Food is a vital component of the tourism experience, yet it is often overlooked as an environmental challenge. The Recipe of Change initiative, part of the One Planet Network's Sustainable Food Systems Programme, aims to highlight this important issue by promoting a more integrated approach to food in tourism.

This initiative emphasises that food systems are intricately tied to sustainability. From production and sourcing to consumption and waste management, food significantly impacts the environment, local economies, and cultural identity. Therefore, addressing these factors within the tourism industry is essential to achieving more sustainable and responsible travel practices.

The initiative is part of the broader work of the One Planet Network, a global multi-stakeholder partnership that aims to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production patterns. By bringing together governments, businesses and organisations, the network works to implement systemic changes across high-impact sectors, including tourism and food systems. Recipe of Change focuses on practical solutions that can be applied across the tourism value chain. It encourages tourism stakeholders to rethink how food is sourced, prepared and presented—promoting local, seasonal and sustainable products while reducing waste and environmental impact. This approach not only supports sustainability goals but also enhances the authenticity and quality of the visitor experience.

Importantly, the initiative highlights the need for collaboration. Transforming food systems in tourism requires coordination between multiple actors, including producers, suppliers, hospitality businesses and policymakers. By fostering this collaboration, the initiative helps create more resilient and inclusive systems that benefit both communities and destinations.

From a broader perspective, the relevance of this work is significant. Food systems are responsible for a substantial share of global environmental impact, including greenhouse gas emissions and resource use. Integrating sustainable practices into tourism food chains, therefore, represents a major opportunity to reduce the sector's footprint while contributing to broader climate and sustainability goals. For European tourism, this initiative aligns closely with key policy priorities such as the green transition, circular economy and local value creation. It supports destinations in moving beyond traditional sustainability measures towards more systemic approaches that address the full tourism value chain.

At the same time, it reflects changing traveller expectations. Increasingly, visitors are seeking authentic, locally rooted and environmentally responsible food experiences. By responding to these expectations, destinations can strengthen their competitiveness while supporting sustainable development. Ultimately, Recipe of Change demonstrates that food is not just an element of tourism—it is a powerful lever for transformation. By rethinking food systems, tourism can become more sustainable, more connected to local communities and more aligned with the values of future travellers.

More information:
https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/programmes/sustainable-tourism/sustainable-food-systems/recipe-of-change

#Sustainability Tourism #Gastronoy Tourism #Smart Tourism