April 15th, 10:00–11:30 am CEST
We are pleased to invite you to an online meeting of the Thematic Working Group on Food Systems operating under the BIOEAST Initiative (bioeast.eu).
The meeting will take place on 15 April 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 (CET).
The session will be coordinated by BIOEAST TWG Food Systems, represented by:
- Anna Matys (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Poland) – TWG Coordinator
- Paweł Chmieliński (Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development, Polish Academy of Sciences) – TWG Chair
- Adam Wasilewski (Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Institute) – TWG Co‑Chair
The meeting will take the form of a Science–Policy Dialogue entitled: “Leverage Points in the Transformation of Food Systems in CEE Countries”
The objective of the meeting is to identify actionable leverage points for food system transformation in Central and Eastern Europe and to discuss key knowledge gaps in the context of the upcoming EU Multiannual Financial Framework (post‑2027).
Agenda
10:00–10:05 | Welcome & Framing
- Welcome participants
- Brief orientation: purpose of the meeting, format, rules of engagement
- Introduce the five framing questions that will guide the session
10:05–10:25 | Opening Presentation (20 min)
“Leverage Points in CEE Food System Transformation: What Do We Know?” Presenter: Paweł Chmieliński, IRWIR PAN / SCAR Food Systems SWG / PL Food Systems LAB
Suggested structure:
- Why CEE? The specific position of Central and Eastern Europe in EU food systems – strengths, vulnerabilities, strategic opportunities (3 min)
- What are leverage points? The food systems framework and why small interventions in the right place produce large systemic effects (4 min)
- Candidate leverage points for CEE and strategic areas for future research
- Knowledge gaps and the MFF window of opportunity
“The problem is not the lack of innovation – it is the fragmentation of institutional responses.” (SCAR SRIA 2026)
10:25–10:45 | Q&A (20 min)
Open discussion responding to the presentation.
10:45–11:25 | Interactive Session (40 min)
Moderator: Adam Wasilewski, IERiGŻ PIB / Boost4BIOEAST / PL Food Systems LAB
Guiding questions:
- What is the single most powerful leverage point for food system transformation in your country or region?
- What is the most critical knowledge gap that limits your ability to influence food policy or the upcoming MFF? What does science still need to answer?
- How well is business currently integrated into the food systems research agenda in your country?
- How can science and policy (or science and business) work together and actually change something in the food system?
- Which organisations in your country are most active in building a food systems agenda?
11:25–11:35 | Summary & Next Steps (10 min)
Adam Wasilewski, IERiGŻ PIB and Anna Matys, MARD PL
- What we heard
- What we still don’t know
- What comes next
Closing Word
“Food system transformation depends not on any single actor, but on the alignment of many – science, policy, business and citizens – moving in the same direction. Today was a step in that direction.”
Microsoft Teams Meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/34504225251634?p=7Ae6N8yzyLOCmcSMcb
Meeting ID: 345 042 252 516 34 Access code: zS9qr9ko