Imagine if the price of a burger included the cost of the pollution it caused or the health costs of the ingredients. Right now, those 'hidden' costs are ignored, making unhealthy food seem cheaper than it actually is. This work creates a guidebook and database to put a real price tag on these hidden impacts. It helps businesses and governments change prices so the healthiest, cleanest food becomes the most affordable option.
Food prices currently ignore the environmental and health costs of production, making unsustainable food artificially cheap. Businesses lack the data and tools to price products based on their actual impact on society and the planet.
A valuation guide for calculating external costs, an EU-global database of externality data, and an analytical toolbox for testing business strategies.
If you are a supermarket chain dealing with consumer demand for sustainable products — this project developed a valuation guide and database that allows you to implement true pricing. This helps you make sustainable and healthy food more affordable and available for consumers.
If you are an organic farm dealing with low profit margins despite high environmental benefits — this project developed an internalisation strategy that helps you generate fair economic returns. It identifies ways to capture the value of positive externalities you provide to the planet.
If you are a food producer dealing with upcoming environmental regulations — this project developed an analytical toolbox to assess the sustainability impact of your business strategies. You can use the EU-global database to measure and value your negative externalities before they become legal liabilities.
The project aims to redefine food prices through 'true pricing' by internalising hidden costs and benefits. Based on available project data, the goal is to make the most sustainable and healthy food the most affordable for consumers.
Yes, the project uses a multi-actor approach and has tested its methods across 11 diverse case studies. This ensures the tools are validated for different value chains and regions.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not mentioned, but the project provides a valuation guide and a global database for use by policymakers and businesses.
Yes, the project develops a roadmap and policies to steer decision-making toward sustainable food, providing a way for businesses to align with future EU-global standards.
Based on available project data, the project runs from 2022 to 2026, suggesting a multi-year development and validation cycle before full deployment.
The consortium is well-balanced for commercial translation, featuring 26 partners from 13 countries. With a 31% industry ratio (8 companies, including 8 SMEs), there is significant private-sector involvement to ensure the tools are practical. The mix of 9 universities and 5 research centers provides the necessary scientific rigor for the valuation database.
Contact Stichting Wageningen Research in the Netherlands
Request access to the FOODCoST Valuation Guide and Internalisation Roadmap.
