Today, October 16, 2026, is World Food Day. The United Nations calls for sufficient healthy food and resilient, sustainable food systems under the theme 'innovate today, nourish tomorrow'. The Flemish food strategy Go4Food has been contributing to this for four years.
The strategy includes 1 food strategy, 19 strategic objectives, and 14 food deals. Of the 70 planned actions, 70 are completed or in progress, with the involvement of 70 partners from policy, the supply chain, civil society, and research. The current status can be followed via an interactive dashboard.
Key initiatives from the past year include support for collaborations through the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development), with a guide for producer and industry organizations developed by the Agency for Agriculture and Fisheries. A networking event on May 8, 2026, highlighted concrete cases, and eight innovative collaborations received financial support through the EIP call.
The Agency for Agriculture and Fisheries also subsidized seven demonstration projects for agro-ecological practices, helping farmers implement climate-limiting and resource-recycling agricultural methods. The first year of Local4Food, an initiative by the Flemish Land Agency, the Department of Environment, and the Agency for Agriculture and Fisheries, has assisted dozens of cities and municipalities in strengthening their local food policies.
Furthermore, Coduco, commissioned by the Department of Environment and the Agency for Agriculture and Fisheries, is developing three catering tender documents for the private sector, focusing on healthy and environmentally responsible food offerings. Nearly 146,000 preschoolers and primary school children will receive at least one free healthy school meal per week this school year, with 732 schools in 37 municipalities participating in the project call from the Department of Health.
The initiative Brooddoosnodig by vzw Enchanté has expanded its operations to 225 schools in 22 municipalities, including a pilot project in La Louvière. Oog voor Lekkers, the Flemish implementation of the European program, reached nearly 400,000 pupils in 1,698 primary and special secondary schools across 268 municipalities, with a focus on local and seasonal products.
Flanders has 13 recognized social distribution platforms (Foodsavers), involved with 249 local authorities. In 2025, these Foodsavers distributed 4288 tons of food surplus. A learning network, led by the Department of Health and supported by Flanders Circular, brings these platforms together for knowledge sharing.
De Grote Voedselkaart (The Great Food Map), a citizen science project by Sciensano with support from VLAIO, reveals that Flemish people want to choose healthy food but find it insufficiently accessible, attractive, and affordable. Citizens and stakeholders prioritize actions related to advertising, supermarket offerings, education, and scaling up short supply chains.
More information about the Flemish food strategy can be found on the recently updated website: Go4Food: a Flemish food strategy for tomorrow.
