CHARGE Official Project Launch Partner Meeting

Project Kick Off Meeting

This month, partners from across the Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) region came together for the official launch of CHARGE - Enhancing Institutional Capacity for Heritage Food Governance. Hosted by lead partner Lapland University of Applied Sciences at its campus in Rovaniemi, Finland, the meeting marked the beginning of a 2.5-year collaborative journey.

Project Aims

CHARGE aims to strengthen the resilience of Arctic food systems by improving the governance of heritage foods and enhancing cooperation among food authorities. The project will address ambiguous regulations and regulatory interpretations that disproportionately affect artisan and heritage food products. A central objective of CHARGE is to recognise, document and preserve Indigenous and locally transmitted knowledge of traditional and culturally significant foods.

Challenges

The Arctic is home to a rich variety of natural food resources, including wild berries, herbs and game, which have been valued by generations of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. However, many traditional ingredients occupy uncertain position within regulatory frameworks. This creates barriers for producers, complicates market access and limits opportunities to develop new products based on local resources.

Project Solutions

CHARGE will strengthen regulatory understanding through digital-tools, pilot transnational assessment approaches and develop joint recommendations to improve regulatory assessments. Working closely with food safety authorities, the project aims to promote better understanding of food governance, support market access for culturally significant foods and preserve Indigenous knowledge. 

Meeting Agenda

Together, we will map culturally significant foods across the NPA region, drawing on the knowledge and experience of Indigenous community groups, SMEs and other stakeholders. The team also began planning the Clarification Tool - a digital support that will help food authorities, producers and communities navigate regulatory routes for heritage and traditional food products. Discussions also covered plans for a Community of Practice, which will foster ongoing engagement between communities and stakeholders though project events.

Project Partnership

We look forward to continuing the journey together with our partners from Finland, Ireland, Greenland, Norway and the Faroe Islands.

Lapland University of Applied Sciences

BIA Innovator Campus

NIBIO Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research 

Arctic Flavours Association

Sámi Education Institute

Innovation South Greenland

Bunaðorstovan

Stay Tuned

Over the coming months, we will share insights from our partners, updates on our work with communities, producers and food authorities, and progress on the tools and resources being developed through CHARGE. Follow along as we work together to support resilient Arctic food systems, greater regulatory understanding and the recognition of Indigenous and local food knowledge.