The food transition in Eastern Europe is more difficult for cultural, political, and economic reasons. Our local governments are not interested in the food policy and transition, and citizens are concerned. But we can change it!
Meat consumption in the region is lower than in many Western European countries. Cities such as Prague or Warsaw are highly ranked as one of the most vegan-friendly in Europe. Vegan options are more and more popular in other countries. Even if this does not translate into sustainable policies yet, politicians will eventually have to take care of the food transition. People have having social or economic concerns. There is a space for dialogue!
We need to develop the Eastern European sustainable food policy that has realistic aims, is tailored to the region and responds to the needs and concerns of citizens. Taste the Change: Sustainable Food Transition in Eastern Europe is a training programme tailored for the youth activists to gain the necessary skills to be the community leaders in the food transition.
The programme will consist of:
Taste the Change: Sustainable Food Transition in Eastern Europe event in Brasov (city TBC), Romania on 23-26.09.2026.
The main activity of the event will be 4-days camp in Romania that aims to strengthen the organisational and advocacy capacity of youth-led and civil society organisations in Eastern Europe to engage in advancing sustainable and more plant-forward food systems in their municipalities, regions and countries.
Increasing knowledge of food systems as a practical, accessible dimension of the green transition and its relation to climate change, sustainable policies, and environmental democracy.
Strengthening participants' organisational, policymaking and advocacy capacities in relation to food systems and green transition.
Understanding the local and regional contexts, barriers, and opportunities for implementing sustainable policies in Eastern Europe.
Support of participants in developing and implementing a realistic local action plan (e.g. awareness raising activity, advocacy campaign, dialogue with municipality).
The call for participants will be open in the second half of June.
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The online course will consist of 8 lessons increasing the theoretical knowledge of participants, and bringing other dimensions of food transition (such as vegan-friendly places in Eastern Europe, etc.). The link to the online course will be shared with selected participants in July.
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There will be two shorter follow-up activities in the training. There will be call for additional participants of each event before the activity.
Environmental Democracy Workshop (14-15.11.2026 in Poland, location TBC) focusing on counter- and alternative narratives (CAN), participatory and deliberative democracy methods, and designing awareness-raising initiatives.
Policy Writing Workshop (24-25.01.2027 in Zagreb, Croatia, location and dates TBC) focusing on creating and implementing sustainable food policies on the local and national levels.
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Micro-grants will be available (200 EUR, one-time) for participants to start implementing their local activities, granted upon participation in Taste the Change: Sustainable Food Tranisition in Eastern Europe and completion of 5 online lessons.
The Taste the Change programme is organised with the support of Green Forum Sweden.