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CULTIVATE: CO-DESIGNING FOOD SHARING INNOVATION FOR RESILIENCE

Project identifier: 2023HE_101083377_CULTIVATE
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Ongoing | 2023 - 2026 Italy, Ireland, Spain, Czechia, Germany, Portugal, Greece, Netherlands, United Kingdom
Ongoing | 2023 - 2026 Italy, Ireland, Spain, Czechia, Germany, Portugal, Greece, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Contexte


Throughout Europe, urban and peri-urban food systems are becoming increasingly precarious and unsustainable. There is an urgent need to transition to more just and sustainable food systems. To address this issue, the CULTIVATE project is developing the so-called Food Sharing Compass platform consisting of five key tools that will be tested and/or replicated in nine cities and locations across the EU. The SHARECITY200 Database maps, tracks and monitors food sharing initiatives (FSIs), the Food Sharing Calculator assesses costs, benefits and impacts, the Menu of Good Governance provides options for policies to facilitate sustainable food sharing, the Library of Citizen Engagement catalogues tools to expand food sharing activity, and a Community of Practice for FSIs.

Objectives

CULTIVATE will achieve several objectives through inter and trans-disciplinary research by using a multi-actor approach and a phased co-design methodology. One of the first purposes of the project is to increase knowledge and awareness of the concept of urban food-sharing and of its impact on the society, the planet, and the economy. Second, selected urban and peri-urban communities will develop and strengthen their food-sharing economies as a step towards more innovative, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient local food system and supply chains. Finally, the studies and tools provided by CULTIVATE will support the prevention and reduction of food waste.

Activities

CULTIVATE uses a multi-actor approach to build sustainability and resilience in urban and peri-urban areas through a ground-breaking online social innovation support platform – The Food Sharing Compass. Built with and for five key stakeholder groups – food sharing initiatives, policy makers, food supply actors, researchers and citizens – the platform will make it possible to navigate diverse food sharing landscapes and cultures, in order to understand, develop, replicate, expand and strengthen sustainable food sharing in Europe, supporting the European Green Deal’s Action Plan, Food 2030, the Farm to Fork Strategy and the EU’s climate change ambitions. The open access Food Sharing Compass will comprise five innovative tools: The SHARECITY200 Database, an interactive automated mapping, tracking and monitoring database of food sharing initiatives that will add more than 100 new locations to the SHARECITY100 Database; The Food Sharing Calculator, which enables comprehensive and holistic assessment of the costs, benefits and impacts of food sharing for all stakeholders; The Menu of Good Governance, which provides options for developing policy making which facilitates sustainable food sharing; The Library of Citizen Engagement, which supports establishing, expanding and maintaining inclusive participation in sustainable food sharing; The sustainable food sharing Community of Practice, which will be established through a bespoke Amplification Programme to optimise the potential for mutual learning and exploitation of the Food Sharing Compass well beyond the project. In essence, CULTIVATE will establish the EU as the global frontrunner in the development of resilient and inclusive food sharing economies, identifying drivers and implementation gaps and challenging existing theories and practices which currently constrain sustainable food sharing.

Project details
Main funding source
Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Type of Horizon project
Multi-actor project
Project acronym
CULTIVATE
CORDIS Fact sheet
Project contribution to CAP specific objectives
  • Protecting food and health quality
  • Fostering knowledge and innovation
Project contribution to EU Strategies
  • Fostering organic farming and/or organic aquaculture, with the aim of increased uptake
  • Improving management of natural resources used by agriculture, such as water, soil and air

EUR 9 079 268.75

Total budget

Total contributions including EU funding.

EUR 9 025 268.50

EU contribution

Any type of EU funding.

Project keyword(s)

