FoodEducators: inspiring future generations with accessible food education
A sustainable future begins with informed choices, yet food education remains absent in many European school curriculums. How can we equip the next generation to make healthier, more sustainable food decisions? The answer lies in education.
FoodEducators, an EIT Food programme, is tackling this challenge by providing teachers across Europe with innovative, science-based learning materials designed to engage young people. Since its launch in 2022, the programme has inspired thousands of educators and students, fostering food literacy and sparking interest in agrifood careers.
The importance of food education
Education is key to progress, particularly in an industry as essential and diverse as food systems. Without a basic understanding of how food choices affect individual health and the planet, young people miss opportunities to make informed decisions, hindering both personal well-being and a wider food systems transformation.
Moreover, the agrifood sector, which plays a vital role in solving global challenges, often remains overlooked by young people as a dynamic and exciting career pathway. To inspire change, students need access to relatable, engaging educational materials that make food systems come alive. Teachers are pivotal in this transformation but require practical, adaptable resources tailored to diverse classroom settings.
Nurturing the next generations of foodies
FoodEducators started by conducting needs assessments and developing two comprehensive teacher handbooks, piloted in five countries. By 2023, these handbooks evolved into downloadable lesson plans, now accessible in 16 languages through the FoodEducators website.
The lesson plans stand out for their active learning approach. They encourage participation, teamwork, role-playing, and experimentation, fostering essential skills like leadership, communication, critical thinking, conscious consumerism, and entrepreneurial mindsets. The materials, complete with detailed instructions, editable presentations, and supplementary resources, are tailored for diverse age groups and classroom settings.
"Food is an emotive topic. Our materials equip students with practical skills to separate fact from fiction regarding health and sustainability claims. We envision a world where all young people access food education and are inspired by innovative agrifood careers, driving healthier and more sustainable food systems."
Supported by EIT Food’s funding, infrastructure and expertise, the programme has flourished. By 2023, FoodEducators reached 1,500 teachers and over 36,000 students, while showcasing the careers of 92 agrifood professionals, directly inspiring 800 students to consider agrifood careers.
From farm to classrooms and beyond
Looking ahead, FoodEducators aims to engage over 75,000 students across 15 countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey. The programme plans to expand further, adding new languages and refining resources based on teacher feedback and emerging trends, while continuing to organise Career Days, food-related competitions, producing agrifood career videos and sharing insights at international events.
"Our vision is to expand food education across Europe in national languages while offering state-of-the-art learning resources to schools and educators. Conscious consumers are key to transforming food systems and education should start at the youngest age possible. By building on national and local ecosystems and constantly looking for financing options outside of EIT Food, we believe our impact can be sustainable in the long term."
Shaping the future of food systems
By equipping educators with the tools to inspire critical thinking, entrepreneurship, and a deep connection to food, FoodEducators is shaping a generation of informed consumers and future agrifood leaders. The ultimate goal? To nurture a pan-European generation that understands food’s journey from farm to fork and actively contributes to transforming food systems.
How can you contribute to this mission? Whether through supporting policies prioritising food education, investing in innovative teaching resources, or raising awareness about agrifood careers, there are countless ways to make an impact. Together, we can inspire a generation to build a healthier, more sustainable, and inclusive future.
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