recommendations

The National Research Programme "Healthy Nutrition and Sustainable Food Production" (NRP 69) is organising three major workshops between now and the end of 2017. The objective of these workshops is to present the results of the 22 projects from the first research phase. The research groups will also start to formulate their joint recommendations for the government, the cantons and stakeholders from the agrifood sector. The workshop on 26 October 2017 will be devoted to developing a more sustainable food system. On 16 November 2017, the theme will be preparing a strategy for the problem of food waste. Finally, the workshop on 11 December 2017 will explore ways of understanding and promoting healthy and/or sustainable food choices of Swiss consumers. These workshops are open to all interested parties. Interview with Xavier Pilloud, Head of Knowledge Transfer for NRP 69:

Is there a lot of interest in these workshops?

Xavier Pilloud : Yes, the number of registrations from government authorities, private companies and non-governmental organisations is higher than expected. This indicates that many institutions are interested in the programme's broad range of themes and individual research groups.

What form will these days take?

The workshops are divided into two parts. First of all, participants will familiarise themselves with the findings of the individual research groups and have spontaneous discussions with the scientists in a scientific "speed dating" setup. In the second part of the workshop, we will present thematic statements that the various research groups have drawn up. We want to discuss these with the interest groups. It's important for us to be able to take account of the viewpoints of stakeholders from the agrifood sector. Prior to each workshop, these stakeholders will receive a document presenting the key statements made by our groups.

Does that mean that the stakeholders from the agrifood sector will be drafting the scientists' recommendations?

No, the researchers are responsible for producing NRP 69's recommendations. But we want to facilitate a dialogue with stakeholders from the agrifood sector before we begin the process of drafting recommendations, because the stakeholders also possess important expert knowledge. In the days following each individual workshop, the researchers will be meeting to incorporate this expert knowledge into their recommendations. These recommendations will be published in an interim synthesis. This report is due to appear in late 2018 or early 2019.

Three additional research groups will be taking part in the second phase of the programme. What will happen to their recommendations?

The results of these groups are expected in 2018. Their recommendations will be based on the interim synthesis and the findings of the 22 research groups from the first phase of the programme.