Ressources

6 Practice Abstracts

Sustainability reporting for large food corporations is emerging in Europe, but contributions of other food actors, including food sharing initiatives (FSIs) such as community gardens, kitchens and food redistribution initiatives, are rarely captured. Sharing Solutions services support FSIs, municipalities and food supply actors to establish sustainability impacts from food sharing activities. Services include the Toolshed, a free, automated, online Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) tool for FSIs. It comprises 104 indicator questions across 34 impact areas covering social, environmental, economic and governance pillars. Each question is mapped to a relevant Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Through the CULTIVATE project, 12 FSIs, three municipalities and multiple food supply actors in Barcelona, Milan and Utrecht trialled the services. The resulting SIAs indicate that FSIs contribute to 15 of the 17 SDGs and have significant aggregate impact at the UPU scale across all pillars of sustainability. FSIs can register for free on the Sharing Solutions platform to gain access to The Toolshed SIA. Once registered they can complete a starter or main SIA report. FSIs can share their impact reports, videos, and photos on The Talent Garden platform, and they can join The Greenhouse, an online community of practice. Municipalities can use Sharing Solutions to conduct an SIA for their area and food supply actors can commission an SIA of their support for FSIs. Sharing Solutions services enable a greater understanding of UPU food system sustainability. The Toolshed helps FSIs examine their impacts in relation to their goals and SIA reports communicate impacts to key stakeholders including participants, investors, donors and regulators. Municipalities can develop a fuller picture of their food systems to ensure sound policy development. Food supply actors can use Sharing Solutions services to better understand and communicate the impacts created by their supports to FSIs.

Additional information

The co-design of Sharing Solutions services for FSIs has greatly increased the relevance of these resources for this user group. The structure is flexible and can be used by new or established initiatives which can be large or small and working at any stage in the food system from seed sharing to community composting. Challenges include the limited resources often available to FSIs for their existing work which can affect capacity to undertake sustainability reporting. While seen as useful, sustainability reporting is not a mandatory requirement and can feel like an additional burden. The starter SIA was developed to support FSIs with very limited capacity and ‘how-to’ guides are available to help FSIs embed reporting in their daily practices. The additional benefits provided by Sharing Solutions, The Talent Garden and The Greenhouse, support further engagement by potential users. Large-scale food supply actors in Europe are now required to undertake holistic sustainability reporting through the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive  (CSRD). Reporting is organised from company headquarters with individual stores unable to autonomously develop their own strategies. Research found indvidual stores were interested in SIA reporting around their food donations to FSIs, but participation in trials was vetoed at headquarter level. SMEs and micro food supply enterprises will likely be key actors interested in Sharing Solutions services in the future. Additional supports for food supply actors will include guidelines for surplus food donation. Sharing Solutions services form part of CULTIVATE’s Food Sharing Calculator, a tool supporting actors to fully understand the costs, benefits and impacts of FSIs. The Food Sharing Calculator, launching in 2026, forms one point on the Food Sharing Compass, an online decision support platform, to promote resilient and sustainable urban and peri-urban food systems. For further details contact us at: info@sharingsolutions.eu

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Sustainability reporting for large food corporations is emerging in Europe, but contributions of other food actors, including food sharing initiatives (FSIs) such as community gardens, kitchens and food redistribution initiatives, are rarely captured. Sharing Solutions services support FSIs, municipalities and food supply actors to establish sustainability impacts from food sharing activities. Services include the Toolshed, a free, automated, online Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) tool for FSIs. It comprises 104 indicator questions across 34 impact areas covering social, environmental, economic and governance pillars. Each question is mapped to a relevant Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Through the CULTIVATE project, 12 FSIs, three municipalities and multiple food supply actors in Barcelona, Milan and Utrecht trialled the services. The resulting SIAs indicate that FSIs contribute to 15 of the 17 SDGs and have significant aggregate impact at the UPU scale across all pillars of sustainability. FSIs can register for free on the Sharing Solutions platform to gain access to The Toolshed SIA. Once registered they can complete a starter or main SIA report. FSIs can share their impact reports, videos, and photos on The Talent Garden platform, and they can join The Greenhouse, an online community of practice. Municipalities can use Sharing Solutions to conduct an SIA for their area and food supply actors can commission an SIA of their support for FSIs. Sharing Solutions services enable a greater understanding of UPU food system sustainability. The Toolshed helps FSIs examine their impacts in relation to their goals and SIA reports communicate impacts to key stakeholders including participants, investors, donors and regulators. Municipalities can develop a fuller picture of their food systems to ensure sound policy development. Food supply actors can use Sharing Solutions services to better understand and communicate the impacts created by their supports to FSIs.

