TASTE

True Cost Accounting for Sustainable Food Environments

Introduction

TASTE aims to make the hidden environmental, health, and social costs of food visible and actionable through the application of True Cost Accounting (TCA). Today, food prices rarely reflect the full impact that food systems have on people, society, and the environment. As a result, unhealthy and unsustainable food options often seem cheaper and more attractive than they truly are.

To address this challenge, TASTE brings together researchers, policymakers, and local communities to develop and test innovative approaches that help citizens, organisations, and decision-makers better understand the true value of food. By making these hidden costs more transparent, the project seeks to support healthier choices and create more sustainable food environments.

The project will be implemented across Europe, with Living Labs in Italy and Sweden serving as testing grounds for practical solutions, alongside policy engagement activities involving stakeholders from several European countries.

True Cost Accounting (TCA); Sustainable Food Systems; Food Environments; Healthy Diets; Food Policy; Living Labs; Social Equity; Environmental Sustainability; Food Procurement; Systems Transformation

2026-2029

TRL: 5

Background

Food systems generate significant environmental pressures, contribute to diet-related diseases and reinforce social inequalities. Yet these impacts remain largely invisible in food prices and purchasing decisions.

True Cost Accounting (TCA) is an emerging approach that captures the environmental, health and social consequences of food production and consumption. While TCA has gained attention as a promising tool for food systems transformation, its practical application in real-world food environments remains limited.

TASTE addresses this gap by applying TCA across multiple levels of the food system, from public policies and food procurement to neighbourhood food environments and individual food choices.

What we do

  • Develop and refine a True Cost Accounting framework for food environments.

  • Assess environmental, health and social costs associated with dietary choices.

  • Establish a Policy Lab to support transnational policy learning and recommendations.

  • Implement a Workplace Canteen Living Lab in Italy.

  • Implement a Food Neighbourhood Living Lab in Sweden.

  • Develop educational and awareness-raising activities on the true costs of food.

  • Engage stakeholders from policy, research, civil society and food system sectors.

  • Produce practical tools and recommendations to support sustainable food policies and procurement.

Expected impact on food system transformation

TASTE will contribute to food systems transformation by making hidden food system costs visible and integrating them into decision-making processes.

The project will generate evidence on how environmental sustainability, population health and social equity can be jointly considered when evaluating food choices and food policies.

Through Living Labs and policy engagement activities, TASTE will support the development of healthier and more sustainable food environments while reducing inequalities in access to healthy diets.

The project’s multi-level approach links citizens, local food environments and policy frameworks, creating pathways for systemic change and helping decision-makers design interventions that reflect the true value of food

Implementation and plans to reach target groups

TASTE will engage a broad range of stakeholders, including policy-makers, public authorities, food service providers, researchers, civil society organisations and citizens.

The project will use Living Labs, stakeholder workshops, policy dialogues and communication campaigns to co-create and test solutions in real-world settings.

Target groups will be involved throughout the project to ensure relevance, usability and uptake of results.

Communication activities will include policy briefs, webinars, scientific publications, social media outreach and participation in FutureFoodS events, helping to maximise visibility and impact across Europe.

Partners of the project

  • Laura Rossi, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy.

    Mail: laura.rossi@iss.it

    • Olivia Riemer, TMG Research gGmbH Food Systems, Germany

    • Leneisja Jungsberg, Nordregio, Sweden

    • Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl, Vegetarian Society of Denmark, Denmark.

    • Ministry of Universities and Research, Italy

    • German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany

    • FORMAS, Sweden; Innovation Fund Denmark, Denmark.