SAPIENS Network Research Impact: Informing EU Policymaking on Sustainable Public Food Procurement
The SAPIENS Network is proud to highlight the tangible impact of our members’ research on European policy developments in the field of Sustainable Public Food Procurement (SPFP).
The Case Study Report on Sustainable Public Food Procurement for Schools in Dordogne, authored by ESR 15, Chiara Falvo, was included in the European Commission publication Development of criteria for the sustainable public procurement of food, catering services and vending machines, published at the end of 2024.
This external study, prepared for the Joint Research Centre (JRC) by the experts Lermant, A., Laporte-Riou, C., Praudel, M., Collineau, F. and Latouche, A., builds from a comprehensive literature review and a stakeholder consultation. It collects valuable information on existing criteria and initiatives on public food procurement across the EU Member States, including their implementation and challenges. We are proud to say that Chiara’s report achieved its aim of showcasing Dordogne’s successful experience and discussing key challenges of local-level SPFP implementation, contributing to bridging the gap between local and European policymaking.
In addition, two chapters featured in collective books co-edited by our network coordinator, Prof. Roberto Caranta, have been cited in the European Commission study titled Overview and analysis of sustainable product procurement criteria in the EU food sector. The study was conducted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and published at the end of 2024.
The first cited work is co-authored by Hanna Schebesta and Maria José Plana Casado, titled Food: Mandatory EU Public Procurement Criteria for Food after the Farm to Fork Strategy. This chapter appears in the book Mandatory Sustainability Requirements in EU Public Procurement Law: Reflections on a Paradigm Shift, co-edited by Willem Janssen and Roberto Caranta (Hart Publishing, 2023). The contribution outlines the trajectory of strategic and Green Public Procurement in the public food sector, including the role of the voluntary GPP criteria for food, catering services, and vending machines. It explores the complexities of defining and operationalizing “sustainable” food and the challenges of implementing mandatory SPFP criteria under the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy, advancing reform proposals.
The second chapter, Designing and measuring sustainability and social impacts of food service, is authored by Maurizio Mariani, Robin Gourlay, and Giulia Caddeo. It is featured in the book Sustainable Public Food Procurement – Legal, Social and Organisational Challenges, co-edited by Mark Stein, Maurizio Mariani, Roberto Caranta, and Yiannis Polychronakis (Routledge, 2024). This contribution focuses on methodologies for assessing the environmental and social outcomes of public food services, particularly carbon footprint, water footprint, Social Return on Investment (SROI) and Local Multiplier (LM3). It also provides several relevant case studies. Notably, Maurizio Mariani, both an author and co-editor of the book, is the director of Eating City, one of the SAPIENS Network’s partner organizations.
Both JCR studies mentioned were commissioned to prepare the ground for setting potential minimum mandatory criteria for SPFP at the EU level, as foreseen under the Farm to Fork Strategy and the connected initiative for a Legislative Framework for Sustainable Food Systems (FSFS). The 2024 JRC publications provide an updated and detailed picture of the state of SPFP across the EU and, although it remains uncertain whether the shift to mandatory EU SPFP criteria will eventually materialize, these studies are invaluable as they fill significant knowledge gaps. They lay the groundwork for further assessing the feasibility and design of SPFP criteria, ensuring that future policy decisions are informed by evidence-based research and practical insights.
We are thrilled to see the meaningful impact of the SAPIENS Network members’ work, which demonstrates our commitment to advancing SPP knowledge across Europe, including by supporting the sharing of best practices and policy developments from the ground up.
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