What we do

Dialogue

Providing a neutral dialogue forum. Addressing systemic issues requires collaboration, yet stakeholders often struggle to engage in open discussions free from business interests. Through workshops with producers and consumers, we've identified a need for a neutral dialogue forum where diverse actors can collectively discuss and tackle challenges, fostering shared solutions and a more cohesive approach to sustainability in the food system. By providing a shared space — whether physical or digital — and a strategic connection that leverages shared goals, expertise, and resources, the innovation platform can foster a collaborative environment where new and unlikely coalitions can thrive. Platforms are a place for an unbounded conversation that otherwise would possibly not happen, for example knowledge exchange, and goal alignment between actors who usually compete on the market.

Building commitment

Commitment-building is central to aligning diverse food system actors—such as producers, distributors, and policymakers—around shared goals. Commitment here goes beyond verbal agreement; it involves creating formal contracts or pledges that outline specific roles, responsibilities, and shared objectives. By establishing these agreements, each actor commits to clear actions and contributions, ensuring accountability and focus on achieving the mission. These formalized commitments might include timelines, milestones, and resource-sharing agreements, forming a network of dependable partnerships. This structure fosters trust, minimizes conflicts of interest, and mobilizes collective action, enabling the platform to drive systemic change through unified efforts and resilient partnerships.

Accelerate and scale

The platform is a place for scaling and accelerating existing innovations to enter the mainstream by helping to analyze levers, barriers to change, matchmaking, and analyzing adequate pathways.

Innovation

To build resilient and sustainable systems, investments must be intentionally directed towards innovation that serves public and ecological good. Traditional investment models often prioritize short-term financial returns, missing opportunities for transformative, long-term impact. By redirecting capital towards regenerative projects, social equity, and climate-focused solutions, we can enable innovation that aligns with the complex needs of communities and ecosystems. This means fostering a financial ecosystem that values impact over profit alone, creating pathways for capital to support solutions that benefit society as a whole.

Networking

An important aspect is to connect actors together with mutual interests, as well as create network effects where collaborations emerge towards common goals. Supported by Vinnova, this cost-efficient approach enhances Sweden’s competitive edge and global reach, creating a dynamic, cooperative ecosystem.

Aligning efforts

Setting common goals through co-creative, participatory and science-based methodologies is an avenue to align the efforts of multiple contested actors. Aligned efforts and shared goals can eventually lead to coalitions of mutual support in terms of capabilities and capacities as well as provide a base for innovation funding and investment derisking - e.g. through blended finance with governmental support.

Under-the-Iceberg Conditions

Protein Shift Innovation Platform aims to tackle deep-rooted barriers—regulatory, cultural, financial, and governance-related—that hinder the shift to sustainable protein sources. By convening diverse stakeholders, the platform addresses regulatory delays, advocates for more adaptive policies, and fosters cultural acceptance of alternative proteins. It also promotes streamlined approval processes and educates consumers to reduce market resistance, thereby lowering financial risks for innovators. This integrated approach helps transform underlying “under-the-iceberg” conditions, paving the way for broad adoption of climate-friendly protein options across the food system.

Agency

The platform aims to distribute ownership of its mission and sub-missions to create collective accountability and action, engaging a range of actors—both large and small—to lead specific initiatives. By enabling each actor to take charge of a defined area within the broader mission, such as novel foods or localized food access, the platform fosters ownership and shared responsibility across the ecosystem. This structure allows actors to contribute resources, expertise, or funding within their sub-mission, aligning efforts without requiring centralized control. Whether it’s local producers enhancing biodiversity or corporations reducing emissions, each actor drives change in their focus area, weaving together complementary actions that amplify the mission's impact. This approach not only builds accountability but also ensures that diverse perspectives and strengths contribute to the 9 out of 10 mission.