A sustainable food system is built where farmers, food processors, retailers, the hospitality sector, policymakers, researchers, and civil society work together. This is exactly where the FRUGALL Living Lab Münster comes in. FRUGALL is a European research project that aims to strengthen regional agri-food systems by developing Living Labs at different stages of development and in diverse regional contexts, enabling them to learn from one another. Our project partners are based in France (ISARA and INRAE) and Spain (University of Seville).

At the heart of the FRUGALL project are six interconnected objectives:

• mapping regional food systems,
• jointly establishing agroecological Living Labs,
• testing agroecological innovations,
• analysing policy barriers and opportunities,
• assessing their sustainability impacts, and
• promoting communication, knowledge exchange, and the active involvement of relevant stakeholders.
   

The project is guided by the principles of agroecology, which promote environmentally sustainable and socially just agriculture, strengthen regional connections between urban and rural areas, and encourage more conscious food choices. The FRUGALL Living Labs explore new ways of connecting existing agroecological initiatives and fostering innovation.

Project lead: Prof. Dr. Tillmann Buttschardt, Dr. Cornelia Steinhäuser

Project duration: May 2026 - April 2029