Az Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium, az URBACT és az EUI - Európai települési kezdeményezések - magyarországi kontakt pontja továbbá a BURST Non-profit Kft. 2024. április 17-én nagyszabású konferenciát rendezett az európai NEB fesztivál szatellit eseményeként. A mintegy 200 döntéshozót, szakembert és civilt összehozó rendezvényre a résztvevők 72 különböző hazai településről érkeztek. A színes és sokrétű előadások 32 hazai jó gyakorlatot mutattak be, amelyek az Új Európai Bauhaus értékeit közvetítik.

A konferenciát házigazdaként Dr. Gyuricza Csaba rektor nyitotta meg, aki kiemelte a Magyar Agrár- és Élettudományi Egyetem egyedülálló szerepét a fenntartható településfejlesztéshez értő szakemberek, a tájépítészmérnökök és településmérnökök képzésében. Dr. Dukai Miklós önkormányzati államtitkár (Közigazgatási és Területfejlesztési Minisztérium) a települési önkormányzatok partnerségét és az alulról jövő kezdeményezések fontosságát emelte ki, melynek egyik fontos települési programjaként említette az éves Virágos Magyarország versenyt. Nyitó előadásában Gombos Márk (Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium) helyettes államtitkár az új építészeti törvény és az Új Európai Bauhaus program eszmeisége közötti azonosságokat mutatta be. Rávilágított az új törvény értékőrzést, partnerséget és a fenntarthatóságot erősítő elemeire. Legfőbb cél a településen élők igényeinek és szándékainak megértése, a települések békés és biztonságos fejlődése, a közös gondolkodás és együtt cselekvés, a települések ösztönzése tapasztalat szerzésre és szemlélődésre.

A pódiumbeszélgetésen Gombos Márk területi tervezésért és építésügyi igazgatásért felelős helyettes államtitkár (ÉKM), Perényi Lóránt építészeti stratégiáért felelős helyettes államtitkár (ÉKM NEB NCP), Vincze Attila tájépítész, elnök (Magyar Tájépítészek Szövetség), Szemery Samu (Kortárs Építészeti Központ), Kovács Csaba egyetemi tanár, intézetigazgató (MOME Építészeti Intézet), Dr. Alföldi György DLA, egyetemi tanár, dékán (BME Építészmérnöki Kar), Szövényi Anna DLA, tanszékvezető egyetemi docens (MATE TTDI Településépítészeti és Települési Zöldinfrastruktúra Tanszék) és Madaras-Horogh Petra, urbanista, NEB Partnerségi Koordinátor (BURST Nonprofit Kft) vitatták meg, hogy az egyes szakterületek és a hozzájuk kapcsolódó tevékenységek hogyan integrálják a NEB értékeit. Abban egyet értettek, hogy az Új Európai Bauhaus, csak úgy, mint a régi Bauhaus, értékőrző és értékteremtő, multidiszciplináris és egyaránt támogatja a társadalmi és az ökológiai fenntarthatóságot. Az építészet, a városépítészet és a tájépítészet terén számos olyan látható és kevésbé ismert folyamat zajlik már ma is Magyarországon, ami a NEB értékeivel harmonizál.

A jó gyakorlat szekcióban 11 megvalósult vagy már ötlet szinten is elismerést kiváltó települési projektet vagy programot ismertünk meg az építészeti-városépítészeti rehabilitáció, a természet alapú megoldások és a társadalmi bevonás témaköréből.

Azt követően Báthoryné dr. Nagy Ildikó Réka, Magyar Agrár- és Élettudományi Egyetem, Településépítészeti és Települési Zöldinfrastruktúra Tanszékének egyetemi docense, az URBACT és az Európai Városfejlesztési Kezdeményezések (EUI) programok nemzeti koordinátora bemutatta az új URBACT és az EUI aktualitásait, az URBACT Good Practices Call, az EUI Peer Review Call, City-to-city Call és a hamarosan elérhetővé váló EUI Inovative Actions Call sajátosságait. 

Az URBACT és az EUI - Európai települési kezdeményezések - magyarországi kontakt pontja kiemelte a konferencián ismertetett jó gyakorlatok alkalmasságát a hazai és nemzetközi továbbadásra. A fenntartható városfejlesztést segítő, közvetlenül lehívható támogatások a széles partnerségen alapuló, a helyi közösség bevonásával fejlesztett, multidiszciplináris programokat támogatja, ezzel illeszkedik az Új Európai Bauhaus elveihez.

Délután három különböző témában folyt a műhelymunka, további jó gyakorlatok megismerésével és álláspontok ütköztetésével. A megfizethető lakhatás és társadalmi inklúzió, a fenntartható helyi élelmezés és a természet alapú megoldások beszélgetés a rövid idő ellenére is számos megvitatandó kérdést hozott felszínre.

A konferencián elhangzott előadások prezentációi hamarosan elérhetők lesznek weboldalunkon. Továbbá a szakmai beszámolókat is a későbbiekben itt tesszük közzé.

A következő tájékoztató napunkat 2024. május 29-én tartjuk az  URBACT Good Practices felhívás és az EUI Innovative Actions felhívás ismertetésére.

Szerző: B. Nagy Ildikó Réka

This document is divided into three sections. The first presents the major challenges that contemporary urban centres are facing. First in a more general way, locating 15 common challenges. In this section, we will observe that the challenges are complex, overlapped and in need of an integrated approach. The next step has been to understand the policy dimensions of urban centres. This involves first identifying the frameworks that will help the partnership to work holistically and then establishing an own framework that will allocate six main functions that explain the different balances present in urban centres: housing, work, public facilities, commerce, leisure and public space. The combination of these various dimensions will allow us to describe the different dynamics and challenges presented concerning their influence on residents and the external population. Finally, in this initial section, in order to address the complexity of the issues and the different challenges, a proposal is put forth to work on five interrelated fundamental pillars: integrated public policies, governance, decision-making tools, sustainability and inclusion; which are further explained.

In the second chapter, in order to understand the different profiles of the partners that form the network, an overview is presented. First, we provided a general overview of the city and its city centre boundaries, explaining the current situation of the city centre regarding the main functions presented in the previous chapter. We also include a section in which we present the current approach of the partners on to the five fundamental pillars. The composition of the Urban Local Group is then presented, in order to understand the typologies of stakeholders that are embedded in the process. Finally, a general overview is provided on the learning needs and contribution of each partner to the network, along with some best practices that will enhance the knowledge exchange.

Finally, the third chapter synthesises the network methodology and details the proposed activities during the two years and a half of the URBACT programme. Based on the analysis of the major drivers of the revitalisation of city centres, it includes the capacity-building activities and work plan and the potential dissemination and capitalisation of learnings.

This methodology addresses the main challenges presented by the partners. It is first extended to match the network framework and then summarised and synthesised into seven common challenges: managing complexity, gentrification, adaptation to climate change, new supply models, building a city centre identity, public space and managing mixed uses. The methodological framework is then explained, where the seven challenges are overlapped with the five pillars and used as the base to propose the capacity-building and exchange activities. These are divided into transnational meetings, city-to-city exchanges and ULG meetings, along with a work plan. 

This chapter ends with a learning capitalisation and dissemination strategy, which is based on the added value of the network, a toolbox based on five pillars, a policy advocacy and the search for funding opportunities.

Belgian architect Luc Schuiten envisages that in 2100 “Sustainable development will have become a pleonasm”, and as such, all urban development will inevitably be sustainable. Future cities will see new living and working habits, mobility and interfaces intersecting and co-existing with the natural environment. Local authorities will play a role in this transformative change, notably by working on infrastructure: creating green spaces out of abandoned buildings and spaces, joining the urban net, enabling a pedestrian connexion and infrastructure from one neighbourhood to another. Notwithstanding the environmental benefit of such measures, public spaces will also become spaces for creativity, learning and exchange.

Laeken 1800- 2200, La Cité végétale, Luc Schuiten. Source: Vegetalcity. 

This article looks closer at the need for green revitalisation and regeneration in the context of the URBACT GreenPlace Action Planning Network, one of  30 URBACT Action Planning Networks running from June 2023 to December 2025. Led by Wroclaw (PL), GreenPlace addresses unused, abandoned and forgotten places with green revitalisation and regeneration efforts – all involving the local community. 

The issue of forgotten and unused urban spaces

The urban landscape in Europe has evolved over the last decades. Former industrial or rail infrastructures, factories, construction sites, slaughterhouses, large health and social care facilities, shopping centres, offices or incomplete buildings and city centres, former military barracks, parks and greenfields – a variety of buildings and spaces have lost their original functions, left unused, abandoned and/or forgotten. 

Bucharest Delta. Source: Marcelline Bonneau.

