CUES Policy Webinar: Less Enabling, More Structuring – The Role of Consumers in Sustainable Food Policy in the EU

Consumers are often expected to drive the transition towards more sustainable food systems through their everyday choices. But how much change can realistically be achieved through information and individual responsibility alone?

Across the EU, sustainable food policy has often relied on informing consumers and encouraging voluntary behavioural change. While information tools such as food labels remain important, growing evidence suggests that enabling consumers alone is not enough. Structural measures that shape food environments, affordability, availability and default choices are equally necessary to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable food systems.

Within the framework of the Horizon Europe CUES project, this webinar will present new research examining how consumers are positioned in sustainable food policy at EU, national and regional levels, and what this means for future policymaking. The discussion will be complemented by findings from the Horizon Europe projects TealHelix and Infoodmation, which explore sustainability communication, consumer trust and food misinformation.

The webinar aims to bring together researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to discuss how sustainable food policies can move beyond a primarily information-based approach towards more structural and effective measures.

Find the agenda here

Organiser: FTAO, Heidelberg University,Q-PLAN International

Contact us at: argyropoulou@qplan-intl.gr; plaku@fairtrade-advocacy.org