Healthier nutrition with digital technologies: H-BRS develops practical solutions

Eating a healthy, organic and sustainable diet is a challenge. This is particularly true in areas where the nearest grocery shop is many kilometres away, says H-BRS Professor Alexander Boden, head of the NEON (Sustainability on Demand) project: "The disappearance of smaller shops in rural areas in particular makes it much harder for people there to eat well". In addition, other factors such as price or shelf life also determine which products people choose when shopping.

The researchers want to find out exactly what the current situation is by interviewing consumers. The research will take place in the West Palatinate region near Neustadt an der Weinstraße and will extend over a period of three years. In addition, concrete solutions will be developed in collaboration with local people to create more options and promote healthier eating practices. The H-BRS research team sees itself as an interface between research and technology: "We have experience in developing technical solutions that are created in close cooperation with consumers and thus deliver real added value," says Alexander Boden, who is Director of the Institute for Digital Consumption at H-BRS.

In a first step, the researchers want to improve access to fresh food and establish a digital information and feedback system in cooperation with an on-demand delivery service. The aim of NEON is to achieve results that can be transferred to other regions across Europe and to create a sound basis for strategic decisions in rural development and food policy.

Project information

The project "Sustainability on Demand - Promoting Organic Nutrition through Food Literacy and Hybrid Food Networks in Peripheral Rural Regions" (NEON) is a joint project of the Institute for Digital Consumption (IVI) at the H-BRS in collaboration with the University of Regensburg, the mobility service provider MoD Holding and the software company ciconia Systems. It is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) with around 2.3 million euros as part of the "Promotion of innovations for more sustainable nutrition" funding line. The funding is provided by the BMEL on the basis of a decision by the German Bundestag. The project is sponsored by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) as part of the programme to promote innovation.