These buildings and sites can be abandoned or unused for a variety of reasons:

- radical changes, conditioned by historical or economic events;

- negative connotations linked to places;

- the natural toll of time pr dereliction;

- social, historical and economic changes in a city;

- population shifts from rural to urban areas and changes in residential patterns (e.g. larger houses, fewer people per family unit);

- the low price of undeveloped greenfield land compared with the high cost of redeveloping land (e.g. regeneration of brownfields); or

- becoming too expensive to maintain.
 

Addressing the management of these under-used land, spaces and buildings is a key focal point of European regional development policy and funding frameworks. On the one hand, if nothing is done, these spaces will have a negative impact on the environment and biodiversity. For example, former storage and manoeuvring yards can form ‘heat islands’ and stored pollution can lead to further problems related to, among other things, rainwater management. Unused public spaces can also negatively impact land use, not accounting for land pressure and uncontrolled urban development (sprawl), and socio-economic inequity and insecurity. 

On the other hand, if we do something, we’ll see a positive impact on the environment. Nature-based solutions, brownfield regeneration, green infrastructure and other technical green solutions – including retrofitting or energy networks – can increase biodiversity, protect habitats, attract new fauna and flora  and integrate climate adaptation solutions, for example, related to rainwater management, water retention, cool islands, etc.  

Cities involved in URBACT networks, such as Lille (FR) and Heerlen (NL), serve as case studies on the positive impact of greener rehabilitated public spaces in their communities. Policy recommendations for the reuse of spaces and buildings include, among others: involving architects and planners in the development of land-use plans; fixing realistic land and financial budgets; considering public-private partnership models.

The need to develop green revitalisation and regeneration

Green revitalisation and regeneration are a prominent way of addressing unused, forgotten and abandoned places, both as a means to sustainable urban development and ends in themselves. The most common principles underpinning these concepts are addressed in the following approaches:

GreenPlace: 10 cities revitalising forgotten urban spaces with local communities

The above approaches to green revitalisation and regeneration form the core of the GreenPlace Action Planning Network. Led by the City of Wroclaw (PL), partner cities include Boulogne-sur-mer Développement Côte d’Opale (FR), Bucharest-Ilfov Metropolitan Area Intercommunity Development Association (RO), Cehegin (ES), Limerick (IE), Löbau (DE), Nitra (SK), Onda (ES), Quarto d’Altino (IT) and Vila Nova De Poiares (PT).

The variety of partner profiles stresses the richness and added value of such a diverse partnership. Some of these cities are small (e.g. Vila Nova de Poiares has 7.281 inhabitants) others are very large (e.g. Bucharest-Ilfov, with 2.298.000 inhabitants). Some are rural areas (e.g. Quarto d’Altino), some are very urban (e.g. Wroclaw), while others are considered developed (e.g. Limerick) or less developed (e.g. Nitra).

The partner cities may be in different stages of green revitalisation and community engagement. They may face different contexts and challenges, as indicated in the GreenPlace baseline study, which details the context, methodology and roadmap of the Action Planning Networks. Regardless of these differences, they are already learning so much from each other!

In particular, city partners are focusing on the following main categories of forgotten and unused urban spaces:

- Abandoned buildings: a Noodle Factory in Löbau, a Civic Centre in Quarto d’Altino;

- Forgotten buildings (yet, partially in use): the Popowice Tram Depot in Wroclaw, the Victorei Tram Depot in Bucharest-Ilfov; 

- Unused green areas: a medieval wall in Limerick, a Green Zone in Vila Nova de Poiares, Ejidos in Cehegin; and

- Unused built areas: a future Green Lung in Onda, the Station-Bréquerecque area in Boulogne-Sur-Mer, Martin’s Hill – a former military barracks site in Nitra.

In Löbau, partners have reported back on involving the local community in plans to revitalise an abandoned factory site.

URBACT Action Planning Networks: greener horizons

More updates are still to come from the GreenPlace Action Planning Network as the work progresses. 

In the broader scheme of the URBACT IV programme, GreenPlace is not the only URBACT Action Planning Networks making cities greener. COPE, Let’s Go Circular, BiodiverCity, Eco-Core and In4Green are a few others worth exploring!

This article was updated in April 2024. The original version was submitted by Marcelline Bonneau on 19/12/2023.

Das Gesundheitsreferat der Landeshauptstadt München beteiligt sich von Juni 2023 bis Dezember 2025 am URBACT-Städtenetzwerk „One Health 4 Cities“. Ziel der Partnerstädte aus Deutschland, Finnland, Frankreich, Griechenland, Portugal, Rumänien und Spanien ist es, den One-Health-Ansatz, der die Gesundheit von Menschen, Tieren und der Umwelt gemeinsam betrachtet, in städtische Strategien und Projekte umzusetzen. Der One-Health-Ansatz verbindet und integriert verschiedene Sektoren, Disziplinen und Akteure auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen der Gesellschaft, um gemeinsam Bedrohungen für Gesundheit und Ökosysteme zu bekämpfen und einen Beitrag zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung zu leisten. Der „Planetary Health“-Ansatz konzentriert sich mehr auf die Umwelt, insbesondere den Klimawandel und die menschliche Gesundheit, sowie auf die sozialen Faktoren der menschlichen Gesundheit.

Aktualisierung der Leitlinie Gesundheit in München

Im Rahmen des Projekts wird in München die örtliche Fachleitlinie Gesundheit unter dem Gesichtspunkt des One-Health-Ansatzes aktualisiert. Die Leitlinie Gesundheit ist Teil des Stadtentwicklungskonzepts „Perspektive München“, das seit 1998 kontinuierlich fortgeschrieben wird und sich zu den UN-Nachhaltigkeitszielen bekennt. Durch die Aktualisierung der Leitlinie Gesundheit reagiert die Stadt auf die aktuellen Herausforderungen der letzten Jahre, insbesondere im Kontext der Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf die Bevölkerung in einer wachsenden Metropole. Der integrierte Ansatz fokussiert Handlungsbedarfe und versucht, strukturelle Lösungen an der Schnittstelle von Gesundheit und Umwelt zu geben. Konkret sichtbar werden die Ziele an Leitprojekten, die mit einem Multi-Stakeholder-Ansatz entwickelt und umgesetzt werden. Mit München arbeiten zwei weitere Städte, Lyon und Lahti, an integrierten Ansätzen mit strategischem Fokus. Die Städte bilden eine von drei Cluster-Gruppen des Projekts.

Mitte Februar 2024 trafen sich die Netzwerkpartner:innen zum zweiten „Core Meeting“ in Lahti.

Ziele des Meetings waren:

✅mehr über die Entwicklung einer integrierten One-Health-Strategie zu lernen, 

✅mehr über die Strategie "Nature step to Health" von Lahti und ihrer Vorbildprojekte zu erfahren,

✅relevante Instrumente und Methoden der Gesundheitsstadtplanung kennenzulernen.

Lernen von Lahti: Gesundheits- und Umweltziele kombinieren

Am ersten Tag präsentierte das Team aus Lahti den Teilnehmer:innen die Strategie "Nature Step to Health". Im Jahr 2022 starteten die Region Päijät-Häme, die Stadt Lahti und der Campus der Universität Lahti gemeinsam dieses zehnjährige Programm, das darauf abzielt, die Gesundheits- und Umweltziele der Region zu kombinieren. Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden werden umfassend gefördert, indem die Zusammenhänge zwischen Menschen und Natur thematisiert werden. Die Teilnehmer:innen besuchten Projekte wie den Outdoor-Kindergarten und den lokalen „Gesundheitswald“. Der „Gesundheitswald“ wurde im Rahmen des vom Horizon-Europe-Programm finanzierten GoGreenRoutes-Projekts entwickelt. Er soll dazu beitragen, ein positives Verhältnis zwischen Mensch und Natur zu fördern, und die Verbundenheit der Bürger:innen mit der Natur zu stärken. Es geht darum, dass Menschen die umgebende Natur bewusst wahrnehmen, was beispielsweise durch Sinnesübungen entlang der Strecke erleichtert wird.

Austausch und Konferenzteilnahme

Am zweiten Tag konzentrierte das Netzwerk sich auf die Entwicklung lokaler Roadmaps, um die Zusammenarbeit mit den lokalen URBACT-Gruppen und die Erarbeitung der integrierten Handlungskonzepte für die drei Clustergruppen zu erleichtern. Dabei unterstützen die Partner sich gegenseitig, inklusive gegenseitigem Feedback, Unterstützung und Anregungen. Am Ende des Tages standen die kommenden Treffen mit Datum, Themen und Zielen fest. Am dritten Tag standen Stadtplanungstools auf dem Programm. Die Lead-Expertin des Projektes, Sofia Aivalioti, stellte Planungstools für gesunde Städte vor und zeigte Anwendungen und Operationalisierungen auf. Das Kerntreffen fand zeitgleich mit der von der University von Helsinki organisierten Konferenz „People & Planet: From Theory to Solutions“ statt. Die Projektpartner:innen hatten die Möglichkeit, an Sessions der Konferenz teilzunehmen und sich ein Bild der Forschungs- und Studienlage unter anderem in Finnland zu machen.

