On September 19th, the DRG4FOOD workshop focused on understanding the challenges and opportunities in helping consumers make informed food choices using data. This workshop seeked to foster open talks in order to generate valuable ideas for enhancing digital solutions, all while emphasizing people’s data rights and trust. This collaborative discourse was intended to identify critical obstacles and explore potential solutions.

During the workshop, insights from Betty Chang from EUFIC and Pierre Slamich from OpenFoodFacts were featured. Chang highlighted researches indicating that effective nutrition labels can reduce unhealthy food intake and promote healthier choices, while the lack of standardisation in eco-labels presents challenges.

Pierre introduced OpenFoodFacts (https://world.openfoodfacts.org/) as a transparent database that empowers consumers with information about food products, supporting healthier and more sustainable decisions. Additionally, the DRG4FOOD consortium presented the Map&Gap analysis, a deliverable (WP3) of DRG4FOOD project, which highlights the insights about technology’s role in food tracking and consumer choices, identifying both benefits and risks associated with emerging technologies. 

An interactive session took place where participants collaboratively developed strategies to address identified challenges in futuristic scenarios related to food choices and technology. Participants in small groups explored opportunities while generating actionable ideas aimed at improving food choices and addressing potential adverse effects. 

The workshop aimed to identify the most pressing challenges consumers face in making informed food choices. It also explored actionable avenues for improving data-driven solutions that empower consumers. Through collaborative dialogue among stakeholders, the workshop sought to generate insights and strategies.

The expected outcomes included a clear identification of challenges and opportunities related to consumer food choices and data, a comprehensive understanding of the potential impacts on consumer behaviour, and the exploration of how technological advancements can influence food decisions while considering potential adverse effects. Ultimately, the workshop aimed to develop ideas of actionable strategies. 

The workshop engaged people from the entire food chain, form citizens to professionals, in order to identify key challenges in making informed food choices and gather their feedback on how to improve data-driven solutions.

Through discussions, participants shared insights and offered suggestions aimed at empowering consumers. The goal was to develop practical strategies that harness technology to influence food decisions positively, while considering potential risks.