Edible Cities Network Integrating Edible City Solutions for social resilient and sustainably productive cities

Project Information

EdiCitNet

Grant agreement ID: 776665

DOI

10.3030/776665

Project closed

EC signature date 4 May 2018

Start date 1 September 2018

End date 29 February 2024

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials

Total cost

€ 11 763 163,52

EU contribution

€ 11 254 912,88

Coordinated by

HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITAET ZU BERLIN
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - EdiCitNet (Edible Cities NetworkIntegrating Edible City Solutions for social resilient and sustainably productive cities)

Reporting period: 2021-09-01 to 2024-02-29

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The systemic use of urban landscapes for food production is a major step towards more sustainable, liveable and healthier cities. A multitude of initiatives around the world are prospering, forming a global movement of Edible Cities. Their products, activities and services—the Edible City Solutions (ECS)—empower local communities to overcome social problems by their inclusive and participatory dynamics and to create green businesses and jobs, thereby generating local economic growth and fostering social cohesion.

The Edible Cities Network (EdiCitNet) project addressed urgent societal challenges in urban areas, including mass urbanisation, social inequity, and overall environmental change. In response to these pressing concerns, EdiCitNet aimed to raise awareness about the concept of ECS.
The project took a multi-stakeholder-oriented and transdisciplinary approach to planning, enabling a formal and comprehensive implementation of project outcomes, while encouraging citizen participation through co-creation. The innovation action was executed in 11 cities across the globe, spanning from China through Europe to South America, the Caribbean and Africa.
Five “Living Lab Cities” (Andernach, Berlin, Oslo, Havana, and Rotterdam) demonstrated their unique experience with their own co-created Living Labs. Seven “Masterplanning Cities” (St. Feliu de Llobregat, Šempeter pri Gorici, Montevideo, Guangzhou, Lomé, Berlin and Carthage) anchored ECS within their urban planning frameworks in order to replicate ECS for citizens’ benefit. In each city, interdisciplinary City Teams (CTs) were established to ensure the implementation of ECS and their anchoring in urban planning. CTs as “local communities of practice and knowledge” served as the backbone of global, regional and local networks of Edible Cities.
The established EdiCitNet Platform strives to continuously expand this network by providing users with information, tools and guidance on ECS and urban food initiatives. The platform and the new MOOC serve as the project’s open and global knowledge base. The EdiCitNet Platform acts as home for urban food initiatives by building a network; promoting collaboration; offering business consultancy; and urban design and planning tools. The platform will prevail as a source of information and connection for everyone interested in urban food initiatives and solutions beyond the project lifetime.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Main results achieved until the end of the project in February 2024:
- CTs underwent further diversification and Living Labs were implemented, closely monitored. Valuable lessons were extracted for potential followers from both CTs and Living Labs.
- The Serious Game was introduced and successfully tested in St. Feliu de Llobregat and Šempeter pri Gorici.
- The EdiCitNet multi-functional platform was established, integrating 3 different former websites: Toolbox, Marketplace, and Community Management Tool into a single, joint point of contact for users.
- The EdiCitNet platform and database now hosts nearly 500 profiles of ECS and more than 90 urban food initiatives, enabling exploration, comparison, design, planning and access to consulting services.
- Additionally, the platform provides a wealth of resources, news, events and opportunities to connect with the community.
- The Transition Pathway Methodology was adapted to seven participating cities and their planning frameworks resulting in seven co-created masterplans.
- To gain a better understanding of (Up)scaling, 131 interviews and surveys were conducted with urban food initiatives from and around our Living Labs.
- Furthermore, 88 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were carried out with urban food initiatives in and around our Living Labs.
- The project network has experienced substantial growth, attracting 2,402 members/newsletter recipients in 33 countries worldwide.
- The project has also contributed to the publication of 37 scientific papers and book/monograph chapters.
- The expansion and growth of the project have led to increased visibility and awareness of ECS and urban food initiatives among diverse international target groups.
- To support urban food initiatives in the 11 participating cities, the project organised 23 Business Model Workshops tailored to their specific needs, along with 12 one-on-one consultancies with various urban food initiatives.
- Multi-day City Exchanges were successfully organised in three of the Living Lab Cities, offering a combination of workshops, networking opportunities, and site visits.
- Collaboration and knowledge exchange between EdiCitNet and other sister projects were strengthened through joint social media campaigns, participation in meetings of the NBS taskforces, and engagement with the European Commission's Horizon Results Booster.
- Over 250 pieces of content for education and dissemination were produced, many of them then translated into the project languages (Arabic, English, French, German, Norwegian, Slovenian and Spanish). These can be found in the resource library on the new platform and were disseminated through the project channels.
- The “Making Cities Edible” MOOC was established and launched, systemically structuring the content created throughout the whole project lifetime and providing tailor-made knowledge for different target audiences. The MOOC, despite its recent launch in mid-February 2024, will be part of a new elective course of the University of Ljubljana.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

- EdiCitNet activities in the 11 participating cities have demonstrated that social impact and inclusive urban regeneration can be achieved through co-creation and the forming of innovative and transdisciplinary local partnerships.
- The project has made significant strides in overcoming the isolation of existing ECS and urban food initiatives. This process includes strengthening the CTs and initiating a transition towards a network-based governance model and structure, dismantling silo-thinking as a barrier for ECS.
- The project has established five diverse Living Labs, each covering various approaches beyond urban landscaping, ranging from network development, increased bottom-up involvement of stakeholders, addressing densification in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods, heightening social value through an incubator model for urban agriculture and increasing food sovereignty and security.
- A long-term platform was set up, featuring an interactive catalogue that facilitates knowledge sharing among practitioners and provides valuable resources and the possibility to connect and network for all stakeholders engaged in the urban food concept.
- The project has gathered valuable insights and lessons learnt on (Up)scaling ECS.
- The project successfully designed and integrated a Serious Game design into the Transition Pathway Methodology.
- EdiCitNet, in collaboration with other sister projects, established its own Dissemination Booster Group to enhance the dissemination of project outcomes.
- EdiCitNet boasts a thriving online presence on social media, strengthening its outreach and engagement.
- Development of Diamond Model tool, the Growing Jobs in Agriculture Playbook and the Consulting Guidebook to support urban food initiatives setting up a successful business and formulating strategies for a resilient, stable, and prosperous future.

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