The calculation model values the reduction of societal costs at €3,000 per case: less formal support because a food initiative notices and helps informally. The amount is higher than the safety-net item, because it concerns heavier, ongoing support that is saved.
Where the safety-net function prevents an acute situation, this category concerns structural costs that do not reach formal institutions because the initiative catches them earlier. The model works with the number of cases per year in which informal noticing makes formal support unnecessary. Together with the safety-net function, this item makes the preventive value of meeting around food explicit. Source: Rekenmodel voedselinitiatief (MKBA Food), New Economy.