PRIN 2022 PNRR - Food connections: Intended and unintended consequences of trade on food and nutrition security

The main objective of the project is to bring together competences from economics, law and computer science to enhance our understanding of the role played by international trade, and by the rules that govern it, in linking two crucial societal challenges, namely environmental sustainability, and food and nutrition security
These interactions lie at the core of both Sustainable Development Goal number 2, which aims to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” and of Cluster 6 of the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2021–2027 (Horizon Europe), centered on "Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment". Indeed, one of the focal points of the Cluster is "Food and nutrition security for all within planetary boundaries". Moreover, the link between the environment and human health has been identified as a critical juncture in which it is necessary to improve our understanding of the complex set of interactions at play, and to promote collaboration across disciplines (see for instance the 2015 Report by the Lancet-Rockefeller Commission on Planetary Health).

Moreover, the role of food as a link between the challenges posed by climate change and environmental sustainability on the one side, and human health on the other, places the issues addressed in the proposal at the intersection of at least two of the Strategic Emerging Topics identified by the PRIN PNRR 2022 Call, namely Sustainability and Protection of Natural Resources and Human Wellbeing.

Eradicating hunger and malnutrition while moving towards sustainable food systems is a central pillar of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, despite actions by the international community, food insecurity, nutritional deficits, and obesity are increasing. In this project, we use complex network analysis to assess the role played by agri-food trade in meeting these global challenges. 

Our main goals are:

• To examine the vulnerability of countries to supply disruptions originating abroad (e.g., due to extreme weather events).
• To build an early warning system capable of predicting which countries will be negatively affected by supply shocks.

ENTE PROMOTORE: Unione Europea - MUR 
NOME PROGETTO: PRIN PNRR 2022 - Food connections: Intended and unintended consequences of trade on food and nutrition security
COD. MUR: P202233ZTR
PERIODO E DURATA: 24 mesi
FINANZIAMENTO: Finanziato dall’Unione europea – Next Generation EU, secondo il PNRR, Missione 4 - Componente 2 - Investimento 1.1
CUP J53D23015090001
COORDINATORI: University of Trento