“Planetary Health” und “One Health” politisch stärker vorantreiben

Die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse des Netzwerktreffens waren, dass Planetary Health und One Health mit starkem politischem Engagement angegangen werden müssen. 80 Prozent der nichtübertragbaren Krankheiten könnten durch verbesserte Umweltbedingungen verhindert werden, wie Matilda van den Bosch und das Projekt GOGREENROUTES ausführten. Es gebe zahlreiche Beweise dafür, dass die Natur positive Auswirkungen auf die menschliche Gesundheit hat. Jetzt sei es an der Zeit, Maßnahmen zu ergreifen. Der Verlust der Natur findet außerhalb und innerhalb des menschlichen Körpers statt: Das lässt sich an Forschungen zum Mikrobiom feststellen. Der menschliche Körper und die natürliche Artenvielfalt und ihre Verflechtungen seien, so Professor Tari Haahtela, sehr wichtige Determinanten unserer Gesundheit und brächten ein nachhaltiges Gleichgewicht für die Gesundheit von Menschen, Tieren und ihrer Umwelt. Sicherheitsbedenken können den Menschen in Innenräume treiben. Eine übermäßige Sterilisation von Innenräumen kann die Gesundheit allerdings beeinträchtigen, weil sie die Exposition gegenüber natürlichen Elementen einschränkt und möglicherweise zu Problemen mit dem Immunsystem beiträgt. Sichere Innenräume seien auf Dauer nicht gesund, so Haahtelas Apell. 

Das One Health-4-Cities-Netzwerk tauchte nicht nur ins Wissen um gesund machende Umwelt ein, sondern lebte Naturexposition auch in der Praxis: Das Team stellte beim Besuch des „Gesundheitswalds“ fest, dass das Gehen im Schnee mit Wollsocken wärmer und bequemer ist als mit Schuhen! 

Artikel von Antje Kohlrusch, Gesundheitsplanung, Strategie und Grundsatz, Landeshauptstadt München

Going from 0% to 70% ‘sustainable food’¹ in three years, and more than 50% local: “We're not out of work!” says Davide Arcadipane, from Intercommunale de Soins Spécialisés de Liège (ISoSL). ISoSL is the inter-municipal association providing 4,000 meals per day to more than half of the elementary school canteens in Liège, Belgium. 

Since the launch of the URBACT BioCanteens #2 Transfer Network (2021-2022), ISoSL has undertaken a 360° transformation of its practices: adapting menus and integrating organic, local, healthy, fresh and seasonal products, setting up a working dynamic between the cooks and the city’s schools, measuring food waste, developing a mobile meal-ordering application to alleviate administrative work for schools and provide cooks with accurate order numbers, organising visits to producers with the cooks, the purchasing department and the dieticians, modifying six out of nine public food contracts for schools and nurseries, with the objective of 100% local, organic food by 2024. 

All of these transformations put together have culminated in a profound change in the ISoSL system. In anticipation of the next EU City Lab, which will take place in Liège, this article explores the city’s integrated food system and, in particular, the role of public procurement in combatting food waste.

A strategy for an integrated food system

At the beginning of 2021, ISoSL decided to take a systemic approach to its collective catering, encompassing four main areas of work: purchasing policy, production management, waste reduction and awareness of sustainable food. 

A lot more could be written on each aspect of this approach, and the Liège food ecosystem as a whole. For the purpose of this article, it is worth examining a few prompts for the strategy: How can the city change the way it buys so that sustainable products enter the kitchens? What constitutes a purchasing strategy that is consistent with the values of sustainable food? How can ISoSL’s purchasing power be leveraged to invest in local, sustainable and resilient food systems?

ISoSL inter-municipal association central kitchen preparing 12,000 meals per day (Photo credit, Strategic Design Scenarios).

Revolutioning food procurement processes

Agricultural issues are not always well understood by those who are not involved in the sector. That's why ISoSL systematically visits producers and farms when analysing offers. “We adapt our needs to what the region has to offer, rather than the other way round”. For Davide Arcadipane, it's a real paradigm shift when it comes to sourcing, moving towards fresh, seasonal produce, from short distribution channels and as raw as possible. Meeting producers is essential. It allows cooks and dieticians to understand the history of products and the diversity of local production.   

The timing for change is also linked to ISoSL's purchasing policy: markets end and start at very specific times. The city's purchasing department has drawn up a schedule of contracts to be renewed, which are dealt with one after the other.

The work always starts with an inventory of requirements: what products for which usage? What quantities? How often? Etc. In short, all the information relevant to the preparation of meals, and therefore to the award of a new public tender.

The next step is to carry out research in the field to find out which local producers and businesses could meet these needs. It's important to know what's on offer so that you can draw up appropriate specifications. The offer, here, must be understood as the overall offer at a given moment, in a given territory and not as the submission of a bid by a tenderer. 

Once ISoSL is certain that all the suppliers have a range of products that can be used to produce healthy, diversified menus, new selection criteria are incorporated into the public procurement tender. Public procurement legislation is not easy to use, and it is not always easy to find the right criteria. A multi-disciplinary team made up of the purchasing department and legal experts (both internal and external to ISoSL) is working on introducing criteria to ensure that products are environmentally friendly, respect animal welfare, are healthy and fair, and do not contribute to food waste. This is followed by a classic procedure involving the submission of tenders, culinary tests, appointment of the supplier, etc.

“On paper, it looks fairly simple to introduce sustainable products into community kitchens, but in reality it's rather complex and requires a lot of energy”, continues Davide. “There are logistical, human and financial obstacles, in particular the duality between the demand for low prices from canteen users and the need to offer remunerative prices to producers”. 

Going beyond the canteen to tackle food waste

In Belgium, the ‘hot meal’ in the canteen often has a bad reputation. In fact, only a dozen percent of schoolchildren eat there. The others make do with their ‘sandwich box’ brought from home, which rarely contains a balanced, healthy and varied meal. Canteens are often noisy places where children eat in a hurry, without being accompanied or encouraged to taste. In Belgium, lunchtime is also considered ‘non-school time’. It is therefore a time not financed by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in charge. As a result, the tendency is often to neglect these moments, to have the children looked after by ‘auxiliaries’, i.e, generally unqualified, untrained staff. The change in school canteens, while crucial, will affect and raise awareness in far fewer people than in other European countries where school canteens are mainstream. This is another reason not to stop there, to extend these policies to all collective catering and to develop general awareness.

The URBACT BioCanteens #2 Transfer Network played a key role in the development of an integrated local food approach in Liège, protecting both the health of citizens and the environment. Within the framework of BioCanteens, the ISoSL kitchens selected nine pilot schools from which an in-depth diagnosis of the lunchtime process was carried out. Within the framework of this diagnosis, particular attention was paid to the reduction of waste. “The observation phase made it possible to point out three critical moments where this waste was visually present”, explains Julien Chapaux, in charge of conducting the first diagnosis for Liège, “during production and cooking of meals, during the packaging and distribution from the central kitchen and during consumption in the schools.”

First, during production, daily variations in meal orders range from 100–350 meals. To avoid running out of meals during packing and serving in the schools, the cooks had taken to systematically producing more. Every day, the kitchen therefore provided for a safety margin, which inevitably led to waste during production.    

Second, when the meals are put into the insulated containers to be sent to the schools (hot link distribution), the staff have a very short time to pack the 2,500 meals for the 150 schools. Observations have shown that the staff do not always have the same rigour at the beginning of the packaging line as at the end. This led to differences in the weight of the food in the insulated containers for the first schools served and those on the last round.

Finally, during the consumption of the meal, it was observed that there was generally too much (or sometimes not enough) food in the insulated containers, but above all that many children did not finish their plates.

In February 2022, Liège implemented a series of production, packaging and consumption weightings. A student carried out eight weeks of analysis (one week per school). It was measured that the overall waste of meals was 51%. For soup, the figure was 57%. These dramatic outcomes confirmed the first batch of observations with quantitative figures convincing ISoSL and all city canteens’ schemes to take action. A series of measures were taken: application of meal ordering with strict ordering deadlines, weighing at the packaging line, awareness-raising in schools, etc.

More sustainable and healthy meal at the canteen (photo credit: MAdil).

