The iPOPY project and how to communicate with the young generation

The aim of the iPOPY project (2007-2010) is to study how increased consumption of organic food may be achieved by implementation of relevant strategies and instruments linked to food serving outlets for young people in some European countries (Denmark, Finland, Italy and Norway). Two cases from the iPOPY project demonstrate that when communicating with the younger generation organic food messages are competing with other messages also in protected food environments, and the sender and receiver attach different meanings to organic food. Our findings contribute to emphasizing the relevance of holistic approaches (e.g. whole school approach) and experiential activities in introducing organic food to young people

Education about organic food and sustainability in Denmark, Finland, Italy and Norway: Findings from the iPOPY project

This report presents results from “Work Package 4: Consumer perceptions, practices and learning” of the “innovative Public Organic food Procurement for Youth – iPOPY” project. The report gives an overview of organic food and sustainable development within national core curriculum and examples of education about organic food and sustainability in the participating European countries: Denmark, Finland, Italy and Norway

One size fits all? – Differences in school food cultures identified in iPOPY research

The goal of this presentation is to explore integration of organic food into schools from the perspective of school food cultures. First, the concept of school food culture is defined. The presentation is based on data and findings from the ongoing iPOPY- “innovative Public Organic food Procurement for Youth” project, which focuses on how increased consumption of organic food may be achieved through procuring organic food in public food service for young people. Researchers in the iPOPY project have collected available information on organic school meals and have also visited school canteens. Differences and similarities in school food cultures in Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland and Norway) and Italy are discussed. School food cultures reflect local food culture and different school meals systems. School meals can be included in educational services, schools can offer commercial food services or children can bring their lunch from home. Finland and Italy recognize school meals as a part of people’s right to education and serve warm lunch meals, whereas children in Denmark and Norway usually bring their lunch from home and there is a tradition with bread meals for lunch. This presentation shows that school meals and school food cultures are different in iPOPY countries and illustrates that it is not possible to give one recommendation that fits all for how to integrate organic food into schools

Organic food in the canteen - Perceptions among cadets in the Norwegian Defense

Presentation on results from iPOP

Organic food and youth at a Norwegian music festival

We explore how organic food at a festival effect perceptions among youth, and how experiences from the festival context may be transmitted to everyday context. As part of an ongoing European project “innovative Public Organic food Procurement for Youth“ (http://ipopy.coreportal.org/) we have observed at the Øya music festival, interviewed organizers and conducted two focus groups with young people recruited at the festival in August 2008. Being at the festival was a positive experience and thus organic food became associated with something positive. The participants had the opportunity to taste a variety of organic foods and were exposed to information although not all had read it. The participants tended to view organic food as being different from conventional food, and there seemed to be an expectation that it would be better for themselves, animals or environment, or taste better. Price and availability were described as constraining factors. The participants felt that pizza had been the best deal, cheapest and most filling. Festival food was mainly linked to necessity and “fuelling the bodyâ€. This notion was also emphasized by mainly offering “finger food†and people eating standing up. There were mixed views on the transmission of organic food from the festival to everyday context. Organic food at festivals was described as a step in the right direction because young people go to festivals and pick up things that they may take with them. However, festivals were also described as separate worlds with limited influence on what people do at home

Good practice characteristics of diet and physical activity interventions and policies : an umbrella review

BACKGROUND: This umbrella review aimed at eliciting good practice characteristics of interventions and policies aiming at healthy diet, increasing physical activity, and lowering sedentary behaviors. Applying the World Health Organization's framework, we sought for 3 types of characteristics, reflecting: (1) main intervention/policy characteristics, referring to the design, targets, and participants, (2) monitoring and evaluation processes, and (3) implementation issues. This investigation was undertaken by the DEDPIAC Knowledge Hub (the Knowledge Hub on the DEterminants of DIet and Physical ACtivity), which is an action of the European Union's joint programming initiative. METHODS: A systematic review of reviews and stakeholder documents was conducted. Data from 7 databases was analyzed (99 documents met inclusion criteria). Additionally, resources of 7 major stakeholders (e.g., World Health Organization) were systematically searched (10 documents met inclusion criteria). Overall, the review yielded 74 systematic reviews, 16 position review papers, and 19 stakeholders' documents. Across characteristics, 25% were supported by ≥ 4 systematic reviews. Further, 25% characteristics were supported by ≥ 3 stakeholders' documents. If identified characteristics were included in at least 4 systematic reviews or at least 3 stakeholders' documents, these good practice characteristics were classified as relevant. RESULTS: We derived a list of 149 potential good practice characteristics, of which 53 were classified as relevant. The main characteristics of intervention/policy (n = 18) fell into 6 categories: the use of theory, participants, target behavior, content development/management, multidimensionality, practitioners/settings. Monitoring and evaluation characteristics (n = 18) were grouped into 6 categories: costs/funding, outcomes, evaluation of effects, time/effect size, reach, the evaluation of participation and generalizability, active components/underlying processes. Implementation characteristics (n = 17) were grouped into eight categories: participation processes, training for practitioners, the use/integration of existing resources, feasibility, maintenance/sustainability, implementation partnerships, implementation consistency/adaptation processes, transferability. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the proposed list of 53 good practice characteristics may foster further development of health promotion sciences, as it would allow for identification of success vectors in the domains of main characteristics of interventions/policies, their implementation, evaluation and monitoring processes

iPOPY – innovative Public Organic food Procurement for Youth. School meals – and more!

One of eight pilot projects in the European CORE Organic programme, innovative Public Organic food Procurement for Youth, (iPOPY) will study efficient ways of implementing organic food in public serving outlets for young people (2007-10). By analysing practical cases of school meal systems and other food serving outlets for youth, we will identify hindrances and promoting factors in the participating countries (Denmark, Finland, Italy and Norway). Policies, supply chains, certification systems, the young consumers’ perception and participation, and health effects of implementation of organic policies and menus are focussed in iPOPY. The main aim is to suggest efficient policies and comprehensive strategies to increase the consumption of organic food among young consumers in a public setting, and fostering sustainable nutrition. Interdisciplinary project tools under development will be presented along with the first project results, which will be available by June 2008

Økomat i norske skoler - krever engasjement, men skaper trivsel

Artikkelen omtaler de viktigste resultatene av en masteroppgave ved Universitetet i Oslo, Marley 2008 : "Food for Thought - Introducing Organic Food in Norwegian Schools" (orgprints 14730). Det ser ut til å være en sammenheng mellom elevenes personlige opplevelser med økologisk mat og landbruk, og elevenes læring og interesse for temaet