The Food Includes Erasmus+ project uses food to promote inclusion in adult education. Led by Johannes Gutenberg University (2023–2026), it tackles cultural, psychological, gender, and socioeconomic barriers through food-based learning. Engaging migrants, people with disabilities, and diverse communities, it equips educators with innovative methods. Events like the San Sebastián Food Festival and demonstrate the role of food as a cultural and educational link.
Due to the rapid changes in our societies and labour markets, adult education is more crucial than ever. Lifelong learning (LLL) enables adults to adapt to new challenges, whether by strengthening basic literacy and numeracy skills, acquiring specialized knowledge, or working towards professional qualifications. The European Pillar of Social Rights underscores the importance of inclusive, high-quality education, ensuring that all individuals have access to learning opportunities. However, cultural, psychological, gender-based, and socioeconomic barriers still prevent many from fully participating in education.
Introducing the Food Includes Project
The Food Includes project seeks to break down these barriers through an innovative approach which uses food as a medium for education and social inclusion. Led by Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz (Germany), this Erasmus+ project brings together eight partners from across Europe. Running from December 2023 to November 2026, the project aims to create flexible learning pathways that foster inclusion and support upskilling in adult education.
The project builds upon the FOOD approach, a methodology designed to improve outreach, participation, and guidance for hard-to-reach learners. By integrating food-based learning into adult education programmes, the initiative enhances engagement among newcomer groups, including migrants, individuals with disabilities, and those from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Its key objectives include training 70 adult educators in this innovative approach, implementing it within seven partner organizations, and reaching over 100 adults adult learners.
To achieve these goals, Food Includes will develop resources, such as the Food as a Seeking Pedagogy Starter Kit, offering practical strategies for educators. Additionally, Open Educational Resources (OERs), including learning modules, will support food-related educational initiatives. The project will also implement real-world testing and expert evaluation to refine and enhance its methodology for broader impact.
Orientation Days and Food Festival
A milestone in the Food Includes project was the successful hosting of seven orientation days in 2024, where 70 adult educators and training staff were introduced to the Food Includes project and its Food as a Seeking Pedagogy
Starter Kit. These events were designed to build awareness about the project and its objectives, to deepen understanding of food-based education, and to engage educators to integrate this approach into their teaching practices.
Another highlight of the project was the Food Festival in San Sebastián in Spain, recently hosted at CEBANC, a partner in the consortium. Held on 31 January 2025, the event brought together Red Cross, Caritas, Jatorkin, and Nigerian Divine Women to prepare and share traditional dishes from Morocco, Russia, Colombia, Nigeria, and Nicaragua. The festival showed how food can bridge cultures, foster community connections, and enhance learning experiences.
Food Based Education for Lifelong Learning
Social inequalities continue to shape access to education and employment. Adult education has a critical role to play in addressing these disparities by fostering social inclusion, self-confidence, employability, and community cohesion. The Food Includes project aligns with broader efforts in adult education to create equitable and inclusive learning environments, empowering learners to develop their skills and improve their lives.
As LLL is a central component of modern educational frameworks, innovative approaches such as food-based education can become an important aspect of adult education curricula. By using the Food Includes model, educators and institutions can create more inclusive, engaging, and effective learning opportunities for all.
ᝰ🖋️ Author of the article: Diana Treviño-Eberhard, Project Manager | European University Continuing Education Network (eucen)
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Learn more about the Food Includes project by visiting the website: https://foodincludes.eu/
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