When a bottom-up movement meets city governance

Thinking about the market in a sustainable way is a complex process. It's not enough to change one criterion or another, or to demand more local, high-quality food. The key to making these changes is co-construction and a shared determination to achieve them, the involvement of all the players. “ISoSL and the city of Liège would not have been able to put all this in place without the Ceinture Alimentaire Terre Liégeoise”, states Vérionique Biquet, Project Manager for Healthy and sustainable food for all within the Social Cohesion Plan of Liège. “As public players, we don't have the capacity to mobilise the local ecosystem of producers without the support of local experts and facilitators”. 

The Liège Food Belt (Ceinture Alimentaire Terre Liégeoise) emerged from more than 400 stakeholders in the region, who joined forces about 14 years ago. There was a need for a platform to support and structure this mobilisation among producers, market gardeners, organic groceries, sustainable canteens and restaurants. The rapid change achieved by ISoSL and Liège has been highly facilitated by the existence of a strong and large network of engaged stakeholders. 

The tighter collaboration between the Liège Food Belt and the public authorities of Liège generates a booming dynamic within the local healthy and sustainable food ecosystem. In parallel to the transformation of school canteens, a large range of initiatives have popped up in recent years, involving various organisations and institutions.

Visit to a local sustainable food producer (Photo credit: MAdil).

The MAdil, Maison de l'Alimentation durable et inclusive de Liège (Sustainable and Inclusive Food House) provides the opportunity to discover, test and learn about good food practices, including environmental protection and the fight against food waste. Activities cover culinary workshops, guest tables, walks around edible wild plants, meetings with local producers, introductions to market gardening techniques, and more.

HORIZON, a logistics centre dedicated to short circuits, has been operational for a year at the Marché Matinal de Liège in Droixhe, with storage space for local coopératives in particular to supply community kitchens. The "Short-Circuit" weekly market welcomes around 20 local producers and over 1,000 visitors every Thursday, from May to October, in the Place Cathédrale.

The CREaFARM programme, which makes public land available free of charge for local and urban agricultural projects. The agricultural plots are farmed by market gardeners on the principle of Community Supported Agriculture.

The creation of the CPA, Conseil de Politique Alimentaire (Food Policy Council) as a consultation and coordination body is also notable. It is dedicated to the actors of the food system, on the scale of the 24 municipalities of Liège Métropole and is composed of six Working Groups.

And last but not least, a month ago, construction began on a vegetable and canning factory, financed by European funds and planned as part of the national plan for recovery and resilience. This new installation will be active in 2025 and enable the supply of local and fresh vegetables to the ISoSL kitchen and beyond.  

Logistics hub for local producers at the historic Droixhe morning bulk market (photo credit: Ville de Liège).

Good practices: from city to city

To reiterate, the BioCanteens Transfer Network played an important role in catalysing this process in Liège. In fact, Liège was engaged in a process of adapting the city of Mouans-Sartoux‘s Good Practice with its means and context: a daily distribution of 100% organic meals made of local products; a drastic reduction of food waste; the organisation of educational activities dedicated to raising children’s awareness of sustainable food, etc.

“In Mouans-Sartoux, the city started to take action towards more healthy and sustainable food and the citizens and the civil society joined the movement. In Liège it is the other way around, the Liège Food Belt kicked off the food transition process and the city administration built on it to set its healthy and sustainable food governance!” summarises Gilles Pérole, Vice-Mayor of Mouans-Sartoux in charge of Children, Education and Food and Coordinator of the BioCanteens URBACT Transfer Network.  

Does this success mean that Liège is starting its own URBACT Transfer Network at regional level? “In a way yes”, answers Davide Arcadipane. “What we achieved here is possible on every Belgian territory. More initiatives from other cities such as Liège will produce more transition to sustainable practice of food producers, more potential to foster change through strategic public procurement even with the declining purchasing power due to inflation, more involvement and coherence in terms of food-related policies between local, regional, federal and European governance levels”.

New short circuit logistic hub programmed for 2025 (Photo credit is Gaetan Wijnants).

Next steps for Liège

A lot has been achieved in a relatively short time to transform the ISoSL central kitchen. What are the next challenges for the city? The central kitchen started to cook two fresh local vegetables per day. The new  vegetable and canning factory will be able to process 1,400 tonnes of locally produced vegetables per year and cover more than the needs of ISoSL. This vegetable factory will achieve the initial objective of 100% organic, announced in 2021 upon entering the URBACT BioCanteens Transfer Network.

The strategic use of the city purchase power. In 2023, Liège school canteens represented around €1,000,0000 of which €600,000 are already classified as ‘sustainable food’. This shows, if still needed, that strategic public procurement has an important stimulation effect on the emergence of new sustainable food producers and on the transition of the local farming ecosystem.  

The 4,000 meals per day provided to the schools and nurseries should now be extended to 12,000 meals per day, including hospitals and elderly homes of the area. There is a strong political interest, including from other Wallonian cities. Moreover, a study is in progress to assess real costs which is to say, costs of delivering sustainable and local meals, but also taking into account hidden costs for public authorities due to unhealthy diets, diffusion of related diseases such as obesity, etc.  

EU City Labs: what’s next on the menu?

The creation of a rich and articulated ecosystem is key to support changes in practices: it is true to ensure the evolution of citizens towards more healthy and sustainable diet. This was analysed in the recent article ‘Feeding change: Cities empowering healthier and more sustainable food choices’ as well as during EU Food City Lab on Changing Habits for a Healthy and Sustainable Food System (Mouans-Sartoux (FR), 21-22 March 2024). Liège example shows, if still needed, that it is also true for stakeholder practices change (farmers, transformers, cooks, canteens staff, etc.).

From 29-30 May 2024, Liège will host the EU City Lab on Public Procurement for More Local, Seasonal and Sustainable Food. EU City Labs are knowledge-sharing events co-hosted by URBACT and the European Urban Initiative. The Liège edition is the second of three events taking place in different cities, focused on change of eating habits, food procurement and preservation of agricultural land, and other elements for cultivating thriving local food systems in urban areas.

Interested in meeting with other cities, representatives and organisations working on this issue? Registration for the next EU City Lab is still open. Consult the full programme and register here.

Want to read more from URBACT experts on food and related topics? Visit the URBACT Food Knowledge Hub.
 

¹ The ISoSL uses the definition of ‘sustainable food’ found in the Wallonia Region Food Strategy Manger Demain (Eating Tomorrow) and that of the FAO.

On February 28^th and 29^th, 2024, the second transnational meeting of the URBACT In4Green network was held in Solingen with the aim of further advancing knowledge exchange activities and collaborative learning that can inspire the identification and design of local actions for the green industrial transition.

Thirty individuals affiliated with the In4Green network partners with various profiles and roles attended this second transnational meeting. From local project coordinators to elected representatives, internal stakeholders, local government officials, and external stakeholders such as companies and external public agencies, they gathered in Solingen to work together on finding solutions for the green transition in small and medium-sized industrial cities.

All attendees had the opportunity to participate in various activities primarily designed and facilitated by the Lead Expert of the network, Jose Costero. These activities included thematic working groups, peer review sessions, study visits to projects in Solingen, training activities, and skill development or training on URBACT Methodology tools.

In this way, In4Green partners were able to gain valuable information, knowledge, and skills through exchange to design their Integrated Action Plans at the local level in collaboration with their stakeholders.

Thematic Workshops

One of the main activities with more technical content was the organization of two thematic working groups. The first one focused on the circular economy and was designed and facilitated by the Ad Hoc Expert Eileen Crowley. The second working group centred on green and smart industrial parks, new green technologies, and investment attraction, and was designed and facilitated by the Lead Expert Jose Costero.

In both working groups, experts presented and explained the most relevant basic concepts, the European Union's policy framework, and some identified best practices in the field, as well as notions about the identification and involvement of stakeholders. Additionally, attendees participated in practical work sessions to facilitate the application of acquired knowledge.

Exchange Sessions

During the second transnational meeting of the URBACT In4Green network, some exchange sessions were organized among partners. One of these sessions was dedicated to peer review of the Local Baselines to receive feedback from partners for improving the initial diagnosis. Partners also had the opportunity to participate in exchanges on the status and design of URBACT Local Groups, where work with local stakeholders, and on the activities initially identified for testing at the local level.

Moreover, this second transnational meeting included the organization of the first Transfer Workshop on public-private cooperation, an opportunity for Avilés (Spain) and Sabadell (Spain) to present and share their best practices related to public-private sector cooperation and collaboration in the green industrial transition. In this session, partners could exchange ideas on transferable elements of these best practices to their local reality.

URBACT Methodology

Lead Expert Jose Costero facilitated some sessions in which partners could practically expand their knowledge of URBACT Methodology tools and concepts for sustainable and integrated urban development in Europe. Precisely, one of the main sessions was dedicated to the concept of integration in the development of local action plans, where the 12 aspects of urban integration were explained. In other sessions, partners could deepen their methodological knowledge of tools for stakeholder involvement and the design and execution of testing activities.

