News
Wageningen University have completed the first set of Group Model Building sessions for FOODPATH
Insightful sessions have been held with professionals and citizens in Ede, the Netherlands, about systemic drivers of dietary behaviours among people living in socioeconomic insecurity as outlined in Work package One (WP1)
Last November, three group model building (GMB) sessions were held in the municipality of Ede, the Netherlands, with the aim to identify systemic drivers of dietary behaviours among people living in socioeconomic insecurity. From the perspectives of both citizens and professionals, systems maps were constructed, providing many interesting insights into the underlying mechanisms for (un)healthy dietary behaviours of people living in socioeconomic insecurity. Based on these systems maps, citizens and professionals identified leverage points and formulated actions for changing the current system to facilitate healthier dietary behaviours. At the end of the sessions, the citizen and professionals groups together, reflected on the similarities and differences between their findings.
The sessions have resulted in many interesting findings, which are still being analysed. The research team have enjoyed the collaboration between the facilitating team and the participants. Enjoying meals, listening to each other’s experiences and expertise, and discussing ideas together, contributed to very satisfactory sessions and overall experience. Many thanks to all participants and facilitators!
Next steps
During further analysis of the results from the GMB sessions, participants will be involved in the formulation of their ideas and perspectives. After that, both a report and a scientific article will be drafted, including the results and subsequent recommendations. Our partners from the University College Cork (UCC), Ireland, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, and University of Ghent (UG), Belgium, will hold similar GMB sessions which we will compare in due course. We look forward to sharing further updates and results with you soon.
Researchers involved in the GMB sessions:
- Sanne Djojosoeparto, Wageningen University & Research (WUR)
- Nieke Sonneveld, Wageningen University & Research (WUR)
- Maartje Poelman, Wageningen University & Research (WUR)
- Carlijn Kamphuis, Utrecht University (UU)