RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS IN A COMPETITIVE EUROPE
Join researchers, policymakers, industry representatives and other key actors for two days of discussion, new perspectives and collaboration on how Europe can accelerate the transformation of its agrifood systems while strengthening sustainability, resilience and competitiveness.
KEY TOPICS ON THE MAIN STAGE
Main-stage debates and keynote perspectives on the tensions, priorities and choices shaping Europe’s agrifood future.
Sustainability and competitiveness – what will it take to deliver both?
European agrifood systems must become more sustainable and resilient while remaining competitive. This session examines where these aims support one another, where tensions arise, and what is slowing progress.
How the EU plans to boost agrifood R&I and competitiveness
What direction is the EU taking on agrifood research and innovation? The session explores emerging priorities and what they could mean for research, industry and collaboration across the agrifood system.
Managing water and climate pressures in agrifood systems
Water scarcity, flooding and a changing climate are creating difficult choices for European food production. This session looks at how knowledge, priorities and practical decisions can be brought together under increasing uncertainty.
From regulatory barriers to enabling frameworks
Regulation must protect safety, sustainability and public trust while allowing new solutions to develop. The session explores where the current system creates barriers and what a more enabling approach could look like.
From innovation to impact: What’s holding back Europe’s agrifood transformation?
Europe produces strong research, new technologies and promising businesses, but many solutions struggle to move beyond their early stages. This session examines what stands between a good idea and wider adoption.
Inspiring stories
What does successful change look like in practice? This session presents experiences from research, collaboration and implementation, focusing on what enabled progress, the challenges encountered and the lessons learned.
Who shapes Europe’s agrifood transformation?
Who sets the direction of agrifood transformation, and whose knowledge informs the decisions? The closing keynote considers how different forms of knowledge can be brought together to shape future research, policy and practice.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Hear perspectives from European policy, research, industry and practice.
JOIN PARALLEL SESSIONS
Alongside the main-stage programme, the conference offers two-hour parallel sessions where participants can explore selected topics in greater depth. The sessions bring together researchers, policymakers, industry representatives and other stakeholders to discuss current challenges and exchange perspectives across disciplines and sectors.
Parallel sessions | 28 October 2026
Europe’s Protein Plan - Building a more resilient food future
Organised by START Circularity in Nutrients Hub
Track Leaders:
- Søren Krogh Jensen, Professer, Aarhus University
- Etienne Pilorgé, Director of International Relations, Terres Inovia
Healthy diets in the green transition: aligning sustainability, health and food safety
Organised by START Health Hub
Track Leaders:
- Alice Grønhøj, Aarhus University
- Christina C. Dahm, Aarhus University
- Sara Monteiro Pires, Technical University of Denmark
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Description
Dietary change is widely recognized as a key lever for reducing environmental impacts and improving public health. However, achieving healthy and sustainable diets requires balancing multiple objectives, including nutrition, affordability, cultural acceptability and food safety.
This session brings together experts to explore how dietary change can contribute to climate and sustainability targets while supporting population health and minimizing unintended risks. Through perspectives spanning nutritional epidemiology, food systems policy, and integrated assessment modelling, the session will discuss pathways for achieving healthy diets under the green transition and the evidence needed to guide decision-making.
The session aims to:
- Explore the synergies and trade-offs between health, sustainability and food safety in dietary transitions.
- Discuss how integrated evidence can support policy and food system transformation.
- Identify priorities for research and cross-sector collaboration.
- Generate actionable ideas for policymakers, researchers and food system stakeholders working towards sustainable agrifood futures.
Discussions will include:
- What dietary shifts offer the greatest co-benefits for health and the environment?
- How can food system models better inform policy decisions?
- What food safety risks may emerge in dietary and food production transitions?
- How can evidence from multiple disciplines be integrated to support coherent policy action?
Programme:
- Welcome and setting the scene by Health Hub: Alice Grønhøj, Associate Professor, Department of Management - MAPP - Research on Value Creation in the Food Sector; Christina Dahm, Professor, Department of Public Health, Århus University; Sara M. Pires, Senior scientist, Research Group for Risk-benefit, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark
- Daniel Ibsen, Department of Public Health, AU, and Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus: Harvesting the physical, mental and planetary health benefits of a global reference diet
- Marco Springmann, University College London and University of Oxford: Modelling pathways towards healthy and sustainable diets
- Sara M. Pires, National Food Institute, DTU: Risk-benefit assessment for sustainable dietary shifts
- Q&A
- Workshop: Trade-offs and blind spots of food policies
- Rounding off
Genetics Solutions to a Post-Pesticide Era
Organised by START Genetics Hub
Track Leaders:
- Mogens Sandø Lund, Aarhus University
- Tom Gilbert, University of Copenhagen
- Torben Asp, Aarhus University
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Description:
Genetic Solutions to a Post-Pesticide Era will explore how advances in genetics and biotechnology can contribute to sustainable crop protection as agriculture moves away from reliance on chemical pesticides.
