Danone Institute of North America (DINA) is a nonprofit foundation which fosters transdisciplinary, community-based work to promote sustainable food systems in the U.S. and Canada. It was founded by and is funded in part by Danone North America, the purpose-driven food and beverage leader and a Certified B Corp.
Specific Objectives of the DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative :
- Advance Danone’s frame of action through innovative, actionable North America-focused initiatives to promote sustainable food systems that reflect that the health and nutrition of people and the health of the planet are interconnected. Examples of focus areas include: the impact of regenerative agriculture on health behaviors; measurement and mitigation of carbon footprint in a health-focused food system such as university dining or a food bank; reducing food waste as an aspect of a public health nutrition program; closing food systems gaps that prevent equitable and sustainable access to healthy food; and promotion of sustainable, accessible and balanced dietary patterns that help improve short-term and long-term health across the lifespan.
- Foster a new generation of transdisciplinary thought leaders working together and advocating for food systems solutions that can benefit the health of the public.
- Amplify the understanding of the relationship between sustainable food systems and human health among key decision-makers and the public.
- Forge new networks and collaborative relationships among Danone Institute North America, Danone North America, academic institutions in North America, community groups involved with food sustainability issues, health of the population, and broader food systems disciplines.
The DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative is a competitive program that will select and fund up to five transdisciplinary teams in 2023 to design, implement and evaluate actionable community-based projects on sustainable food systems that contribute to the nutritional health of populations and support communication about their impact.
This initiative will provide seed funding for projects such as pilot studies, feasibility testing, needs assessments and planning grants. Each selected team will receive a USD 50,000 DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative Innovation Award to implement its project and amplify its message to a broader audience over a two-year period. Teams may use this grant mechanism to supplement current funding from other sources, but new project aims must be developed for the DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative funding.
