Neighbourhoods differ in terms of the quality and quantity of food that is offered and promoted. This leads to differences in health outcomes. Hence, whether a neighbourhood is considered ‘healthy’ also depends on the presence of particular food outlets. Besides health issues, the environmental impact of the food system motivated researchers and planners to scrutinize the interplay between the food system and the built environment. The concept of food environment offers an appropriate lens to study and plan healthy and sustainable living environments. In 2020, the Research Group for Urban Development prepared a report on healthy and sustainable food environments commissioned by the Environmental Department of the Flemish Government.

Researcher(s):  Thomas Vanoutrive, Jeroen Cant
Commissioned by:  Environment Department , Flemish government
Period:  2/2020 - 8/2020