Abstract Summary
Adolescence is a developmental phase during which not only the social, but also the food environment rapidly changes. Since adolescents also have a large capability of flexible adoption to change, we explored if a participatory action research approach could contribute to reshaping adolescents’ food environment. Within the context of the Dutch Medical Delta Living Lab “VIT for life”, along with 3 other organizations, the Food Boost Challenge (FBC) has been developed. Characteristic features of Living Labs are that they have high participation and accelerate implementation. On the one hand, this means that all project partners (including users) have an intensive role. On the other hand, this ensures that ideas are tested and tried out immediately. Within our living lab we developed this method into a quadruple helix innovation process, involving adolescents, (peer)researchers, and food system partners of non-governmental and commercial organizations. Till date, two FBCs took place. The first in academic year 2021-2022 in the region “The Westland”, located in the western part of the Netherlands. This is a region distinguished by its significant role in the horticultural sector, particularly renowned for its extensive greenhouse cultivation, amidst a mix of villages and towns. This FBC aimed at increasing intake of vegetables and fruit(products). The second in academic year 2022-2023 in the region Zuid-Limburg, an industrial region in the South-East of the Netherlands with poorer health statistics compared to the rest of the country. This FBC aimed at enabling adolescents to make healthier choices at so-called hotspots, places where many adolescents are together (festivals, canteens, etcetera). Phase 1 involved students identifying barriers and drivers for the targeted behavior among other adolescents. In phase 2, student teams submitted innovative ideas, resulting in concepts fitting into ≥1 of 4 routes: I) innovative technology for a healthy diet, II) new food products/concepts for adolescents, III) hotspots improving experience of healthier options, and IV) new routes to market. In phase 3 consortia of adolescents, students and partners were formed to develop selected concepts into prototypes, and phase 4 offered teams a national platform to present their prototypes with a chance to win prices. In Westland, 34 partners provided both cash and in-kind contributions to join the FBC-community while in Limburg 21 partners joined. Large numbers of students (>300) and adolescents (>3000) participated in the various phases of both FBCs. Some of the prototypes are currently being studied in an implementation phase. Therefore, we conclude this approach for, by and with adolescents has empowered people and strengthened communities. Thereby enabling them to reshape their future food environment.
