Report from The Food Odyssey Final Conference – Ljubljana, July 1st, 2025
Under the banner “Play, Learn, Change: Food Systems for a Sustainable Future,” the event explored how innovative learning approaches can help shape a healthier and more sustainable food future.
FoodEducators' Lead, Fabienne Ruault’s contribution highlighted the core mission of the programme launched by EIT Food: to empower educators with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to bring food literacy into their classrooms. “Food literacy is more than just knowing what’s healthy,” she explained. “It’s about understanding where our food comes from, how it’s produced, and what its environmental and social costs are. It also means knowing how to store, cook, and use food in ways that nourish both people and the planet.”
The statistics that frame the urgency of the topic are compelling: 1 in 5 deaths globally is linked to unhealthy diets, and current food systems are responsible for a third of greenhouse gas emissions. These systems also account for $10 trillion in global damage annually, with marginalised communities experiencing the greatest inequities.
Ruault illustrated the power of small-scale classroom interventions with an example from Spain. There, a food label analysis activity sparked a broader school-wide initiative on food sustainability—showing that with the right stimulus, even modest lessons can create ripple effects.
Her message to participants was clear: food education belongs in every classroom. Despite common barriers like lack of training, time, and resources, meaningful food learning can be integrated across subjects and age groups. And crucially, teachers do not need to do it alone. Programmes like FoodEducators exist to support their journey.

On the photo: Teachers' Board discussion at FoodEducators annual meeting
The conference itself gathered a rich mix of experts and educators. Speakers included EU Climate Pact Ambassador Cecilia Delgado, sustainability researcher Živa Kavka Gobbo, and game design expert Andrea Ligabue. The day offered interactive escape room experiences tied to sustainability themes, panel discussions on digital tools in education, and open sessions with vocational teachers exploring how to incorporate play into pedagogy.
Our Lead's keynote reinforced a central belief shared by FoodEducators: we need to take food literacy seriously if we want a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable future.
For educators, this means more than just lesson plans—it means opening a space for curiosity, critical thinking, and systems understanding. And it means believing that each lesson has the power to spark change, one student at a time.
(Thumbnail image: Pexels.com)