Transition design for complex and persistent problems of the food system: The case of food environment transformation
About the event
Join Living Labs and food system innovators from across Europe for a two-day immersive study visit hosted by the Living Lab for Health at IrsiCaixa in Barcelona. Through hands-on workshops, community visits and peer exchange, participants will explore transition design approaches for tackling complex and persistent challenges in food environments.
The visit centres on the work of the Barcelona Living Lab, which has spent years co-designing systemic change with over 100 organisations across the Barcelona metropolitan area. Their six-phase participatory process — spanning system understanding, visioning, strategising, experimenting, roadmap design and advocacy — offers a concrete and transferable model for food system transformation.
What you will do
Over two days, participants will engage in facilitated workshops applying systems thinking and transition design methods, visit community interventions being piloted in the Fondo neighbourhood, co-design recommendations for transition roadmaps, and contribute to a policy brief to be published by FoodCLIC. The programme also includes a welcome dinner on the evening of 11 May at Mescladís, a social inclusion restaurant in Barcelona, and a closing dinner at Conreu Sereny, a local food production cooperative.
Who should attend
This study visit is designed for Living Lab facilitators and coordinators, project managers, researchers and innovators working on sustainable food solutions, and representatives from agri-food companies, public authorities and the third sector — in short, anyone driving change in the food system at a local, regional or national level.
Practical information
📅 12 & 13 May 2026 (pre-event dinner on 11 May) 📍 La CIBA, Passeig de Llorenç Serra 64, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona
A range of sustainable hotels in central Barcelona are recommended for accommodation. Travel and accommodation costs of up to €700 may be reimbursable — please consult the registration form for details.
Registration deadline: 30 April 2026