Social Innovations in the Food System by Food Sol

The Babson College in MA has established the Food Solutions Institute (Food Sol) to help develop social innovations and sustainability in the food system. Food Sol will work as an "action tank", which will bring together thought leaders and social entrepreneurs from across the food and beverage industry to make active contributions to the evolution of the global food system.

Cheryl Kiser, Executive Director of the Lewis Institute for Social Innovation and Babson Social Innovation Lab, is the co-creator of Food Sol. Kiser says, "From large corporations to small businesses, Food Sol will convene and support efforts to redesign our food system and solve some of our most pressing problems."

Food Sol at Babson College aims to make use of proven social entrepreneurial problem solving strategies to drive sustainable innovations in the food system. The "Food Sol Map" is a unique navigation tool that enables the user to zoom in on a particular subcategory of the global food system, or zoom out to view the overall food landscape. This is an innovative effort connect what are currently highly fragmented pieces of a complex food system into a single cohesive picture. The map will engage both consumers and experienced food professionals and serve as an equally effective tool for all.

Food Sol will make use of cross sector relationships and enterprise-wide knowledge to align common interests, create awareness and fuel results. It will employ the "Uncommon Table" approach to create breakthrough interactions between both the typical and unorthodox stakeholders around an issue that leads to social innovation. Food Sol believes that the right set of partners and the right strategy can drive positive change in any sector. It will demonstrate the possibilities for where both businesses and consumers can influence food system innovations.

Food Sol is organizing one of the region's leading celebrations of Food Day at Babson College on October 24. Babson's Food Day will provide tangible and practical ways to the community members and students to think critically about their food choices. It will create forums that offer "digestible" entry points into the food debate and catalyze exchanges between the food companies and consumers.

Photo Credit: fangol