Together with Ecologic Institute, we have started the scientific evaluation of the Model Region Competition “Better Eating in the Region”. Since 2024, the Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs (BMLEH) has funded selected regions in Germany through this competition. The aim is to test and implement innovative approaches to healthy and sustainable diets. The ten model projects are intended to serve as transferable examples and are being developed jointly with local authorities, civil society and the private sector.
Across Germany, the ten funded model regions pursue five key objectives:
- Implementing the quality standards of the German Nutrition Society for communal catering in as many facilities as possible within the model region
- Achieving a minimum share of 30 per cent organic food produce in out-of-home catering (particularly through public procurement), thereby promoting the expansion of organic farming in each region
- Establishing and expanding regional value chains that extend to out-of-home catering and private households
- Strengthening supply structures for regional, seasonal and organically grown food – from production and retail through to the place of consumption
- Contributing to halving food waste in Germany by 2030 and reducing food losses
Embedded in Key Strategies and Programmes
The Model Region Competition supports the objectives of the Federal Government’s Nutrition Strategy as well as the BMEL’s Organic Strategy 2030. Both strategies aim to create healthy, sustainable food environments and to significantly expand organic farming. A central focus lies on out-of-home catering (OHC), which reaches around 16 million people every day. Projects address this by implementing DGE quality standards, increasing the proportion of organic products, establishing regional value chains, promoting seasonal and organic food, and contributing to the reduction of food waste.
Evaluation Objectives and Approach
The evaluation combines qualitative and quantitative methods. This includes monitoring project-specific target indicators, standardised online surveys, semi-structured interviews and focus groups with stakeholders, as well as a network analysis. The study will evaluate both the ten model projects and the programme as a whole, assessing the effectiveness, impact and efficiency of the funding.
The results will inform political performance monitoring and provide a practical basis for further development of sustainable food policy in Germany.
