FISSH

The food industry and agriculture are vital for creating jobs and prosperity in European regions. They also play a crucial role in helping the EU reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, supported by initiatives like the EU Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategies. During the recent crisis, the importance of resilient and secure food supply chains has become even more apparent.

Sustainable development lies at the heart of future food systems, and it's essential to address it at every stage of the food production process. Small and medium-sized food businesses, which make up most of the sector in many regions, often lack the resources and know-how to tackle sustainability challenges.

That's where the FISSH (Food Industry SMEs’ Sustainability Support and Help) project comes in. Its main aim is to help food businesses in five partner regions improve their sustainability practices by sharing knowledge and best practices. The focus areas include developing sustainable business models, improving the sustainability of production processes and product value chains, and understanding consumer perspectives on sustainable food.

The FISSH project involves seven partners and one associated policy authority from Belgium, Finland, Greece, Poland, and Portugal. The expected outcomes include identifying 15 good practices, influencing five policies through new development projects, revising policies, and fostering cooperation among 52 organizations through nine interregional policy learning events.