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): 11 September 2026, 12 - 1:15 pm. (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

Sweden

Elinn Leo Sandberg, School of Social Work, Lund University
Stig Linde, School of Social Work, Lund University
Maria Söderberg, School of Social Work, Lund University
Anna Angelin, School of Social Work, Lund University
Johan Vamstad,Marie Cederschiöld University
Marcus Herz, University of Gothenburg
Stephanie Rost, University of Gothenburg
Ana Karina Pastrana Polo, Umeå University
Maria Waling, Umeå University
Cecilia Olsson, Umeå University
Linus Hermansson, University of Gothenburg
Niina Sundin, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Osayande Godwill, master student Urban Business and Development, Malmo University
Ylva Odenbring, University of Gothenburg
Nicklas Neuman, University of Uppsala
Jonas Bååth, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Alnarp
Rosa Hellman, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Uppsala

Finland

Anna Sofia Salonen, University of Eastern Finland
Marjukka Laiho, University of Eastern Finland
Anu Lainio, University of Eastern Finland
Milja Pollari, University of Eastern Finland
Isabella Åberg, University of Helsinki
Tuomo Laihiala, University of Helsinki
Henrietta Grönlund, University of Helsinki
Rosa Huotari, University of Helsinki
Helena Blomberg, University of Helsinki
Christian Kroll, University of Helsinki
Ville Tikka, Helsinki Deaconess Institute
Ani Iivanainen, Master student Finland
Ulla Siirto, Dr, advisor, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Vera Kauppinen, University of Jyväskylä

Denmark

Sevasti (Sevie) Chatzopoulou, Roskilde University
Wesley Dean, University of Copenhagen
Nina Isabella Moeller, SDU University of Southern Denmark

Norway

Håkon Solbu Trætteberg, Institutt for samfund forskning
Laura Terragni, Oslomet Department of Health Sciences
Sigrun Henjum, Oslomet in the Department of Nutrition
Helena Schmidt, University of Oslo
Tone Fløtten, University of Oslo / FAO
Guro Wisth Øydgard, Nord universitet/Nord University
Halvard Vike, University of South- Eastern Norway USN
Inger Lise Skog Hansen, FAO

Non Nordic Countries

Adele Wylie, University of Reading, UK

"Higher Education Students' Utopias of Food Assistance: Processes of (De)politicization and Limits and Possibilities of Imagination"

Presentation at the NoFAiR Spring meeting, 6 March 2026. Presented by Anu Lainio, Post doctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland.

"Higher Education Students' Utopias of Food Assistance: Processes of (De)politicization and Limits and Possibilities of Imagination" Presentation at the NoFAiR Spring meeting, 6 March 2026.

Social Policy Conference in Helsinki, 23–24 October 2025

Maria Söderberg and Stig Linde from School of Social Work participated in a research seminar on food aid, where they presented a study on individuals living with food poverty.

The conference gathered over 300 participants discussing trust in the welfare state.
Social Policy Conference 2025