SystemShifters

Our mission in the EIT System Shifters is to trigger a system shift that supports people in Europe to find this new balance in how they eat. We engage with this shift on a personal level, by taking this food intake journey ourselves and discovering the challenges and solutions that are involved. And we also engage as food system actors, working together to trigger change in the food system, making it easier for people to consume more sustainably (and mitigating negative feedback loops from the existing system). 

At SystemShifters, you’ll experience the challenges and excitement of initiating true system change beyond your normal role boundaries. The explorative, organic and action-learning nature of SystemShifters makes it a unique opportunity to learn about systems leadership and how to trigger tipping points in the food system. This initiative goes beyond organizational leadership, it is about leadership in systems. EIT Food works together with Leaderscope as process facilitators and experts in collective leadership and initiating significant shifts. And with the Global Systems Institute as experts in triggering tipping points in systems.

Much of how food is produced and what we eat no longer supports our well-being nor that of future generations. The groundwork from the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet guidelines shows us how we can get back on track. We need to eat more of the things that are better for our health and the environment, such as fruits, vegetables and legumes. And less of the things that are damaging for our health and that of the planet, such as meat (particularly red and processed meat), and animal-based products.

Ideally, we need to eat like this in a way that we find enjoyable. This doesn’t mean giving up any particular foods, it asks of us to re-balance the quantities so that we and future generations can live healthier and more food-secure lives. To do this re-balancing requires more than personal commitment: we’ll need changes in what’s on offer at prices and convenience that everyone can manage. This means changes ‘from farm to fork’.

Our third ShiftSession is from 25-26 February 2025, location to be decided (in Brussels or UK). Before this in-person meeting, we have a couple of online update&prep sessions.

It would be great if you could join us. If you’re interested, I would suggest having a 30-minute call to tell you more about SystemShifters.