Working together to create a healthier and more sustainable society. This is the main conclusion of the fourth edition of the Portugal Saudável conference, an initiative promoted by Missão Continente, which brought together relevant figures from academia, politics, health, retail and communication for a public debate on sustainable food systems capable of reconciling health, environment and economy.
Opening the conference, the Deputy Secretary of State for Health, Guilherme Duarte, highlighted several initiatives of the Ministry of Health to promote healthy eating, such as the Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Healthy Eating, which involves seven ministries, and the National Program for the Promotion of Healthy Eating. Both projects put into practice the European principle of "Health in all policies," which, in Guilherme Duarte's view, means "an intersectoral approach to formulating joint paths, in which decision-makers and partners systematically consider all health implications, seeking synergies but also trying to avoid negative impacts on health."
Next, Corinna Hawkes, director of the Centre for Food Policy at the University of London, highlighted the possibility of mutual benefits for all actors involved in food systems. According to the British academic, such goals can be achieved not only through collaboration between governments and sectors, but also through the adoption of an encouraging legislative framework.
In presenting the results of the report commissioned by the Council of the European Union, Corinna Hawkes mentioned the importance of public procurement, the Common Agricultural Policy, fruit and vegetable distribution systems in schools, small-scale distribution networks, and capacity building among the various stakeholders in the food system.
Ruth Osborne, founder of the consulting firm Retired Hen and mentor of the zero-waste restaurant ReTaste in Stockholm, was also present to explain how she counteracts the restaurant industry's trend towards food waste by creating menus with surplus food collected from supermarkets.
The debate was further enriched by the "Conversations Around Food," moderated by Catarina Furtado. On stage, figures from very different sectors came together, such as agriculture, retail, nutrition, restaurants, and communication, who showed how attitudes and stances at each point in the value chain influence and are influenced by all other agents.
The conference was closed by the Secretary of State for Consumer Protection, João Torres, who argued that "promoting healthy eating contributes to smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive economic growth ," and that this growth can be stimulated "by providing digital tools to farmers, using methods and processes that aim for environmental sustainability, preserving biodiversity and reducing waste, leveraging the potential of the circular economy and the bioeconomy."
Tiago Simões, Marketing Director of Sonae MC, expressed his satisfaction with the conference results, highlighting the "central role this event plays in fulfilling the social role of the Continente Mission." Tiago Simões also mentioned "Continente's involvement in all parts of the value chain, thus having a decisive influence on creating a more sustainable and healthy food system."