Relevant topics include the potential of breeding and genome editing of crops and biocontrol agents in order to enhance resistance against pathogens, pests, and environmental stressors; the use of population genomics and evolutionary principles to improve the durability of resistance.
Discussions will also consider genetic technologies targeting agricultural pests themselves, including gene drives and other population management strategies, alongside the ecological interactions, ethical, regulatory, and societal challenges associated with their deployment.
The track session aims to identify promising research directions and key knowledge gaps for developing resilient food production systems in a future with greatly reduced pesticide use.
Programme:
1. Welcome and scene setting
by Genetics Hub: Mogens Sandø Lund, Centre Director Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics at Aarhus University, Tom Gilbert, Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics at University of Copenhagen and Torben Asp, Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics at Aarhus University
2. Framing talk about the challenge: Plant protection with far fewer pesticides
by René Gislum, Associate Professor, Head of Section at Aarhus University
3. State-of-the-art lightning talks
- Talk 1: Crop resistance through NGTs
- Talk 2: Breeding for resilience by Irene Julca, Tenure Track Assistant Professor at Aarhus University
- Talk 3: Engineering insect populations for sustainable crop protection by Torsten Nygård Kristensen, Professor at Aalborg University
4. Group discussions
5. Plenum discussions
6. Key takeaways and closing remarks
From Research to Practice: Multi-Actor Perspectives on Managing the Agricultural Transition
Organised by START People and Practices Hub
Track Leaders:
- Jessica Aschemann-Witzel, Aarhus University
- Polymeros Chrysochou, Aarhus University
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Description
The workshop focuses on SSH research in the green transition of agriculture. On the basis of concrete research project examples and their key insights, we move to a general discussion and reflection of the role of SSH research in changing European agriculture. Questions can include: How can we ensure both excellent, independent research and meaningful societal impact? And what role do different SSH disciplines play in this effort? How to improve cross-disciplinary collaboration between SSH and other research traditions (- technical, natural science - )?
Agenda:
- Welcome and introduction by Jessica Aschemann-Witzel
- Presentations combining different disciplinary perspectives
- “A People´s Perspective on the Green Agriculture Transition and the Green Tripartite Agreement in Denmark” – Jessica Aschemann-Witzel, Green transition index, Aarhus University
- SEAL: Mapping and Understanding Targets and Policies for a Sustainable European Agri-Food – Nina Zoe Valin and Elisa Bordin, SEAL project, University of Copenhagen
- The question of democratic engagement in green transitions – Ulrikka Skovdal, University of Southern Denmark
- An agronomists view on (need for) SSH in research and innovation for agrifood systems transition – Niels Halberg
- The workshop concludes with a 30-minute group session or plenary discussion, moderated by Lasse Søelund, Copenhagen Business School, focused on how SSH disciplines can contribute to the European green transition in agriculture
Disruptive Technologies for a Circular Blue-Green Bioeconomy
Organised by START 2GETHER Hub
Track Leaders:
- Marija Banovic, Aarhus University
- Simon Bahrndorff, Aalborg University
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Description
This track will provide a deep dive into the role of disruptive technologies in advancing a circular blue-green bioeconomy and, through this, contributing to resilient and sustainable agrifood systems in Europe. The session will showcase the interdisciplinary work of HUB 2GETHER and collaboration across Danish universities, with a focus on how technological innovation can be translated into systemic change. Bringing together research, policy, and industry perspectives, the track will discuss opportunities and bottlenecks linked to technologies such as precision fermentation, biotechnology-based valorisation, digital tools, and integrated blue-green solutions, with particular attention to implementation, governance, market uptake, and consumer acceptance. The ambition is to move beyond technology itself and address how such innovations can be embedded in practice to generate real sustainability impact.
As a concrete output, we would also aim to use the track as a basis for developing another joint paper from START and HUB 2GETHER, building on our previous successful publication activities in this area.
