FOODWISE – a new and improved climate database for food

Need for more flexible climate data

The link between climate impact and food production is well established in research, and RISE’s climate database for food has been developed to make it easier for actors in the food chain, policymakers and consumers to make decisions that lead to reduced climate impact.
As new requirements and directives for climate reporting are placed on the industry, the demands on the underlying data are also changing. To meet these requirements, an entirely new climate database is needed, where data can be modelled and climate footprints calculated automatically.

A bottom‑up modelled database

The FOODWISE project aims to develop a bottom‑up database model that provides generic climate footprints for food products to Sweden’s food sector. The database will create transparency and flexibility while generating comparable and consistent climate footprints.
A modelled climate database also offers advantages when input data or calculation methods need updating.

FOODWISE will also make it possible to break down climate impact into different activities in the production chain and into emissions of different types of greenhouse gases. The climate database will also, like today’s version, provide a total climate footprint for users who need it.

Relevant data enables better decisions and measures for reducing climate impact

The new database will follow both national and international guidelines and provide more flexible breakdowns of climate indicators, which is crucial for driving development toward more sustainable food production and consumption.
In the short term, the database will make it easier for companies in the food chain to access relevant climate data in their work. This has major implications for climate reporting and follow‑up of climate targets and is useful for decision‑making throughout the food chain.

Food companies and meal‑service organisations can use the climate database to steer menus and product assortments toward lower climate impact. Retailers can use the climate footprint of food products to guide customers toward climate‑friendlier choices.
In the long term, the goal is to reduce climate impact from production and consumption throughout the food chain and thereby accelerate the necessary transition toward lower climate impact.

Collaboration with actors across the food chain and retail sector

The work is carried out in collaboration with actors throughout the food chain, including the food industry and retail sector, to ensure usability.
The project is funded by FORMAS and will run during 2025 and 2026.