Study Visits

Taking advantage of the session organization in Solingen, In4Green partners were able to make study visits to two of the city's projects considered as best practices within the network: the Waste-to-Energy plant and the Transparent Workshop on urban production.

URBACT In4Green Network

The URBACT In4Green network consists of 10 European cities: Avilés and Sabadell (Spain), Vila Nova de Famalicao (Portugal), Navan (Ireland), Solingen (Germany), Salerno (Italy), Zd’ar nad Sazavou (Czech Republic), Dabrowa Gornicza (Poland), Bijelo Polje (Montenegro), and Larissa (Greece). These European cities have joined forces to jointly address the challenge of the green transition in small and medium-sized European industrial cities. This project is funded by the European Union's Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the URBACT IV Programme (2021-2027) under the first call for Action Planning Networks.

Pictures © Medienproduktion der Stadt Solingen.

La convocatoria URBACT IV de Redes de Transferencia de Innovación se desarrolló entre el 10 de enero y el 20 de marzo de 2024, aceptando propuestas de asociaciones lideradas por ciudades que hubieran ejecutado anteriormente proyectos de Acciones Urbanas Innovadoras (UIA). Ciudades de toda la Unión Europea, Noruega, Suiza, Albania, Bosnia y Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia del Norte y Serbia podían manifestar su interés y sumarse a las propuestas como socios de proyecto.

Aunque el proceso de selección sigue su curso, veamos quién se ha presentado y en qué áreas temáticas.

Las Redes de Transferencia de Innovación en pocas palabras

Las Redes de Transferencia de Innovación URBACT arrancarán oficialmente en septiembre de 2024. Los socios trabajarán juntos durante más de dos años para comprender, adaptar y reutilizar las prácticas innovadoras financiadas anteriormente en el marco de las Acciones Urbanas Innovadoras.  Participarán en actividades de intercambio y aprendizaje, trabajarán con los Grupos Locales URBACT en el desarrollo de Planes de Inversión para sus ciudades ("Planes de Continuidad", en el caso de los Socios Líderes) y se beneficiarán de las oportunidades de desarrollo de capacidades y conocimientos de URBACT.

Principales temas e intereses por país

Las principales áreas temáticas de las propuestas de proyectos son "Empleo y competencias en la economía local" y "Pobreza urbana", con tres solicitudes cada una, seguidas de "Cultura y patrimonio cultural", "Transición digital" y "Seguridad urbana", con dos propuestas por tema. La diversidad de temas no acaba aquí, con otras solicitudes que van desde la adaptación al cambio climático y el medio ambiente hasta la vivienda y la integración de inmigrantes y refugiados.

En cuanto a la cobertura geográfica de las 19 candidaturas presentadas, Portugal está representado por 15 socios, seguido de cerca por España e Italia, con 14 socios cada uno. Grecia ocupa el cuarto lugar, con 11 ciudades solicitantes. Es importante mencionar que para esta convocatoria, una misma asociación no podía tener más de un socio de proyecto del mismo país. Véase el desglose detallado por países.

¿Y ahora qué?

Una vez cerrada la convocatoria de Redes de Transferencia de Innovación, ha comenzado el proceso de selección. La Secretaría de URBACT ya ha realizado las comprobaciones de elegibilidad, y pronto el Panel de Evaluación Externa comenzará su trabajo para evaluar las solicitudes.

Las propuestas evaluadas se someterán a la consideración del Comité de Seguimiento de URBACT IV, que finalmente seleccionará al menos 10 Redes de Transferencia de Innovación el 28 de junio de 2024.

Las ciudades de Ucrania y Moldavia podrán unirse a las Redes de Transferencia de Innovación aprobadas, tras una convocatoria de candidaturas específica abierta a las ciudades de estos países que se publicará en junio de 2024.

Esté atento a la página web de URBACT para conocer los resultados oficiales de la convocatoria.

Las redes en números

Del 1 de junio de 2023 al 31 de diciembre de 2025, 252 socios individuales de 28 países europeos se han embarcado en 30 Redes Action Planning Networks (APN) en el marco del programa URBACT IV. Dentro de este trayecto URBACT, su objetivo es desarrollar conocimientos y habilidades para diseñar y desarrollar conjuntamente Planes de Acción Integrados (PAI) a largo plazo que les permitan hacer frente a algún reto de su ciudad. Estos planes definirán las acciones que deberán llevarse a cabo, incluyendo plazos, responsabilidades, costes, fuentes de financiación, indicadores de seguimiento y evaluaciones de riesgos.

Cada red está compuesta por un líder (socio principal) y otros 8-10 socios de proyecto. Entre los 252 socios, la mitad son recién llegados al programa, mientras que la otra mitad ya tiene experiencia con URBACT III (2014-2020). 

Redes aprobadas por el Monitoring Comittee de URBACT IV. Fuente: URBACT

Todas las Action Planning Networks aprobadas en la última convocatoria (2023-2025) se ajustan a la Política de Cohesión de la UE y contribuirán a sus cinco objetivos políticos específicos: PO1 Una Europa más competitiva e inteligente; PO2 Una Europa más verde; PO3 Una Europa más conectada; PO4 Una Europa más social e integradora; y PO5 Una Europa más cercana a los ciudadanos.

Más allá de su diversidad geográfica, las 30 redes destacan también por su gran variedad temática. El método URBACT, que siguen todas las redes, garantiza la aplicación de un enfoque integrado. Es decir, independientemente del tema, se tienen en cuenta aspectos sociales, económicos, medioambientales y territoriales. 

Para ayudarle a navegar por la lista, las hemos agrupado a continuación por sus principales áreas temáticas: Gobernanza participativa; Planificación urbana; Desarrollo local; Acción por el clima; y Cohesión social.

Gobernanza participativa

Las redes de la temática de gobernanza participativa se centran en una amplia variedad de temas como la participación ciudadana, la salud, la localización de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible y muchos más.

Dirigida por Genk (BE), Agents of Co-Existence fomenta enfoques innovadores de los retos sociales y se esfuerza por lograr políticas locales integradoras con la participación de la comunidad mediante el refuerzo de las capacidades y competencias de los funcionarios y la creación de nuevas estructuras y culturas organizativas.

Desarrollar procesos de gobernanza adaptados a la realidad local es el principal objetivo de Cities for Sustainability Governance, con Espoo (FI) como socio principal, pero utilizando específicamente los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de las Naciones Unidas como vehículo estratégico.

Desde el corazón de París (FR), las ciudades europeas implicadas en CITIES@HEART trabajan por un centro urbano equilibrado e inclusivo para todos los usuarios, invirtiendo la pérdida de atractivo para ciudades de diferentes tamaños y procedencias.

La red One Health 4 Cities, guiada por Lyon (FR), tiene como objetivo promover la integración del enfoque One Health en las estrategias y proyectos urbanos, desarrollando herramientas que capaciten a los responsables de la toma de decisiones y a los equipos operativos para aumentar el impacto positivo de los proyectos urbanos en el bienestar y la salud de las personas, los animales y el medio ambiente.

Planificación urbana

Las redes de planificación urbana abordan una serie de temas candentes como la movilidad, la accesibilidad, la sostenibilidad, los espacios públicos, los vínculos espaciales y la cohesión territorial. 

PUMA (Planning Urban Mobility Actions) ayuda a ciudades como Liepaja (LV), su socio principal, a desarrollar planes de acción de movilidad integrados para lograr una movilidad sostenible y neutra para el clima en ciudades pequeñas y medianas. Se centra en las personas, priorizando las necesidades y el bienestar de los individuos.

La red S.M.ALL trata de "Compartir soluciones urbanas hacia una movilidad accesible y sostenible para todos". Liderados por Ferrara (IT), navegan por la complejidad de dos paradigmas de movilidad URBACT: inclusividad y sostenibilidad.

Romagna Faentina (IT) está a la vanguardia de ECONNECTING - Greener & closer communities, una red que se centra en soluciones de movilidad urbana-rural sostenible dentro del territorio de los 30 minutos, diseñando y aplicando estrategias de proximidad para áreas funcionales rurales-urbanas.

SCHOOLHOODS pone la salud y la seguridad de los niños en el menú de un camino seguro, ecológico y feliz a la escuela. Lideradas por Rethymno (EL), las ciudades pertenecientes a esta red URBACT trabajan codo con codo con alumnos, padres y profesores para crear soluciones que permitan a los alumnos ir a la escuela de forma activa y por sí mismos. 

Desde Balbriggan (IE) hasta las fronteras de Europa, el principal objetivo de la red EcoCore es acelerar la transición ecológica, especialmente en los entornos laborales de las zonas industriales de las ciudades asociadas, que están pasando a utilizar fuentes de energía bajas en carbono para el transporte, la calefacción y la electricidad.

