The Kharkiv Food Forum "Kharkiv on the Path to Food Security: Food Practices and the 5R Principles" took place at Karazin University

The first Kharkiv Food Forum, "Kharkiv on the Path to Food Security: Food Practices and the 5R Principles," took place at the School of Sociology of Karazin University. The forum was organized within the framework of the international research project Fusilli.

The opening remarks were delivered by the Dean of the School of Sociology at Karazin University, the project manager of Fusilli in Ukraine, Olena Muradyan, the university's Vice-Rector Anatoliy Babichev, the director of the Department of Agro-Industrial Development of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, Andriy Dorozhko, and the Deputy Mayor responsible for health and social welfare, Svitlana Gorbunova-Ruban.

The forum's theme is highly relevant in the context of the challenges faced by the Kharkiv region and the country as a whole. The hybrid-format event addressed topics related to:

• Transformations of Kharkiv's food systems during times of war.
• Volunteer activities and humanitarian support for the liberated territories.
• Social entrepreneurship and local food initiatives.
• Responsible consumption and waste circulation.
• Food practices and sustainable development goals.
• Prospects for the development of food policy in the city and region.

Representatives from the Kharkiv City Council, the Main Department of the State Consumer Protection Service in the Kharkiv region, the NGO "Source of Renaissance," the Coordination Humanitarian Center, FSLC in the Kharkiv region, Corus International, Zero Waste Kharkiv, the NGO "GreenLandia," and the Education and Scientific Institute of ecology and the School of Sociology at Karazin University presented reports on these topics.

Within the Fusilli international research project, involving school members from the School of Sociology at our university, a detailed analysis of a comprehensive systemic food policy supporting the transition to sustainable food systems in urban, suburban, and adjacent rural areas is currently underway. Initiatives are also being implemented to reduce food inequality in wartime conditions.

We express our gratitude to the participants and organizers of the event for implementing such important initiatives!