Additional information

The co-design of Sharing Solutions services for FSIs has greatly increased the relevance of these resources for this user group. The structure is flexible and can be used by new or established initiatives which can be large or small and working at any stage in the food system from seed sharing to community composting. Challenges include the limited resources often available to FSIs for their existing work which can affect capacity to undertake sustainability reporting. While seen as useful, sustainability reporting is not a mandatory requirement and can feel like an additional burden. The starter SIA was developed to support FSIs with very limited capacity and ‘how-to’ guides are available to help FSIs embed reporting in their daily practices. The additional benefits provided by Sharing Solutions, The Talent Garden and The Greenhouse, support further engagement by potential users. Large-scale food supply actors in Europe are now required to undertake holistic sustainability reporting through the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive  (CSRD). Reporting is organised from company headquarters with individual stores unable to autonomously develop their own strategies. Research found indvidual stores were interested in SIA reporting around their food donations to FSIs, but participation in trials was vetoed at headquarter level. SMEs and micro food supply enterprises will likely be key actors interested in Sharing Solutions services in the future. Additional supports for food supply actors will include guidelines for surplus food donation. Sharing Solutions services form part of CULTIVATE’s Food Sharing Calculator, a tool supporting actors to fully understand the costs, benefits and impacts of FSIs. The Food Sharing Calculator, launching in 2026, forms one point on the Food Sharing Compass, an online decision support platform, to promote resilient and sustainable urban and peri-urban food systems. For further details contact us at: info@sharingsolutions.eu

View detail page

The CULTIVATE Food Sharing Stories webinar series provided a platform for 10 Food Sharing Initiatives (FSIs) to exchange experiences, challenges, and strategies for sustainable food sharing. The series fostered a Community of Practice, and highlighted innovative approaches to food saving and redistribution.The CULTIVATE webinar series was structured into three thematic blocks, each addressing critical aspects of food sharing and saving. It was discussed amongst FSIs that food sharing and food saving are often interconnected but conceptually distinct. While food sharing is rooted in community-based practices that seek to bring people together, food saving is primarily concerned with reducing waste and optimizing resource use. The distinction was highlighted throughout the webinar series as FSIs shared their approaches and best practices. Key discussions explored the intersection of food sharing and saving, emphasizing community-building, sustainability, and logistics. FSIs addressed challenges such as legal barriers, financial sustainability, volunteer retention, and regulatory complexities while showcasing solutions like digital platforms, alternative funding models, and policy advocacy. One core theme was the systemic failure of global food distribution and how FSIs combat food waste, CO₂ emissions, and social inequality. Technical solutions were key, with FSIs integrating food rescue apps, automated tracking systems, and digital logistics tools. Discussions also focused on scaling initiatives, ensuring financial stability through social enterprises, cooperative memberships, crowdfunding, leveraging storytelling and media outreach for public engagement. FSIs also emphasized education and volunteer engagement, particularly involving schools and youth, through food education activties. Advocacy for clearer legal frameworks was a recurring theme, highlighting the need for policies that support food sharing rather than hinder through regulations.

Additional information

Common obstacles FSIs noted were logistics, regulation, and fundraising as well as legal frameworks both on local and national level that hinder sharing and saving of food from being wasted. For example, a major concern voiced was how to balance financial stability when collaborating with corporate sector while maintaining grassroots values and accessibility to avoid greenwashing. It was suggested that future research should focus on measuring the long-term impact of FSIs on food waste reduction, community resilience, and social inclusion. Comparative studies on different food-sharing models and their effectiveness in various socio-economic and regulatory environments would provide valuable insights on the challenges and good practices to overcome them. Research on policy frameworks that best support FSIs, including liability protection, tax incentives, and streamlined food safety regulations, has also been crucial for creating an enabling environment for food sharing iniatives. Additionally, examining the role of digital tools in enhancing operational efficiency, tracking food redistribution, and engaging volunteers would support further innovation and help to upscale activties. Future actions should prioritize strengthening collaborations between FSIs, policymakers, and businesses to create sustainable funding models and secure infrastructure, such as storage facilities and distribution networks since FSIs have proven to be resilient food instrastructures during times of crises such as COVID-19. Efforts should also focus on advocacy and public awareness to drive regulatory changes and improve food-sharing acceptance and inclusion in the policies on food waste reduction. Expanding education initiatives in schools and universities can instill a culture of sustainability from an early age. Lastly, creating a centralized knowledge hub where FSIs can share best practices and legal guidance would foster ongoing innovation and a stronger Community of Practice.

