Working together towards sustainable food system in Overijssel (the Netherlands)

In its vision for the future, the province of Overijssel aims to achieve a sustainable food system by 2030, and is faced a number of challenges. Using the Transition Support System (TSS) approach developed by Wageningen Economic Research, officials from the province and other stakeholders are looking for joint visions of the future and corresponding action perspectives for achieving a sustainable food system.

The advantage of the Transition Support System (TSS) is that the policy and strategy are established and updated in close cooperation with stakeholders. This process is supported by in-depth analyses such as insights into land-use planning, and data for specific sectors or population groups to substantiate developments and the effects of action perspectives.

It is precisely the combination of data and expertise from various groups of stakeholders that ensures a constructive result from an exploration of future strategic policy.
Province of Overijssel

From feeling to substantiation

By working on concrete visions for the future and determining the consequences of action perspectives during various conferences, obtaining feedback on these outcomes from relevant experts – from consumers to producers – and incorporating their feedback in the analysis of land use, the province and other stakeholders have acquired policy-relevant insights into possible desired directions. In this process, “the feeling” of the stakeholders has been transformed into concrete figures, regional images and support. During the conferences, the emphasis has increasingly shifted to a sustainable and healthy food system (for example, a healthier diet with less meat and more fruit and vegetables).