Foundation Earth and EIT Food have joined forces to establish the International Alliance for Food Impact Data, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at setting international standards for the environmental scoring of food and drinks. This alliance seeks to address the current lack of consistency and comparability in environmental labeling systems, providing consumers, companies, and policymakers with credible information to make informed decisions about the environmental impact of food products.
Launched in 2021, Foundation Earth initially set out to develop a system for labeling food and drink products with an environmental score. With its integration into EIT Food, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the alliance is poised to shape internationally recognized standards for assessing the environmental impact of food using data-driven approaches.
Currently, the food industry faces a challenge with a multitude of labels and methodologies used to communicate a product’s environmental impact. These disparate systems make it difficult to assess whether a product is beneficial or harmful to the planet. The lack of coordination and standardized management across the EU further complicates the issue, as highlighted by the EU Green Claims Directive.
The International Alliance for Food Impact Data aims to establish a single set of consistent international standards for scoring food based on its environmental performance. By consulting with EU policy developments, the alliance plans to display this information on a product’s front-of-pack label, providing consumers with transparent and easily accessible data to guide their purchasing decisions.
Richard Zaltzman, CEO of EIT Food, emphasizes the importance of environmental data in driving transformative change in food systems. By integrating Foundation Earth’s expertise into EIT Food, the alliance is poised to advance its mission of transforming the food system through credible impact data, fostering innovation, and reducing the environmental footprint of the entire food industry.
Jago Pearson, outgoing chairman of Foundation Earth, underscores the alliance’s role in empowering consumers to make environmentally-friendly choices and enabling food producers to innovate sustainably. The alliance inherits a wealth of scientific research and industry partnerships, laying the foundation for a more sustainable food system.
Cliona Howie, the upcoming director of Data Impact System at EIT Foods, highlights the alliance’s potential to foster collaboration and drive impactful change across the food industry. By uniting fragmented initiatives and leveraging a new platform for innovation, the alliance aims to establish a clear roadmap for transforming the environmental credentials of the continent’s food and drink industry.
In conclusion, the International Alliance for Food Impact Data represents a significant step towards standardizing environmental scoring in the food industry. By providing clear and credible information to consumers, companies, and policymakers, the alliance aims to drive sustainable practices and reduce the environmental impact of food production and consumption. Through collaboration and innovation, the alliance seeks to pave the way for a more sustainable and transparent food system.