INSUM project aims to create a network of experts in the field of school meals, nutrition, organic food and diets, child health and other relevant areas, to define the most suitable indicators to be used for future research aiming at assessing diet and health in Ecoregions focusing on sustainable, organic production and consumption.

For this we have organized 2 international workshops, with invited experts, followed by the development and publication of the workshop proceedings with consensus statements and guidelines. School meal programs are in INSUM focus, because of their proven importance for future habits and changes of consumer behaviour.
We are also carrying out a systematic literature review on organic food and health, with an analysis of all reported indicators differentiating consumers of organic vs. conventional food.
All the project outcomes and networking actions aim to set a strong background for a multicentre Horizon Europe project about dietary transition, consumption of organic and sustainable food, health and wellbeing of inhabitants in ecoregions.

Ecoregions

Ecoregions are territories devoted to organic, where farmers, citizens, public authorities, realize an agreement on sustainable management of local resources, based on the principles of organic farming and agroecology. Research to determine physical and mental health and well-being and sustainability in such systems needs suitable indicators and biomarkers.

INSUM is funded by Ekhagastiftelsen, SE

Health indicators & biomarkers

Biomarkers are a topic of intensive research and new biomarkers are evolving fast. Their use and the interpretation of data needs careful and informed knowledge, therefore it is necessary to bring together scientists from a wide range of fields in order to establish a catalogue of suitable biomarkers and other indicators useful for different fields of research.

The project contributes to all Ekhagastiftelsen prioritized areas:

  • It promotes public health by the development of indicators for child health and wellbeing for use in ecoregions.
  • It tackles the role of the diet in the treatment of diseases and strengthening the body’s resistance by suggesting new indicators more suitable for estimation of health and resistance rather than disease risk.
  • It underlines the importance of high quality organic food as a part of a healthy lifestyle.

The raised research questions, coming from the active dialogue between researchers, relevant stakeholders and international collaborations of project leading researchers, confirm the participatory character of the project and its needs-driven approach.

INSUM time frames: February 2021 – July 2023