Blind Spots, Bright Spots

A day on what we miss, what we're learning, and where food systems can go from here.

A woman voicing her opinion in a cooperative meeting

🗓️ Friday, 13 November 2026, 8:45 – 16:00
📍 De Hoorn, Sluisstraat 79, Leuven, Belgium.

Globally, 2 billion people can't afford a healthy diet. On 13 November, we take on the questions about our food system that we don't ask often enough.

Register here

Why “Blind Spots, Bright Spots”?

We call them blind spots because they are assumptions that shape how we work, invest and make decisions, yet we rarely stop to examine them. As they often go unquestioned, this can limit how we understand complex food system challenges. Many of these assumptions are shared across companies, donors, NGOs and governments, regardless of our different roles. By challenging these assumptions, we can uncover bright spots: fresh insights and practical ideas to strengthen our strategies.

Five conversations we won't shy away from...

  • In coffee and cocoa programmes, are we investing enough in local food markets to make living income and resilient communities a reality?
  • Do multi-stakeholder sector platforms, in their current form, hold anyone accountable?
  • Can climate-smart rice production become the standard if consumers can’t or won't pay more for it?
  • Are development actors underestimating the importance of the ‘hidden middle’ in supply chains for sustainable food systems?
  • How do we take a systems approach to school food when resources are insufficient, even for basic feeding? Who gets left out when programmes overlook the local suppliers between farm and school kitchen?

Is this for you?

If you are a practitioner or expert who regularly bumps into the blind spots in our food system, and if you’re willing to look honestly at where our approaches for food system change fall short and where we see bright examples for improvement, we’d like you in the room!

You’ll be alongside other practitioners from private companies, investors, academia, food system coalitions and NGOs, for a day of open discussions.

Programme of the day

8:45 – 9:30: registration & welcome snacks with a story

9:30 – 10:15: opening remarks by Chris Claes, CEO of Rikolto

10:15 – 12:00: fishbowl conversations on our 5 blind spots

12:00 – 13:15: lunch

13:15 – 15:00: co-creation labs for bright spots

15:00 – 15:15: closing remarks by Thin Lei Win, food and climate journalist at Lighthouse Reports & Thin Ink

15:15 – 16:00: networking drinks

Register here

Conversation leaders

What happens with what you bring? 

  • You'll leave with new connections, sharper questions for your own organisation, and energy to act.
  • The questions and tensions you raise will directly shape Rikolto’s strategies in the years that follow.

Sign me up!

We’re deliberately limiting spaces at this event. We kindly ask you to register only if you are confident you can attend, and to let us know as soon as possible should your plans change.

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