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Food systems debates and discourse are often skeptical about agroecology and regenerative approaches, arguing that there is a lack of research and evidence that demonstrate its potential to scale up and feed the world.

A mission jointly led by YAB Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Plantation and Commodities of Malaysia, and H.E. Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, facilitated by the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), was conducted to meet with the political leaders of the European Union (EU) in Brussels at the end of May.

Today, the pioneering EU Regulation on deforestation-free supply chains, a key building block in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, enters into force.

Today enters into force the European Union Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR).

In line with the call from the Paris Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has committed to intensify its support for the Global South and to join innovative mechanisms to accelerate a just transition in developing countries.

The World Bank Group today announced a suite of new and expanded actions to help countries respond quickly and effectively to an ever-growing onslaught of crises.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for concrete solutions and massive investment for developing countries at the start of a two-day summit aimed at seeking better responses to tackle poverty and climate change issues by reshaping the global financial system.

Food, land, and water systems face daunting challenges in the future, and the body of research exploring these challenges is growing rapidly.

The CCBI will soon be hosting "visiting students" for short unpaid traineeships, from a selection of EU Universities that offer postgraduate courses in Behavioural Sciences. This is an opportunity for students to engage in extra-curricular activities, at the intersection between policy and research. Visiting students may choose to be involved in a range of different projects, and will be involved in different tasks -- literature review, study design, data analysis and report drafting. Three EU Universities already signed our Memorandum of Understanding, and five more will soon do so. We aim at having at least one University from each EU Country. For further information, please contact Emanuele Ciriolo (emanuele.ciriolo@ec.europa.eu).

You are invited to attend the CCBI Seminar Series, where experts worldwide discuss groundbreaking research in behavioral science. These talks are relevant to policymakers and individuals interested in applying behavioral insights to their work and everyday life. In the past, we have explored a range of intriguing topics, from understanding and reducing the spread of online misinformation to overcoming bottlenecks for evidence adoption and examining the impact of increased bargaining power for wages on the gender wage gap. Next, on Thursday, September 21, Sebastian Krügel, Andreas Ostermaier, and Matthias Uhl will discuss when and how AI-powered algorithms can act as moral advisors to humans. For more information on our seminar series, check out the link below.

Register for our upcoming course on behavioural insights for policy-making, which will take place on the 12th of October. This course is designed specifically for policy officers across DGs who want to enhance their skills in applying behavioural insights to their work. It provides a comprehensive overview of the methods, principles, and key findings from the behavioural sciences, and highlights their relevance to policy-making. Participants engage in group work, study examples, and do exercises to identify behavioural aspects of policy problems and apply behaviourally informed solutions. Behavioral science is globally recognized and has consistently improved policy outcomes and administrative efficiency. As a policy officer, it is vital to effectively understand and utilize its valuable insights. To register for the course click on the link below:

The CCBI obtains behavioural evidence to inform policymaking in many ways. Online experiments and surveys are one of the most cost-efficient, quick, and versatile data collection method. So far, we had to rely for this on external contractors. We are now developing our own platform for online experiments, i-bex, which will allow us to retain full control over the data collection process and further cut the cost and preparation time of our studies. We are currently fine-tuning the beta version of i-bex and, after the summer, we should be able to effectively use it to conduct online studies with the public, but also with specific subpopulations of interest (staff of EU Institutions included). For further information on i-bex, please contact Michal Krawczyk (michal.krawczyk@ec.europa.eu).

We are happy to announce that our website has been updated with our latest ongoing and finished projects. Take a moment to check them out and learn about the good work we have been up to! In the meantime, here is a preview of our completed and ongoing work.

This literature review explores alternative methods of providing food information and their impact on consumer behaviour. Direct access to information, such as menu and shelf labels, is more effective than digital means like QR codes. Consumers prefer visually available and easy-to-process information. Digital means can provide additional information but are not as easily accessible for informed food choices.

Using a combination of nudges and monetary incentives is the most effective way to encourage green behaviour and combat climate change. Policy mixes are generally successful in promoting pro-environmental behaviour, with energy conservation benefiting the most from these interventions.

The study conducted an online experiment to examine the reactions of employees towards gender pay transparency. Results show that employees were more likely to request a raise when they were aware of gender pay gaps in their workplace. This effect was stronger among female participants and those with a higher level of education.

The challenge of science communication lies in the constantly evolving evidence and the prevalence of misinformation. To address this, a new approach called collective intelligence can be used. This is a collaborative approach, supported by technology, to enhance science communication. This approach offers four key advantages: (a) a wider knowledge base, (b) diverse scientific contributions, (c) participatory input from stakeholders, and (d) better adaptability to ongoing changes in the state of knowledge.

This research project aims to understand the factors that influence student participation in the Erasmus Plus programme across different European countries. Using administrative data and gravity models, the study will analyse mobility flows and identify socioeconomic and demographic factors that drive or hinder participation. The findings will inform policies that promote more balanced and equal mobility opportunities across Europe.