Food consumption continuously increases as the population grows. Correspondingly, sustainable food consumption become a very popular matter all over the world. Because, sustainable food consumption subject is directly related to economy, health, environment, and sociology. Thus, sustainable food consumption-related topics are involved in many of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. It seems one of the big problems of the future world is to obtain sustainability in the food system. Sustainable consumption of food can be provided by both efficient use of natural resources and consumers’ increasing consciousness. However, it is difficult to suggest the existence of an accurate mechanism to educate adults in this way.

According to our results specifically in the current situation and needs for education analysis report, it is obvious that there is a lack of education and awareness on sustainable consumption of foods. Therefore, it was aimed to assess and change adults’ food consumption behavior in a positive manner in this project. In order to develop an educational system to affect adults’ food consumption behavior; a detailed needs analysis, an accurate measurement tool, some educational materials and activities, and presenting all these together in various platforms were required. This project proposed such a system and consists of several stages. In the first stage, the aim was to exhibit a need for education. It has been done by creating a comprehensive report. Then, a valid, reliable, comprehensive, and inter-cultural index to measure the sustainable consumption of foods was developed. In order to execute the works in these stages extensive research with the experts, adult consumers, and extensive desk research were executed.

In the third stage, the sustainable food consumption behaviors of adults were analyzed by using SCOFI which was developed in the previous stage. The results of the index together with the social and demographic variables were used the revealed the clusters of adults on sustainable food consumption. Each cluster was defined in detail and the educational needs were determined. In the meantime, a competence map was developed and provided by considering all partner countries. This map provides various comparisons of different types of adult consumers.

In the fourth stage of the project, training materials such as; a book, brochures, booklets, videos, etc. were created. All these materials were presented and disseminated in various multiplier events, seminars/webinars, short-term joint staff event, and social media tools.

In the last stage, digital platforms were created and enriched. All the materials that were developed during the project have been embedded into digital platforms. The reports, book, booklets, brochures, the competence map, the SCOFI self-assessment tool, videos, and many other training materials are available on the website and mobile application. In the meantime, the app has been thought to be gamification-based. By doing this it has been aimed to have a more usable and fun mobile app.

These all outputs have been carried out to raise the awareness of adults on sustainable consumption of food, to raise the skills and competencies of adults on food consumption, to analyze the educational needs of adults in the frame of sustainable food consumption issue, to create tools for facilitating the understanding of sustainable consumption of food by using training materials. Thus all these aims have been achieved.

On the other hand, six Transnational Project Meetings (Kick-Off transnational partners meeting (İzmir, TR), 1st Progress Meeting (Nitra, SL), 2nd Progress Meeting (Stockholm, SV- 3rd Progress Meeting (Aarhus, DA), 4th Progress Meeting (Mugla, TR), 5th Progress Meeting (Izmir, TR) were held successfully during the project. A short-term joint staff learning, teaching, training activity was held with the participant from 9 countries. Also, another internal 5-day seminar was organized for project participants to provide a better understanding of preparing effective training materials and tools.

Many dissemination activities such as multiplier events, conferences, webinars, seminars, information stands, an international video contest, international indexed scientific journal articles, proceedings, etc. were conducted. During these activities, more than 145000 adults were informed and engaged via digital channels, in addition to more than 5000 adults that were contacted face-to-face. Our website was visited by users from 119 countries. Furthermore, at least 120 relevant institutions or organizations from various contexts such as companies, public authorities, international organizations, universities, cooperatives, research centers, public education centers, etc. participated in events.

Start: 01-09-2018 – End: 31-12-2021

Project Reference: 2018-1-TR01-KA204-058739

EU Grant: 223305 Euro

EURProgramme: Erasmus+

Key Action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Action Type: Strategic Partnerships for adult education