Educational approaches to sustainable transition, food and knowledge
Organised by Danish School of Education
Track Leaders:
- Jonas Lysgaard, Aarhus University
- Rune Müller Kristensen, Aarhus University
- Malou Juelskjær, Aarhus University
- Ditte Alexandra Winther-Lindqvist, Aarhus University
Parallel sessions | 29 October 2026
Turning Alternative Protein Research into Reality
Organised by DTU Alt Protein Project
Track Leaders:
- Souzanna Vrellou, Project Leader at DTU Alt Protein Project, Technical University of Denmark
- Kacper Szewranski, President of DTU Alt Protein Project, Technical University of Denmark
- Timothy John Hobley, Associate Professor & Head of Education at DTU National Food Institute
- Ismaël Bawah, Science and Technology Community Coordinator at GFI Europe
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Description
This session will explore how the next generation of alternative proteins is being developed: food products that go beyond environmental sustainability to be flavorful, nutritious, functional, and affordable.
Speakers from Denmark, Finland, Belgium and the Netherlands will examine the drivers of progress across the field. When does industry need academia most? What does it take to build a cultivated meat farm? How do you develop, produce, and sell food products that have never existed before? And why is culinary science essential to advancing food research? The session will also include a Danish start-up’s perspective on what happens after a prototype works: the challenge of scaling a business while aligning science, production, funding and market demand.
Through case studies from across the ecosystem, the session will highlight both the opportunities and the obstacles on Europe's path towards a wide adoption of plant-based, fermentation-derived and cultivated meat products.
When do Policy Targets Drive Real Transformation of the Agri-Food System?
Organised by Science-based policies for a sustainable European agri-food and land use system Project (SEAL)
Track Leaders:
- Teis Hansen, Professor, SEAL, University of Copenhagen
The Connected Agri-Food System: A Holistic View of Digital Transformation
Organised by START DIGITAL hub
Track Leaders:
- Claus Aage Grøn Sørensen, Aarhus University
- Jonas Valbjørn Andersen, Aarhus University
Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Agrifoods Research: Integrating Diverse Fields
Organised by START Collaborative Landscapes Hub
Track Leaders:
- Antoinette Fage-Butler, Aarhus University
- Heather Swanson, Aarhus University
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Description:
Looking to lift your next interdisciplinary project or grant application to the next level? As funding calls place more emphasis on substantial interdisciplinary integration and greater inclusion of the social sciences and humanities, this workshop offers practical techniques for how you can meet these challenges in meaningful ways. Focusing on project design and early phase collaborative work, this workshop will help you get your team and your research questions on a strong path. Alongside skills and tips applicable to all contexts, the session will feature a brief intro to how to best activate the capacities of the humanities and qualitative social sciences in interdisciplinary and cross-sector projects.
Programme:
10:00-10:10 Intro to session by Antoinette Fage-Butler, Associate Professor, English and Business Communication, Aarhus University and Heather Swanson, Professor, Anthropology, Aarhus University
10:10-10:30 Expert talk: “Making Interdisciplinary Research Meaningful: Finding the Gaps and Working Together" by Christine Parsons, Aarhus University, Head of the Interacting Minds Centre, and Professor, with appointments at both AU School of Culture and Society and Clinical Medicine
10:30-10:45 Q&A with Christine Parsons
10:45-12:00 Workshop: “Mobilising the Capacities of the Humanities and Qualitative Social Sciences in Agrifoods Research". Led by Daniel Kardyb, Researcher with the Initiative for Sustainable Interdisciplinarity, Danish School of Education (DPU), Aarhus University. Including participation from Heather Swanson and Antoinette Fage-Butler.
From Problem to Solutions: Tackling the Phosphorus and Nitrogen Challenge
Organised by START Circularity in Nutrients Hub
Track Leaders
- Kasper Reitzel, University of Southern Denmark
- Morten Lykkegaard Christensen, Aalborg University
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Description
How can we ensure food security while protecting the environment? How can we promote interdisciplinary research that brings together expertise from across disciplines to develop solutions that reduce nutrient losses without compromising agricultural productivity?
Meeting these challenges requires a shift from narrowly focused research towards a holistic understanding of interconnected societal systems, including environmental, agricultural, waste management, and socioeconomic systems. To address these complex issues, future research should not only foster interdisciplinary collaboration but also co-create new knowledge with relevant stakeholders to ensure the development of actionable and viable solutions. This integrated approach is essential for achieving both productive agriculture and healthy ecosystems.
The track will feature presentations showcasing research that addresses phosphorus and nitrogen challenges, as well as discussions on future priorities and next steps for the Circularity of Nutrients Hub.
