Consortium: Humboldt-Universität (Thaer-Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences), Charité (Medical Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition), Technische Universität (Center for Technology and Society, Food Biotechnology and Food Process Engineering), Freie Universität (Institute of Animal Nutrition, School of Business and Economics, Environmental Policy Research Centre), Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (Economic Development and Food Security)

Understanding the nexus of social cohesion, food, and health presents a significant gap in research. Interrelations of social cohesion with inequalities and vulnerabilities in food systems, as well as with food-related health concerns have not yet been dealt with. This constitutes the entry point for the Berlin University Alliance-funded project “Social cohesion, food and health. Inclusive food system transitions“.

The project aims at closing the research gap about the nexus of social cohesion, food, and health conceptually and empirically. Herefore, the following activities are executed:

• design and test a multilevel and multisector framework about the nexus of social cohesion, food, and health
• elicit methodic approaches to measuring the dynamics of social cohesion in food systems, and develop respective indicators
• assess contemporary trends (macrolevel) as well as dynamics in incumbent food systems and emerging innovations (mesolevel)
• examine the potential and the impacts of bottom-up innovations in the food system to social cohesion and health through 6 case studies
• conduct 3 living labs, complemented by behavioral experiments, exploring the impacts of various innovations in the food system