En su misión de conectar las comunidades urbano-rurales, Creacció Agència d'Emprenedoria de Vic (ES) lidera actualmente la red Beyond the Urban, que promueve la movilidad urbano-rural mediante la prueba y aplicación de soluciones de movilidad sostenibles, accesibles e integradas, centrándose en la intermodalidad, la gobernanza multinivel, la inclusión, la igualdad de género y las herramientas digitales.

Desarrollo local

La economía local, el marketing territorial y la transformación digital son algunos de los temas tratados por las redes de desarrollo local.

C4TALENT, cuyo socio principal es la ciudad de Nyíregyháza con derechos de condado (HU), persigue el objetivo de crear entornos favorables a las empresas y los startups en las ciudades para reducir los efectos de la fuga de cerebros, atrayendo y reteniendo a jóvenes profesionales con talento.

Después de que la pandemia COVID-19 acelerará la transformación en torno a la organización del trabajo, la Agencia de Desarrollo de Dubrovnik (HR) puso en marcha Remote-IT, una red que aborda los nuevos retos que están experimentando las ciudades en relación con el futuro del trabajo, facilitando el trabajo a distancia e híbrido para lograr ciudades prósperas.

Otra ciudad croata lidera una red de planificación de acciones de desarrollo local. Sibenik (HR) está al frente de Residents for the future, que aborda el problema de la despoblación urbana en las ciudades pequeñas y medianas. 

Con Fundão (PT) como socio principal, el principal objetivo de METACITY’s es aumentar la competitividad de las ciudades pequeñas y medianas con conciencia tecnológica, beneficiándose de la oportunidad de mejorar la eficiencia de los servicios y la satisfacción de los ciudadanos que ofrece el metaverso. 

NextGen YouthWork, dirigida por Eindhoven (NL), también está contribuyendo a la transformación digital, yendo un paso más allá y mejorando el trabajo juvenil en línea a través de soluciones digitales innovadoras a nivel de ciudad. 

Impulsar las comunidades locales no tecnológicas y digitales, que se enfrentan a retos específicos en términos de diversidad, igualdad de género e inclusión, es el objetivo de TechDiversity, una red compuesta por ciudades europeas pequeñas y medianas y dirigida por Trikala (EL).

Dirigida por Mollet del Vallès (ES), DIGI-INCLUSION también promueve la inclusión a través de herramientas digitales, abordando la exclusión social e impulsando la inclusión digital no sólo garantizando el acceso a la tecnología, sino permitiendo que las personas desarrollen las habilidades necesarias y adquieran la capacitación suficiente para aprovechar plenamente las oportunidades que ofrece el mundo digital.

La vida en las ciudades continúa incluso cuando oscurece. Esta es la principal afirmación de la red Cities After Dark. Liderada por Braga (PT), esta red promueve la "Economía Nocturna", a través de actividades que son esenciales para que una ciudad funcione 24 horas al día y desempeñe un papel significativo en la economía global. 

Acción por el clima

Las redes de acción climática abordan diversas preocupaciones: transición verde, economía circular, financiación verde y reconversión de espacios, entre otros temas.

La red COPE (Coherent Place-based Climate Action), impulsada por Copenhague (DK), libera los potenciales verdes de la acción ciudadana a través de un enfoque basado en el lugar, reconociendo a los ciudadanos y a los grupos de acción local como partes interesadas fundamentales que trabajan para acelerar la transición verde.

Liderada por Múnich (DE), LET'S GO CIRCULAR! cities se centra en la transición circular de las ciudades. Esta red aborda todas las cuestiones relevantes para una estrategia holística de los ecosistemas circulares de las ciudades, fomentando soluciones innovadoras.

Los socios de BiodiverCity, con el apoyo de Dunaújváros (HU) como socio principal, apoyan y capacitan a las comunidades para planificar soluciones potentes basadas en la naturaleza, fomentar comportamientos ciudadanos favorables al medio ambiente y elaborar planes de ecologización urbana, contribuyendo a la consecución de la Estrategia de Biodiversidad de la UE.

In4Green es una red de colaboración de ciudades industriales, encabezada por Avilés (ES), con un compromiso compartido: implementar la transición verde en áreas/ciudades industriales sin dejar de ser competitivas e inclusivas.

Restaurar zonas urbanas "olvidadas" para convertirlas en lugares valiosos para y con los residentes es la misión de GreenPlace. Esta red liderada por Wroclaw (PL) pretende restaurar espacios urbanos y hacerlos amables tanto para los residentes como para el medio ambiente, optimizando el uso de los recursos existentes en el contexto de la crisis ecológica y la situación financiera y geopolítica.

Cohesión social

Las redes temáticas sobre cohesión social abordan diversos temas, desde la regeneración urbana y la creación de lugares hasta el género, la igualdad, la diversidad y la inclusión.

Bajo la dirección de Clermont Auvergne Métropole (FR), el objetivo de FEMACT-Cities es apoyar la redacción de ocho "Planes de Acción Local sobre Igualdad de Género" acerca de los principales retos en materia de libertad y empoderamiento de las mujeres, a través de la protección, la educación, la emancipación y la autonomía económica.

GenProcure también aborda la igualdad de género, centrándose en la contratación pública con perspectiva de género, y está encabezada por Vila Nova de Famalicão (PT). Esta red promueve la igualdad de género a través del trabajo en compras, suministros y servicios en el sector público. 

Re-Gen es una red europea de ciudades liderada por Verona (IT) que pretende apoyar el desarrollo urbano sostenible y la inclusión social gracias al protagonismo de estudiantes de secundaria, de entre 10 y 18 años, procedentes de entornos desfavorecidos.

La U.R. Impact liderada por Cinisello Balsamo (IT) prioriza el impacto social en la regeneración urbana, garantizando la inclusión social y el desarrollo comunitario durante la renovación urbana. Sitúan a los ciudadanos y su bienestar social, económico y medioambiental en el centro de los procesos.

El principal objetivo de Breaking Isolation, una red impulsada por Agen (FR) que lucha contra el aislamiento creando lazos sociales y vínculos entre jóvenes y mayores y promoviendo la diversidad social.

Con el fin de construir sociedades más inclusivas y resilientes, WELDI capacita a las autoridades locales para una integración digna de los inmigrantes recién llegados. Para lograr este objetivo, las ciudades de esta red, liderada por Utrecht (NL), colaboran con los inmigrantes y otros residentes, así como con socios locales, nacionales e internacionales.

La red ARCHETHICS reúne a ciudades europeas que comparten la presencia de un patrimonio vinculado a un pasado histórico complejo y controvertido (regímenes totalitarios, fronteras conflictivas, etc.), como su socio principal Cesena (IT). Su objetivo es transformar el patrimonio en lugares en los que lugareños y visitantes compartan conocimientos y lleguen a una comprensión multiperspectiva del pasado y a nuevas visiones de futuro.

Acompaña a las redes a lo largo de su trayecto

Esta es sólo una instantánea de las Action Planning Networks de URBACT, pero no os perdáis la información que os van a ir proporcionando los expertos y las propias ciudades asociadas. También podeis seguir el recorrido de estas redes en las páginas de sus proyectos y en las redes sociales, beneficiarse de las lecciones aprendidas y probarlas en vuestra propia ciudad.

Este artículo ha sido traducido de la página de URBACT; aquí el original:

https://urbact.eu/whats-new/stories/european-cities-driving-change-through-urbact-action-planning-networks

Food systems are a primary cause of environmental degradation and contribute to climate change, health inequalities and waste. With half the global population living in urban areas, cities are tuning in to the role they play in building more sustainable food systems and helping their residents eat a healthier diet. 

On 21 and 22 March 2024, around 50 city practitioners from 9 European countries gathered in Mouans-Sartoux (France) for the EU City Lab on Changing Food Habits for a Healthy and Sustainable Food System.  

This article condenses the rich exchanges that took place there into 5 ways cities can get onto – or further explore – the food transformation path.  

If you like what you read here, have a look at the EU City Lab #2 programme on using public procurement for more local, seasonal and sustainable food on 29-30 May in Liège (BE).  

1. Take a Food Systems Approach 

Roxana Maria Triboi, lead author of the ex-ante assessment of the “Food” thematic area under the Urban Agenda of the EU (UAEU), emphasised citizens’ “disassociation with food production”, i.e. a general lack of awareness of  food production processes and their social, economic and environmental impacts. For instance, many ignore that food production is responsible for around 26% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By taking a more proactive approach to food consumption, citizens can work towards reintegrating food as a focus of political engagement and help build more sustainable local food systems.  