Agricultural Robotics for Food Production: From Research to Field Practice
Organised by START Bioland Hub
Track Leaders:
- Ulrik Pagh Schultz, University of Southern Denmark
- Redmond R. Shamshiri, University of Southern Denmark
Preparing for the Next Disruption: Building Resilient Rural Communities for Resilient Agrifood Systems
Organised by Wageningen University & Research
Track Leaders:
- Bart de Steenhuijsen Piters, Wageningen University & Research
- Trang Nguyen, Wageningen University & Research
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Description
European agrifood systems face increasingly interconnected risks, including climate extremes, biodiversity loss, animal and plant diseases, geopolitical instability, supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and cyber threats. Building resilience is not only about recovering from shocks, but also about strengthening the capacities of communities, institutions and governance systems to anticipate, adapt and transform in the face of uncertainty.
Rural communities are central to this challenge, but their role in strengthening preparedness and resilience often receives less attention than technological innovation or regulatory change.
Around the world, rural communities have developed innovative ways of responding to environmental, economic and social disruptions to secure desirable outcomes, such as food security and access to healthy foods. Although these solutions are highly context-specific, they can reveal common characteristics of how rural communities can contribute to strengthening agrifood system resilience that can inspire governance and preparedness strategies in Europe.
This interactive workshop brings together diverse groups of conference participants, which may include researchers, policymakers, farmers, businesses and civil society organisations, to explore what Europe can learn from resilient rural communities around the world. Through international examples and a collaborative scenario exercise, participants will identify the characteristics of resilient rural communities, the actors that enable resilience, and the governance actions needed to strengthen European's rural communities’ preparedness for future agrifood challenges.
The workshop will:
- bring together perspectives from conference participants, including research, policy, industry, farming and civil society to explore rural community resilience from multiple viewpoints
- connect international experience on resilient communities with European policy and practice
- identify the characteristics and indicators of resilient rural communities that support preparedness for future disruptions
- explore the roles of different actors and partnerships in strengthening rural communities’ resilience and access to food, thereby supporting agrifood resilience
- co-design governance actions that support rural communities’ resilience and access to food and resilient European agrifood systems.
PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE
Day 1 | 28 October 2026
| 09.00-10.00 | 🥐☕ Registration and refreshments |
| 10.00-10.15 | Welcome to Green Minds Gather 2026 Speakers:
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| 10.15-11.10 | Session with talks and panel debate: Sustainability and Competitiveness – What Will It Take to Deliver Both? Speakers include, among others (full line-up to be announced):
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| 11.10-12.00 | Session with talks and panel debate: How the EU Plans to Boost Agrifood R&I and Competitiveness Speakers:
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| 12.00-14.00 | 🥗 Lunch and networking |
| 14.00-15.55 | Parallel sessions |
| 15.55-16.10 | Transit til main stage |
| 16.10-17.00 | Session with talks and panel debate: Managing Water and Climate Pressures in Agrifood Systems Speakers include, among others (full line-up to be announced):
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| 17.00-18.00 | Transit to conference dinner |
| 18.30-21.00 | 🍽️ Conference dinner |
Day 2 | 29 October 2026
| 08.30-09.00 | 🥐☕ Arrival and refreshments |
| 09.00-09.05 | Welcome to day 2 Speaker:
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| 09.05-09.55 | Session with talks and panel debate: From Regulatory Barriers to Enabling Frameworks Speakers include, among others (full line-up to be announced):
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| 09.55-10.10 | Transit to parallel sessions |
| 10.10-12.00 | Parallel sessions |
| 12.00-14.00 | 🥗 Lunch and networking |
| 14.00-14.55 | Session with talks and panel debate: From Innovation to Impact: What’s Holding Back Europe’s Agrifood Transformation? Speakers include, among others (full line-up to be announced):
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| 14.55-15.20 | Fireside talk: Inspiring Stories Speakers:
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| 15.20-15.50 | Closing keynote: Who Shapes Europe's Agrifood Transformation?
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| 15.50-16.00 | Final Thoughts Speaker:
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| 16.00-17.00 | Closing reception |
Conference moderator
TAKE PART
Poster opportunity for early-career researchers
PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in the START network can apply to present a poster at the conference, with priority given to PhD students. Selected applicants receive free conference registration, accommodation and poster printing.
To apply, please send a tentative poster title, a short abstract of no more than one page, and details of your university and department to thyrsted@food.au.dk.
Not yet a member? Join the START network here.
Application deadline: 18 September 2026.
Explore the START hubs, funding opportunities and new ideas
Visit the conference areas showcasing research and activities from the START hubs.
You can also meet funding organisations, learn about their programmes and priorities, and explore startups presenting new solutions.
