With two months to go, Fundesplai’s EAT:LIFE project faces the final stretch having achieved its objectives and with a significant impact, with more than 88,500 people participating. This was made clear by the two people in charge of the European Union’s LIFE project who visited the company on May 25 and who highlighted the high technical level of the project and the company’s commitment to sustainable food.
Since 2021, the EAT:LIFE project has been working to promote healthier, fairer and more sustainable eating habits. It does so by mobilizing citizens to become agents of change through educational and informative activities, resources, challenges and games.
Among other activities, a series of 36 conferences were held on different topics such as planetary diet, food and childhood, food product advertising, agroecology and healthy and sustainable recipes. It has counted with the participation of prominent personalities such as the young activist Francisco Vera Manzanares, the cook Ada Oliveras or Aitor Sanchez, nutritionist, popularizer and author of Mi Dieta Cojea. They have been very well received, and have brought together more than 10,000 people.
A project committed to healthy and sustainable food
For education professionals and families, a series of educational resources and training courses have been created, both face-to-face and online, completely free of charge, such as the MOOCs on reducing waste in the dining room or the Sustainable Development Goals and food.
With the aim of awakening the interest of children and young people in getting involved and raising awareness of their environment, numerous collective challenges and the Youth for Tomorrow Award have been proposed, involving a large number of playgrounds and schools and more than 71,000 people.
In addition, the large communication campaign and the EAT:LIFE website, with articles, interviews to reflect on the current food system, as well as games and recipes, have managed to capture the attention of half a million people.
All of the above would not have been possible, and this was emphasized to the LIFE project managers, without close collaboration with an extensive network of alliances. Some of the organizations and individuals who have contributed to the project are the Public Health Agency of Catalonia, the City Councils of Barcelona, Esplugues, El Prat and Castelldefels, the University of Vic, the CRAM, the Eixarcolant Collective, Espigoladors, Justicia Alimentaria and the Pol-len publishing house, among many others.
Alliances for a better world
The importance of partnerships in promoting the importance of citizenship in building a better food system was evident in the discussion and reflection session that complemented the visit of the LIFE project managers. The session, entitled “European and regional strategies to face the challenges of the current food system: The role of citizenship”, was attended by relevant institutions and entities, and was co-organized with the Vida Sana association. During the session, the participants presented some of the initiatives they are carrying out and exchanged opinions, challenges and best practices.
Apart from collaborations with other entities, the joint efforts within Fundesplai’s own programs have been crucial to the success of the project. EAT:LIFE complements and consolidates the actions carried out through the educational program Food Changes the World and the exhibition Menja Actúa Impacta, located in El Prat de Llobregat. These collective efforts have helped to broaden the scope and impact of the project and to highlight the importance of engaging individually and collectively for a better world.