Nordic Food Aid Research Network (NoFAiR)

Food poverty, food insecurity and civil society’s food aid have recently become more visible in the Nordic countries due to rising inflation and food prices. Simultaneously, there are ongoing changes in the Nordic welfare systems, not the least the devaluation of levels for social assistance and different social insurances.

Based on this development, it is important to strengthen the research field related to food inequality and food aid for better access to cross-professional knowledge.

Description of the network

There are differences between the Nordic welfare systems and the way food aid has developed, but there are also similarities. This interdisciplinary network arranges bi-annual virtual meetings to exchange ideas and tips among Nordic researchers who are involved in studies related to food aid. The researchers come for instance from Theology, Social Sciences, Business, Public Health and Nutrition.

Background of the network

The start of the network dates back to an event where the Swedish School of Social Science at the University of Helsinki and the School of Social Work at Lund University invited researchers and practitioners to share collegial experiences in the workshop “Food poverty and Food charity” in August 2023 in Helsinki. Since then, the network has extended to new participants from other universities across Nordic countries.

Next meeting (on line): Friday 6 March 2026, 12:00 (Norwegian, Danish and Swedish time).
An invitation to the meeting will be sent separately.

Do you want to become a member of the network?

Please contact:
elinn [dot] leo_sandberg [at] soch [dot] lu [dot] se (elinn[dot]leo_sandberg[at]soch[dot]lu[dot]se)
Doctoral-student, School of Social Work, Lund University.

Socialpolitisk konferens i Helsingfors 23-24 oktober 2025

Forskarna Maria Söderberg och Stig Linde vid Socialhögskolan deltog i forskarseminarium om matunderstöd på en socialpolitisk konferens i Helsingfors om förtroendet i och för välfärdsstaten. Över 300 deltagare lyssnade när Maria Söderberg och Stig Linde vid seminariet "The Future of Food Assistance in the Finnish Welfare State", presenterade en studie om kvinnor som lever i och med matfattigdom.
Social Policy Conference 2025