A systems approach to promote healthy and sustainable dietary behaviour and food environments

Updated: almost 2 years ago
Deadline: 15 May 2022

(ref. BAP-2022-225)

Laatst aangepast : 18/04/2022

The Division of Bioeconomics aims at understanding and shaping economic decision-making by private and public agents to support the development of more sustainable agricultural and food systems, and to promote ecosystem services and values. We engage in applied empirical economic research in agricultural, food and natural resource economics; and our disciplinary approach provides a strong basis for multi- and interdisciplinary collaborative research on sustainable agricultural and food systems. Our division has solid expertise in survey-based and experimental economic research in various countries across the globe, and maintains a research infrastructure of survey databases and tools. We provide research-based academic education in the field of agricultural, food and natural resources economics.


Project

PLAN’EAT is a European project that aims at advancing the scientific basis on factors influencing dietary behaviour and the health, environmental and socio-economic impacts of dietary patterns and deliver solutions for transition through a transdisciplinary and multi-level approach. PLAN’EAT will co-create data and interventions in a pan-EU network of 9 Living Labs and a Policy Lab. These living labs will focus on a broad range of population groups, varying according to age, culture, health and socio-economic status.  Food environments serve as an interface where people interact with the wider food system to acquire and consume foods in the settings in which they go about their daily lives. They encompass elements such as availability, prices, vendor and product properties, promotional information, accessibility, affordability, convenience and desirability of food sources and products. The role of KU Leuven is to lead the following studies within the PLAN'EAT project:


  • Study 1 - Mapping food environments across Europe. Study 1 will develop a framework and use citizen science methods to assess people’s lived experiences of food environments. Methods include exploring experiences, perceptions and practices based on personal accounts as well as place-based observations, using qualitative interviews and visual methods (geotagged photos or photovoice) and focus group discussions.
  • Study 2 - Integrated analysis of the systemic factors influencing food systems. Study 2 will conduct a macro-level systemic analysis of the drivers, barriers and feedback loops of food systems to identify key leverage points for the transition to sustainable European food systems, and consequently the development of recommendations for more integrated policies, adapted to different national contexts. The analysis will be based on a literature review supplemented and validated by scientific experts, analysts, policymakers and decision-makers in the private sector.
  • Study 3 - Barriers and enablers of food chain actors influencing social and physical food environments. Study 3 will zoom in at meso-level to analyse how food environments constrain and prompt the food choices of citizens and at the potential and barriers of food chain actors to modifiy their practices. The study aims to identify appropriate intervention strategies and policy entry points to facilitate fair, healthy and sustainable food environments. A variety of methods will be employed, including surveys, value chain analysis and stakeholder maps. Key challenges and leverage points with regard to food supply, customer demand, financial implications, legislatory requirements, accessibility of raw material and products will be selected.
  • Study 4 - Effective means for food chain actors to improve food environments. Based on the key meso-level leverage points identified, a wide range of solutions will be co-designed for farmers, food industries, supermarkets, food services and restaurants, including: public engagement activities (exhibitions, participatory events); user-friendly tools to support the implementation of true-cost accounting guidelines for agri-food businesses and communication tools to promote the efforts of actors applying these guidelines; nudging strategies using behavioural selection mechanisms, factorial design and strategic placement to promote healthy and sustainable dietary choices in supermarket and food outlets combined with public procurement recommendations at macro-level and an optimised Green Key ecolabel to influence the choices that restaurants offer their customers in terms of health and sustainability and guidelines on how to shift towards a more sustainable and healthy menu. 

Profile
  • The candidate has both a natural- and a social-science understanding of agri-food systems using systems perspectives
  • Master degree in any discipline underpinning a multidisciplinary understanding of agri-food systems, such as food sciences, nutrition, agricultural sciences, agricultural economics, etc.
  • Graduated at least cum laude (requirement for starting a PhD)
  • Motivated to pursue a PhD in BioScience Engineering
  • Proficient in English
  • Able to carry out qualitative research, such as interviews and focus groups
  • Interest and social skills to enable working in an international and interdisciplinary context with stakeholders from across the agri-food system; willing to travel across Europe

Offer
  • PhD scholarship of 2 years to be extended with 2 years following positive assessment
  • Part of a large international team of researchers from various countries and disciplines, involving both academic and non-academic partners from across Europe
  • Additional benefits in terms of health insurance, free travel to and from work by means of public transport or bicycle allowance, free bicycle use, access to university sports facilities, child care opportunities, …

  • A dynamic and multi-cultural work environment

  • The possibility to follow academic, thematic and skills training courses at KU Leuven


Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Erik Mathijs, tel.: +32 16 32 14 50, mail: [email protected].


KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at [email protected].



Similar Positions