New Nordic Food is making its entrance into new areas. The latest initiatives include street food, Nordic Food Diplomacy for fancy diplomats and healthy food for greasy computer geeks. Food in institutions and meal quality in hospitals, schools and other institutions is also in focus.
The Nordic Council of Ministers was a part of the New Nordic Food movement from the very outset. And the NCM is still actively promoting the concept through a series of initiatives. The NCM project New Nordic Food II (NNFII) has just been through a midway evaluation.
Nordic food in institutions and meal quality in hospitals, schools and other institutions is one focus areas of NNF II. Using Nordic food as a branding tool is another top priority.
- The evaluation shows that the New Nordic Food programme has increased the awareness of Nordic food culture and drawn attention to the qualities of our produce. We have developed branding concepts involving Nordic gastronomy and encouraged food innovation in the region, says Lena Brenner, chair of the NNF II steering committee.
The effort is based on political commitment from the Nordic countries and contributions from a wide range of food professionals, cultural experts, designers and artists. New Nordic Food is also part of the NCM project KreaNord that funds a number of food related activities in relation with KreaNord's focus on creative enterprise.
The midway evaluation was conducted by CMA Research for the Swedish Board of Agriculture in January. 247 respondents, including programme stakeholders and project participants took part in the study.
Results indicate that New Nordic Food II’s activities are being carried out according to the plans laid out by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The study also identifies important development opportunities for the programme.
- The large number of international activities and rising interest from abroad requires that we increase communication about New Nordic Food in English. Also, we will direct more attention towards the SME’s (Small and Medium Seizes Enterprises) and the education system in the next two years. Food education for children is one of the most important fields we are moving into, Brenner summarizes.
New Nordic Food is also an important part of the Nordic Cool festival in Washington DC and the programme continues to develop. The latest initiatives include street food, Nordic Food Diplomacy for the diplomats and healthy food for computer geeks.
http://www.nfd.nynordiskmad.org/
New Nordic Food II is a communication programme under the Nordic Council of Ministers that promotes Nordic food in the region and internationally. NNF II runs in the period 2010-2014. NNF II focuses on improving meals in homes and institutions, strengthening children’s food culture and encouraging local food production and use of food when promoting the region. NNF II sees gastronomy as a valuable creative industry and promotes cooperation with other Nordic creative industries.
Read the Midway evaluation
Further information:
Lena Brenner
Chair of the NNF II steering committee
lena.brenner@landsbygd.ax
+358(0) 457 526 7305
Michael Funch
Email
mifu@norden.org
Bettina C. Lindfors
Communications advisor, NNF II
bettina.c.lindfors@gmail.com
+358 (0) 50 599 5244