Transforming urban food landscapes for a sustainable future

Urban food systems are under growing pressure from climate change, food insecurity and social inequalities. REDESIGN develops new approaches to connect local food production and consumption, aiming to strengthen sustainability, participation and resilience in cities.

Many urban residents lack access to healthy food, particularly vulnerable groups. At the same time, conventional food supply chains are often not adapted to local needs or sustainable practices.

REDESIGN support the transformation of Food Value Systems (FVS) – locally anchored systems that integrate food production, consumption, exchange and resource recovery in urban and peri-urban areas. The aim is to strengthen green infrastructure, support urban agriculture, improve living environments and contribute to climate mitigation by linking food systems with the built environment.

The project brings together three types of cases: cities with established best practices (“observation cases”), pilot cities where solutions are implemented (“implementation cases”), and a broader network of cities that contribute to learning and policy development.

In the pilot cities, Living Labs are established where researchers, municipalities and local stakeholders co-create and test solutions in practice. These focus on areas such as nutrient recovery and food production, multifunctional food labs, and local food policy councils. Special attention is given to engaging vulnerable groups.

A central method is a “learning loop”, where experiences are continuously shared between cities, tested and further developed. This enables innovation across the entire food system and supports both local implementation and international knowledge exchange.

The project will result in strengthened local food systems, three Living Labs and a scalable methodology that can be applied in other cities and contexts.

Red more about REDESIGN on the project website External link, opens in new window.