Addressing Food Poverty in Adolescents: Towards Multidimensional and Innovative Approaches for Democratic Food Systems

The transition to sustainable food systems requires not only environmentally-friendly practices but also fairness and inclusivity to ensure equitable access to healthy and nutritious food for all. Despite increased agricultural productivity, overconsumption, and food waste, 9.5% of the EU population experiences material food poverty (Eurostat 2023). Minors are disproportionately affected, with significant impacts on their physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational well-being (Palladino, Cafiero, Sensi 2024). For adolescents, food also assumes a central role in their participation in society and peer relationships. However, existing food aid interventions mainly rely on emergency approaches that prioritize material support while neglecting the structural and systemic dimensions of food poverty. This approach limits the potential for innovation and the ability to effectively address the phenomenon's root causes and multidimensional complexity (Caranci et al. 2016; Maino et al. 2016; Violini 2018). Moreover, the lack of cohesive policies and dependence on local networks and resources exacerbate the fragmentation of interventions, contributing to territorial inequalities (Lambie-Mumford and Silvasti 2020; Greiss et al. 2022; Hermans et al. 2023). Against this background, this paper has three main objectives. First, it engages with the conceptualization of social innovation in responses to food poverty, focusing on adolescents as a distinct age group with unique needs, and highlights key elements of a systemic approach. Second, it combines policy analysis with expert interviews to identify interventions in the European context that address the multidimensional nature of food poverty, employing a participatory and integrated approach sensitive to adolescents' specific needs to mitigate long-term social, cognitive, and psychological consequences. Finally, by integrating theoretical insights with original empirical evidence on innovative practices, the study seeks to encourage reflection on the necessity of long-term, multidimensional strategies for combating food poverty. These strategies aim to foster more inclusive and effective food policies, reduce inequalities, and enhance collective well-being.