On their end, policymakers need to stop looking at food policies in a silo, and instead start associating them with broader economic and social goals, such as re-dynamising the local territory or building food security through shorter and fairer supply chains. Thanks to their flexibility, smaller cities are especially relevant to develop synergies and integrated approaches. 

The ex-ante assessment of the Urban Agenda’s “Food” thematic area conducted in 2023 embraced this holistic perspective, building on a conceptual framework developed by IPES-Food. The same conceptual framework also inspires the approach of the three EU City Labs on Local Food Systems. 

2. Navigate the EU landscape on food 

In recent years, EU food policies also witnessed a progressive shift towards a more systemic and sustainability-oriented approach. The 2020 Farm to Fork Strategy, for instance, attempted to introduce an holistic perspective to the food production chain, from the producers to the consumers (and beyond, in the context of a circular economy) and to put sustainability at the core of food systems transformation.  

Yet, there is still a long way to go to transform these ambitious goals into reality, as many critical voices are being raised. “Europe is witnessing a growing push to shift the perspective “from fork to farm”: that is, emphasizing the political legitimacy of the citizens-consumers to decide what they wish to eat” recalled Gilles Perole, Deputy-Mayor of Mouans-Sartoux. As EU legislators work to fill the gap, cities keep playing a key role as drivers of change.  

Initiatives such as the UAEU Partnership on Food, launched in January 2024, put cities at the heart of local food policy transformation. As explained by Elisa Porreca, Food Policy Officer of the City of Milan and coordinator of the partnership, it gathers 21 stakeholders from all sectors of the urban food chain, to build both a shared vision and the necessary tools for its sustainable implementation. For the coming years, the goal is to improve the funding, regulation and knowledge in relation to local food systems.   

3. Get inspired by cities across Europe… 

Organic food in school canteens in Mouans-Sartoux 

Over the years, the city of Mouans-Sartoux has turned into a key source of inspiration for urban food policy practitioners across Europe. Why?  

Because of its three primary school canteens serving 100% organic food since 2012 – all cooked on-site by the canteens’ chefs, with 85% of self-produced vegetables all-year round and diversification of proteins through 50% of vegetarian meals for all. 1,100 meals are served every day by the school canteens to 97% of the total number of pupils in Mouans-Sartoux. The local supply of vegetables is ensured by the municipal farm – a 6-hectare plot pre-empted by the municipality in 2010, with a yield of 25 tons per year. Three full-time farmers work there as civil servants – a first in France.  

Mouans-Sartoux’s practice and know-how has been customised and transferred to 9 European cities through two URBACT Transfer Networks called Biocanteens and Biocanteens#2 from 2018 to 2022. Many other French cities have followed Mouans-Sartoux’s example. 

A key strength of the city’s practice is the progressive buildup on projects, leading to a systemic approach. EU City Lab’s participants got to discover the different building blocks of this approach through city visits and dedicated discussion sessions.   

“The Municipality played a key role in initiating this policy, yet it has focused since the beginning on fostering citizens’ implication,” recalled Gilles Perole, Deputy-Mayor of Mouans-Sartoux. Since 2016, the MEAD (Centre for Sustainable Food Alimentation) supports this ambition through training and education initiatives. Most recently, the city’s participatory efforts led to ‘The Citizen Feeds the City’ initiative, which saw the creation of seven community gardens – initiated by citizens and managed in autonomy by a group of them. 

To tackle the inclusiveness challenge, since 2011 low-income or unemployed citizens may benefit for a few months access to a social grocery store, where they can get healthy and sustainable food at a very low cost. A step further? Scaling up to more categories of citizens who don’t have the chance to properly consider the food they consume. As explained by Caroline Monjardet, Project Manager at MEAD, the city currently works with local companies and restaurants to propose healthier and locally-sourced meals to their employees or customers. 

Group visit to one of the 100% organic school canteens in Mouans-Sartoux (FR) -- with Gilles Perole, Deputy-Mayor of the city. 

Food Study with Irish Traveller women in Cork, Ireland 

Around 2015, a network of traveller women approached Denise Cahill, Healthy Cities Co-ordinator in Cork, concerned about the rate of obesity in their community. Rather than spreading once more food recommendations, as they had multiple times without success, they built together the framework for a food study exploring the social determinants of traveller’s women health. Driven by their experiences, especially facing structural racism and hostility, this research was built with and owned by those traveller women. “Nothing about us without us” is the new motto in Cork.. 

“Cork is now trying to become a trauma-informed city.” As Denise explained, this study did not have such an impact on the obesity rate, but that was never the main goal. Going beyond the scope of food, the study became an advocacy tool for social services to understand the struggles and trauma that vulnerable communities battle with, and ultimately build more positive exchanges with them.  

 “The thinkers and the doers must find a common space.” Denise explained how creating this dialogue is a motor for the city’s action, to give room for everyone’s voices, from the farmers to the elected representatives, including the planners, and the grassroot movements. 

UIA TAST’in FIVES in Lille, France 

Perrine Dubois, project manager at the City of Lille, shared a story of transformation. A former industrial city throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Lille witnessed in 2001 the closure of one of its last industrial factories, “Five Cail” (straddling the neighbouring commune of Hellemmes). What to do with this 15hectare brownfield site located in the heart of the Lille metropolis? In the context of a broader project to turn this zone into an eco-district, the city applied in 2016 to an Urban Innovative Action (UIA) call for the financing of Tast'in Fives, a space dedicated to sustainable food. 

At the heart of the brownfield, a central food hall of over 2,000m2 was therefore renovated to host an innovative combination of activities: a “community kitchen”, a professional kitchen hosting an incubator, an urban farm, and a food court. The first three structures opened in 2021, while the food court, delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, opened in March 2024.   

The project – today called “Chaud Bouillon!” – involved many actors, including residents, neighbourhood associations, universities and private companies. Although its main focus is on strengthening social linkages, attention is also paid to food sustainability aspects – i.e. encouraging shifts towards more sustainable food habits. For example, the incubator’s projects must adhere to sustainability criteria, like the recovery of unsold goods from supermarkets.  

School canteens solutions in Milan 

In Milan, the municipal food provider Milano Ristorazione supplies about 80 000 meals per day, mainly served at schools. Milano Ristorazione is one of the main public stakeholders in the implementation of the Milan’s Food Policy and is a place to experiment with good practices, including menu changes and other enabling measures. 

“The city started monitoring the impact of school catering services more closely in 2015 and has since then managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42%, mainly by cutting down on red meat and serving more fruits and vegetables” explained Chiara Mandelli, from the Food Policy Area of the Municipality of Milan. The city also achieved significant waste reduction through several measures, from shifting the times when fruits are served at schools, to offering “doggy bags” for children’s leftovers. To challenge the taste of children – often used to processed food and lower vegetable consumption – an educational campaign was launched, featuring booklets and games.  

As Chiara also explained, Milan recently participated in the European Food Trails project to renovate school canteens; and in the EU project “School Food for Change” to create educational programmes for children on local food heritage. Finally, a recent partnership with the University of Pavia seeks to bridge the scientific assessment gap and learn how to best use existing data to inform future policy choices.  

The Circular Food Hub in Roeselare 

The Circular Food Hub in Roeselare (Belgium) extends beyond just providing affordable food. It includes a social grocery store; an eco-café serving low-price meals made with local products; a shared kitchen for workshops on cooking cheap, healthy and sustainable meals; and other amenities.  

Designed as a space for inclusion and for strengthening social linkages among different groups, the place opened in 2020. It quickly succeeded in attracting a variety of users – from the beneficiaries of the social grocery store to participants in food workshops and other training initiatives.  

The Circular Hub is in a former post office owned by the city. “The building features large meeting spaces available to residents and the city administration for future projects, including around food” explained Bo Vanbesien, expert in subsidies and external relations from the City of Roeselare. 

Sharing cities' experiences in Mouans-Sartoux (FR). 

4. Show the impact of your actions 

For Thibaud Lalanne, MEAD Coordinator, impact assessment forms the foundation of the practice of sharing that Mouans-Sartoux has championed. Evaluation is important in two regards: first for internal legitimacy, as public spending is involved; then to advocate and spread good practices to other cities. 

In 2022-23, Mouans-Sartoux’s good practice underwent three assessment exercises: first, the 2022 survey conducted by the Municipal Observatory of School Canteens, focusing on changes in families’ food habits; second, a comprehensive study (in French) based on the a specially-developed evaluation framework for sustainable food projects (Syalinnov method), touching upon a variety of dimensions; and third, a study on environmental impacts conducted by PhD researchers from Nice University. Thanks to these efforts, Mouans-Sartoux is able to quantify the impact of its food policies: a 92% reduction of its carbon footprint according to the Nice study. 

