On 16 June 2026, the ENFASYS and VISIONARY projects jointly hosted their Final Event in Brussels, bringing together policymakers, researchers, practitioners, civil society organisations, and agri-food stakeholders from across Europe to discuss how sustainable food and farming systems can be accelerated through effective policies, behavioural insights, and systemic approaches.
Held at the Herman Teirlinck Building, the event provided a unique opportunity to reflect on the findings, experiences, and lessons generated by both projects over the past years while exploring how these insights can continue to inform policy and practice in the future.
The day opened with discussions on the importance of combining systems thinking with behavioural research to better understand the complex challenges facing food systems.
Participants explored how social, economic, and policy instruments can support sustainability transitions and why addressing relationships, incentives, and governance structures is essential for creating lasting change.
A dedicated policy session brought together experts from the European Commission, the EU CAP Network, COPA-COGECA, WWF, and academia to discuss how policy design can better support sustainable food system transformation. The discussion highlighted the importance of trust, long-term policy stability, stakeholder engagement, and coordinated action across the entire agri-food chain.
In the afternoon, participants joined interactive breakout sessions focused on key topics including green payment systems, organic food and farming, sustainable agri-food value chains, and consumer behaviour. Through case studies and practical examples from across Europe, the sessions explored real-world barriers and opportunities for enabling sustainability transitions at local, regional, and national levels.
The final session of the event focused on the legacy of the ENFASYS and VISIONARY projects. Speakers and panellists presented the resources, tools, frameworks, and research outputs developed throughout the projects and discussed how these can continue to support policymakers, practitioners, businesses, civil society organisations, and researchers beyond the projects’ lifetime.
Particular attention was given to ensuring that project results remain accessible and useful as resources for future policy discussions and decision-making processes.
Beyond the formal programme, the event offered valuable opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among participants.
Dedicated project booths showcased research findings, case study experiences, and practical outputs, while informal discussions throughout the day helped strengthen connections between stakeholders working towards a common goal: more sustainable and resilient food systems in Europe.
The ENFASYS and VISIONARY consortia would like to thank all speakers, panellists, participants, and stakeholders who contributed to the event and helped make it a success.
As both projects approach their conclusion, the discussions in Brussels demonstrated that the transition towards sustainable food systems requires not only robust evidence and innovative policies, but also strong partnerships, collaboration, and continued dialogue among all actors involved.
Together, ENFASYS and VISIONARY leave behind a valuable legacy of knowledge, tools, and practical insights that will continue to support sustainability transitions across Europe in the years to come.
