The University of Eastern Finland Library’s Contributor for Open Science Award 2025 was given to the FOODNUTRI – Climate Smart Food and Nutrition Research Infrastructure project.
The project promotes the principles of open science by providing open research data and open online tools that serve a wide range of users, from researchers to authorities and farmers. The openly accessible online tools offer reliable and personalized nutrition guidance to support health and well-being and also encourage sustainable food consumption.
The EU co-funded FOODNUTRI project (2022–2030) led by the university’s Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition produces knowledge and expertise on food properties, physiological effects, consumer behaviour, food usage, and nutrient intake in population groups, taking environmental impacts into account. The project aims to add value to domestic raw materials and food industry side streams by using food processes that comply with sustainable development.
The initiative is part of the national FOODNUTRI entity, which is a broadly serving food and nutrition research infrastructure for the entire food system. The FOODNUTRI research infrastructure, funded by the Research Council of Finland, contributes to the implementation of the sustainable development strategy (FOOD 2030).
Ravitsemusnavigaattori (“Nutrition Navigator”) is an online tool developed in collaboration between experts from the University of Eastern Finland and Savonia University of Applied Sciences to support the assessment of diet quality. The navigator is intended for all adults and provides users with personalized feedback based on responses to a diet quality survey. The feedback has been prepared by licensed nutritionists based on Finnish and Nordic nutrition recommendations. In the navigator, diet quality is assessed using a Diet Index developed through collaboration between several organizations. Based on the strengths and areas for improvement identified in the diet, the most suitable nutrition path can be chosen for each individual. These paths help turn learned information into practical actions.
Overall, the FOODNUTRI project brings good visibility to the culture of open science and excellently represents the third mission of universities by promoting the societal impact of research results and the well-being of citizens.