What is main challenge when it comes to evaluation? “The lack of resources” says Thibaud. “There is a contradiction between the necessity of evaluating the policies and the reality of carrying out the surveys.” Evaluation exercises take time, involve many people, and cities can lack the technical competences. To cope with these challenges, “get support to conduct assessments, narrow down the scope of research, and allow yourselves some flexibility, as there is no ‘one size fits all’”. 

5. Check out the next URBACT / EUI networking & funding opportunities 

As Gilles Perole recalled: “the transformation that took place in Mouans-Sartoux can happen in other European cities, whatever their size.” The experience of the URBACT network Biocanteens #2 clearly demonstrated this, by enabling the transfer of Mouans-Sartoux’s good practice to cities like Liège, Wroclaw and more. Cities that vary in size and features of course, but with some key characteristics in common that made the transformation possible: awareness about the stakes related to local food systems; political ambition to change things; and willingness to promote healthier food to the citizens. 

- Download the presentation made at EU City Lab on Local Food Systems #1

- Interested in learning more on the sustainability transition of local food systems? Join us in Liège on 29-30 May 2024 for the next EU City Lab on Public Procurement for More Local, Seasonal and Sustainable food. Register now! 

- Does your city administration have a good practice on this or other topics? Then tell us about it from 15 April to 30 June 2024, during the URBACT Call for Good Practices which seeks good practices that bring positive local impact, that are participatory, integrated and transferable to other cities. More information about this Call will be available on urbact.eu/get-involved 

Additional resources:

- Portico knowledge resources

- Lab speakers/cities or any other urban pratictioner with an interest on food in cities can be contacted via the Portico community 

This article was authored by:

Chiara Petroli, Events Officer at URBACT.

Eva Timsit, Ben Eibl and Nicola Candoni, Students at Science Po Paris.

Een stedelijk actieplan opzetten

Om een goede planning en programmering van stedelijke acties mogelijk te maken, in overeenstemming met het lokale beleid, voorzien steden en gemeenten zichzelf van strategische documenten die toekomstperspectieven schetsen. Dit staat bekend als een stadsontwikkelingsstrategie.

De uitvoering van deze strategie vereist noodzakelijkerwijs de implementatie van de projecten, zoals deze zijn gedefinieerd in de strategie. De financiële middelen die lokaal beschikbaar zijn, zijn echter niet altijd voldoende om alle benodigde investeringen te dekken. Het zoeken naar externe financiering is daarom een essentiële aanvulling geworden.

Deze externe financiering is ook welkom in het kader van URBACT-projecten die, zodra hun geïntegreerde actieplan is voltooid, middelen moeten mobiliseren om de bedachte acties uit te voeren.

Zoeken naar specifieke financiering voor elke gemeente

Aangezien financiering een onmisbare voorwaarde is voor het realiseren van een project, streven steden en gemeenten er allemaal naar om hun deel binnen te halen. Zoals bekend, berust vandaag een groot deel van de publieke financiering op de deelname aan verschillende projectoproepen die een actieve benadering van de publieke autoriteiten vereisen.

De systemen die door deze publieke autoriteiten worden opgezet om deze middelen te verkrijgen, verschillen echter aanzienlijk van geval tot geval. In sommige gevallen ligt het initiatief bij een of meer ambtenaren van de lokale overheid, terwijl in andere gevallen de zoektocht meer gestructureerd is op afdelingsniveau. In zeldzamere gevallen wordt een specifieke afdeling opgericht om alle gemeenteambtenaren te begeleiden bij het vinden van financiering.

Van de deelnemers aan ons seminar had de meerderheid (65%) een duidelijk beeld van de prioritaire projecten die op departementaal niveau gefinancierd moesten worden. Dit is veel minder het geval op gemeentelijk niveau (38%). In afwezigheid van een speciale afdeling voor projectfinanciering blijft het hokjes-denken overheersend.

Een multifunctionele service ten dienste van een lokale strategie

Om de mogelijkheden van coördinatie op gemeentelijk niveau te illustreren, werden tijdens het seminar twee casestudies gepresenteerd.

Case 1:

Mélanie Rasquin, hoofd Subsidies & Partnerschappen van Schaarbeek, beschreef het werk van haar team van 5 medewerkers.

Het multidisciplinaire team is verantwoordelijk voor:

- actief zoeken naar financieringsbronnen voor projecten;

- ontwikkeling, monitoring, ondersteuning en cross-functioneel beheer van projecten en subsidies;

- de ontwikkeling van samenwerkingsverbanden en partnerschappen binnen en buiten de overheid;

- beheersen van middelen en de risico's en kosten voor de gemeente beperken.

De dienst 'Subsidies & partnerschappen' heeft tijd nodig gehad om zich binnen de gemeentelijke structuur te vestigen. Toch is het vandaag een onmisbare steun voor andere afdelingen. Dankzij de expertise van deze afdeling wordt het personeel van de gemeente naar haar diensten doorverwezen als ze een project willen opzetten. Het zorgt ook voor samenhang met de gemeentelijke strategie voor stedelijke ontwikkeling. Bovendien zijn er thema's gedefinieerd die van belang zijn om relevantere projecten op te zetten die kunnen inspelen op lokale problemen. 

Deze transversale aanpak werpt vruchten af. Schaarbeek rondt nu meer projecten af, de verschillende afdelingen werken beter samen en het zoeken naar financiering verloopt efficiënter.

Case 2:

Véronique Pierre, Directeur Stedelijke Vernieuwing en Ontwikkeling, en Isabelle Gobert, Hoofd Externe Financiering, presenteerden daarentegen de strategie die is opgezet door Valenciennes Métropole.

De structuur Valenciennes Métropole werd in 2001 gelanceerd met als doel stadsvernieuwing te ontwikkelen en de kwaliteit en leefbaarheid te verbeteren in een gebied dat 35 gemeenten omvat. Het is gebaseerd op een ontwikkelingsstrategie en een territoriaal project rond drie centra:

- een centraal agglomeratiecentrum rond Valenciennes ;

- een evenwichtscentrum voor de agglomeratie Condé sur l'Escaut;

- structurerende gemeenten waarrond tussenliggende centra worden gebouwd.

Om deze ambities te implementeren en de financiële duurzaamheid van projecten te garanderen, heeft Valenciennes Métropole verschillende multifunctionele afdelingen opgezet die nauw samenwerken. Een afdeling "Stadsvernieuwing" met een routekaart als leidraad en een afdeling "Externe financiering" om de financiële duurzaamheid van de projecten te garanderen.

De afdeling "Externe financiering" bestaat uit 3 personen: een manager, een implementatiemanager en een stagiair. De belangrijkste taken zijn het monitoren van mogelijkheden, het bieden van ondersteuning bij het opzetten van projecten, het monitoren van de implementatie van financiering en het coördineren van meerjarige investeringsprogramma's.

De belangrijkste conclusies van het seminar

De vele getuigenissen tijdens het seminar benadrukten het unieke karakter van elke stad en gemeente. Elke gemeente heeft haar eigen specifieke uitdagingen, haar eigen besluitvormingsorganen en haar eigen interne organisatie. Toch kunnen ze allemaal, ook al moeten de oplossingen worden aangepast aan de lokale context, mechanismen invoeren om hun zoektocht naar financiering effectiever en vruchtbaarder te maken.

Allereerst is het cruciaal om de acties tussen de verschillende afdelingen te coördineren om de juiste kansen aan te grijpen en de krachten te concentreren op prioritaire projecten. Om dit te bereiken is het belangrijk om uw aanpak te baseren op strategische documenten die een referentie zijn voor zowel gekozen vertegenwoordigers als gemeentepersoneel.

Het zoeken naar financiering en het opzetten van projecten vereisen specifieke vaardigheden die soms schaars zijn binnen een administratie. Het is dus nuttig om een persoon of een speciale afdeling aan te wijzen die het gemeentepersoneel kan bijstaan in hun inspanningen. De rol van deze persoon is het op elkaar afstemmen van de initiatieven van de verschillende afdelingen, en het laten overeenkomen met het stappenplan dat vooraf werd opgesteld.

Naast het zoeken naar financiering is het essentieel om tests uit te voeren om inspiratie op te doen, te leren en te experimenteren. Dit kan u doen door proefprojecten te ontwikkelen, stedenbouwkundige overgangsprojecten te beoefenen of deel te nemen aan programma's zoals URBACT, waarmee proefprojecten snel kunnen worden uitgevoerd. Deze initiatieven kunnen ook worden benadrukt in uw sollicitaties als bewijs van uw proactieve houding en kennis over het vakgebied.

Als u na het lezen meer structuur wilt aanbrengen in uw aanpak op lokaal niveau, stelt URBACT een aantal hulpmiddelen en gidsen gratis online beschikbaar. https://urbact.eu/toolbox-home/resourcing