Futures Literacy on Food Nutrition and Sustainable Food Systems for School Education

EduNUT project was developed to address a critical gap in food system education—while many initiatives focus on farm-to-fork solutions, there is a lack of systemic approaches that shape how future generations think about and engage with food systems. Current education often lacks Systems Thinking and Futures Literacy methodologies, leaving both teachers and students without the necessary competences to drive sustainable transformation. We applied for this project to meet the urgent need for educators to access updated, effective teaching practices that go beyond disciplinary knowledge and equip them with sustainability competences, including systems thinking, critical analysis, strategic action, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, EduNUT provided students with transformative learning experiences that foster responsibility, and engagement as future changemakers in food system transformation. By addressing these needs, EduNUT was enable a new generation to think critically and act sustainably.

Through the implementation of EduNUT, we aimed to empower young people to become critical thinkers, and conscious food consumers, contributing to the systemic transformation of food systems and the Green Transition. Our goal was to equip both teachers and students with the necessary competences to actively engage in and drive this transformation from an early age. To achieve this, we developed specialized educational materials that address the complexity of food system transformation, support teachers in introducing these concepts effectively, and provide engaging resources for students. During the project implementation, we developed a database of good practices, case studies, and research on integrating Food and Futures Literacy into school education. Additionally, we developed a training program for teachers (MOOC course), offering capacity-building tools that enhance their ability to teach Food Literacy. For students, EduNUT introduced an innovative curriculum and an educational board game to foster Futures Literacy, Systems Thinking, and sustainable consumption habits.

The following activities were implemented: WP2 activities focus on researching and promoting sustainable food education. Project partners conducted research, selected best practices, and developed a report to guide teachers. Case studies were created through interviews with educators and stakeholders. WP3 focuses on developing and implementing a capacity-building program for teachers on Food Literacy. Activities included needs analysis through surveys, creation of training guides, MOOC content and technical development, testing via seminars and webinars, coaching sessions for educators, and material translations. WP4 focuses on designing and implementing an educational curriculum on sustainable food systems. Activities included developing four learning modules, creating a board game, piloting and refining the curriculum in schools, and translating materials into partner languages. Modules cover food literacy, sustainable food systems, climate action, and learning validation. WP5 focuses on project dissemination. Activities included developing a dissemination strategy, creating branding materials, launching a website, running social media campaigns, publishing newsletters and organizing multiplier events in partner countries.

The EduNUT project successfully delivered concrete outputs and key results: - A database of 46 Good Practices in Food Literacy education. - 8 in-depth Case Studies, demonstrating real-world applications of Food and Futures Literacy in school curricula. - A comprehensive report on collected Good Practices and Case Studies, serving as a foundational guide for curriculum development. - A needs assessment report summarizing teachers' knowledge gaps in climate change and sustainable food systems. - A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Food Literacy, equipping teachers with effective strategies for integrating food literacy into their teaching. - The EduNut Lexicon, providing clear insights into food industry aspects from production to marketing. - The EduNut curriculum, integrating Futures Literacy and Systems Thinking to enhance students’ understanding of sustainable food systems. - An educational board game, promoting interactive and experiential learning on food system challenges. These outputs resulted in improved teacher competencies, increased student engagement, and behavioral shifts towards sustainable food consumption, positively impacting both schools and communitites.