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Cities2030
Cities2030 fosters the co-creation of resilient, sustainable, and innovative urban food systems
within the framework of FOOD2030. Employing a multi-actor approach, the project designs progressive policies, formulates action plans, and orchestrates experiments involving researchers, companies, public authorities, civic societies, and citizens.
Consumer choices have the power to guide sustainable shifts in the market. Food system stakeholders engage in a transdisciplinary Alliance and an interactive learning journey that empowers city leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and experts to collaboratively construct a citizen-centred model.
An Observatory is established to perceive the urban food system as an interconnected entity, weaving scattered initiatives into comprehensive policies and pioneering
strategies. Furthermore, technologically advanced, and exploitable tools are devised to bolster innovation in the food chain.
Operating through result-driven CRFS Policy and Living Labs, the project propels policy enhancements and innovations, steering leadership towards investments that facilitate a sustainable CRFS transition.
Latest news
Stakeholder Dialogue on Reducing Agriculture’s Carbon Footprint in Skopje
The Stakeholder Dialogue on Reducing Agriculture’s Carbon Footprint event took place on 17.04.2024 in Skopje, North Macedonia, organized by AgFutura Technologies and supported by GGP,
Vidzeme Living Lab: Representatives from Vidzeme municipalities (Latvia) learn about the city and county of Tartu’s (Estonia) experience with organic food in school and kindergarten meals
From April 8 to 9, Vidzeme municipalities specialists, Vidzeme Planning Region, and Latvian Rural Forum representatives participated in a study tour to Tartu City and County, Estonia, as part of the Cities 2030 Vidzeme Living Lab. The tour aimed to learn about experience in Estonia organizing procurements at educational institutions, including organic food products into their menus, meal planning, and food waste reduction.
‘Clear as glass’ – Integrated Pest Management 2024
Integrated Pest Management in the spotlight during ‘Clear as glass’ The latest edition of Clear as glass, held on Thursday 8 February, focused on integrated
Tasteful change: a farm-to-table conversation
Will you still be eating plant-based tomorrow? Or will you opt for half and half? This seems to be the question when it comes to
Vidzeme Living Lab: Discussion on school catering issues and how to promote healthier food choices
On January 9, the project CITIES2030 Vidzeme Living Lab took place in the restaurant “Pavāru māja” (Cook’s House) in Līgatne (Latvia). The restaurant was awarded the MICHELIN Green Star 2024 for its commitment to sustainable practices.
Agriculture 4.0: Digital or Knowledge revolution?
Marco Brini, Digital Agriculture expert from Switzerland was a key speaker at the Regional Event “Digital Technologies in Sustainable Food Systems”held in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Regional Event – Digital Technologies in Sustainable Food Systems
Food Systems Dialogues (FSDs) are a global series of facilitated round table discussions that encourage collective action for transforming food systems. These dialogues provide an
Digital technologies in a sustainable food system – Cities2030 project conference – North Macedonia
To explore the transformative power of digital technologies in agriculture, LAB Velika Gorica partners recently gathered at the two-day international FSD conference “Digital Technologies in Sustainable Food Systems” in North Macedonia, 14-15 November 2023.
Vidzeme Lab: Steps towards changes in the food system in Latvia
The international forum “Mission: Establishing a Bioregion in the Gauja National Park” was held on 25 October in Sigulda, Culture Centre “Siguldas devons”. Vidzeme Planning Region, Cēsis Municipality, Sigulda Municipality, the Association “Greenfest”, Latvian Rural Advisory and Education Centre were the main organizers of the forum. Experts from Latvia and abroad gathered to present the bioregion concept and activities in Europe, and to share inspiring examples of forward-thinking regional development.
Cities2030 Consortium
A broad, integrated, and transdisciplinary consortium comprising 41 partners and 3 linked parties, coordinated by the University of Ca’ Foscari of Venice, is currently developing the Cities2030 project, for the co-creation of resilient, sustainable, and innovative urban food systems within the framework of FOOD2030. Universities, research centres, cities, regions, development agencies, cultural and social associations, companies and experts, active in the FOOD SYSTEM are actively co-operating with the main goal to innovate FOOD POLICIES and sustainable PRACTICES, advacing new
patterns, techniques and digital. The Consortium is experimenting with new governance models, placing consumers in the core of their actions to improve the sustainability of pilot CRFS (City Regions Food Systems) and evolve the pilot Living Labs, assuming to reach 50 CRFS LABS willing to follow the project and its results.
Vision
The project Cities2030 envisions a future where city-regions worldwide embrace sustainable, healthy, and inclusive food systems. Aligned with FOOD 2030, the New Urban Agenda, and SDG 11, it pioneers policy solutions, using multi-actor participation and system thinking. CRFS LABS are hubs for evidence-based policy-making. Action plans, co-designed by government departments, align with FOOD 2030 goals. Digital tools enhance efficiency. An Alliance and expert groups drive policy innovation. Over 50 CRFS Labs form a global network, advocating for sustainable food systems. The project promotes behavioural change for healthy diets, responsible production, and consumption, fostering long-term transformation.
Approach
Cities2030 promotes citizen engagement, transforming passive consumers into motivated change agents through a trusted City-Region Food System (CRFS). This approach fosters connections within the rural-urban context, addressing the entire value chain from production to waste management. It advances dynamic relationships between livelihoods, economic development, food security, nutrition, social inclusion, equity, and resilience within a multi-scale framework encompassing economic, environmental, and social conditions. Cities 2030’s approach is built on these principles, aiming for holistic, sustainable urban food systems.
Results
Over a span of four years partners will be working on developing labs, conducting a series of experiments and creating smart-tools aimed at enhancing policies and practises within the CRFS. Within a large actionable, deployable and transferable result framework, the following key results will be achieved:
CRFS Alliance
The CRFS Alliance is a network of actors and stakeholders, encompassing the food value chain. It operates as a community of practice and as a platform for know-how exchange
CRFS Observatory
The CRFS Observatory is an open-access platform where users can readily access comprehensive information, studies, policies and food-related data.
CRFS Labs
CRFS policy and living labs have been developed to introduce innovative policies and to facilitate the co-creation and the testing of sustainable innovative solutions.Explore the outcomes of these labs on the community platform
City-scale pilots
A series of city-scale pilots have been initiated to test the proposed frameworks and to extraxct valuable insights for their validation
Systems thinking
An innovative and tailored System Thinking methodology to collaboratively address problem-solving challanges in the food sector with a specific focus on CRFS dimention will be introduced
Data-driven CRFS
Smart Tools, including cradle-to-cradle data-driven solutions and Digital CRFS Management Platform based on Blockchain Technology will be designed and delivered