View detail page

The CULTIVATE Food Sharing Stories webinar series provided a platform for 10 Food Sharing Initiatives (FSIs) to exchange experiences, challenges, and strategies for sustainable food sharing. The series fostered a Community of Practice, and highlighted innovative approaches to food saving and redistribution.The CULTIVATE webinar series was structured into three thematic blocks, each addressing critical aspects of food sharing and saving. It was discussed amongst FSIs that food sharing and food saving are often interconnected but conceptually distinct. While food sharing is rooted in community-based practices that seek to bring people together, food saving is primarily concerned with reducing waste and optimizing resource use. The distinction was highlighted throughout the webinar series as FSIs shared their approaches and best practices. Key discussions explored the intersection of food sharing and saving, emphasizing community-building, sustainability, and logistics. FSIs addressed challenges such as legal barriers, financial sustainability, volunteer retention, and regulatory complexities while showcasing solutions like digital platforms, alternative funding models, and policy advocacy. One core theme was the systemic failure of global food distribution and how FSIs combat food waste, CO₂ emissions, and social inequality. Technical solutions were key, with FSIs integrating food rescue apps, automated tracking systems, and digital logistics tools. Discussions also focused on scaling initiatives, ensuring financial stability through social enterprises, cooperative memberships, crowdfunding, leveraging storytelling and media outreach for public engagement. FSIs also emphasized education and volunteer engagement, particularly involving schools and youth, through food education activties. Advocacy for clearer legal frameworks was a recurring theme, highlighting the need for policies that support food sharing rather than hinder through regulations.

Additional information

Common obstacles FSIs noted were logistics, regulation, and fundraising as well as legal frameworks both on local and national level that hinder sharing and saving of food from being wasted. For example, a major concern voiced was how to balance financial stability when collaborating with corporate sector while maintaining grassroots values and accessibility to avoid greenwashing. It was suggested that future research should focus on measuring the long-term impact of FSIs on food waste reduction, community resilience, and social inclusion. Comparative studies on different food-sharing models and their effectiveness in various socio-economic and regulatory environments would provide valuable insights on the challenges and good practices to overcome them. Research on policy frameworks that best support FSIs, including liability protection, tax incentives, and streamlined food safety regulations, has also been crucial for creating an enabling environment for food sharing iniatives. Additionally, examining the role of digital tools in enhancing operational efficiency, tracking food redistribution, and engaging volunteers would support further innovation and help to upscale activties. Future actions should prioritize strengthening collaborations between FSIs, policymakers, and businesses to create sustainable funding models and secure infrastructure, such as storage facilities and distribution networks since FSIs have proven to be resilient food instrastructures during times of crises such as COVID-19. Efforts should also focus on advocacy and public awareness to drive regulatory changes and improve food-sharing acceptance and inclusion in the policies on food waste reduction. Expanding education initiatives in schools and universities can instill a culture of sustainability from an early age. Lastly, creating a centralized knowledge hub where FSIs can share best practices and legal guidance would foster ongoing innovation and a stronger Community of Practice.

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The Food Waste Hubs is an urban-scale model of food recovery aiming to reduce food waste and promote social equity by redistributing it to people in need. The City of Milan partnered with Polytechnic University, Assolombarda, Fondazione Cariplo, Fondazione Snam, and some 25 civil society organisations to provide the city with a polycentric and capillary logistic system able to cover diverse types of food donors and reach recipients in every district. The programme leveraged a combination of favourable elements like a robust legal framework, a favourable policy environment and a committed public engagement. 

Key challenges included coordinating among diverse stakeholders and ensuring efficient logistics. Opportunities involved enhancing community engagement and establishing sustainable models for other cities. 

In 2024, the network expanded from five to eight hubs, recovering 795.3 tons of food—a 25% increase from 615 tons. In 2023 this effort reached 14,973 households, benefiting over 126,000 individuals, including 3,867 minors, equating to approximately 1.59 million meals and serving 176 associations.

The Foody Zero Waste Hub at the Sogemi food market was particularly effective, collecting over 440 tons of food through collaborations with 99 wholesalers, benefiting over 100 third-sector organizations.

Milan's approach showcases the effectiveness of localized food waste interventions and highlighted some recommendations for replicating:

• Forge partnerships among municipal authorities, private entities, and non-profits to enhance resource sharing and coordinated efforts.

• Implement volunteer programs and awareness campaigns to foster a culture of sustainability and collective responsibility.

• Introduce supportive policies, such as tax incentives for businesses donating surplus food, to encourage broader participation and investment in food recovery initiatives.

Additional information

Milan's Food Waste Hubs have significantly advanced efforts to reduce food waste and promote social equity. However, challenges persist:

  1. Data Sharing Reluctance: Stakeholders—including food companies, retailers, NGOs, and public entities—often hesitate to share data, hindering transparency and collaboration.
  2. Political Dependence: The success of these initiatives relies heavily on political support; shifts in leadership could impact funding and priorities.
  3. Resource Constraints: Potential issues like reduced food supply, volunteer shortages, and fluctuating demand threaten the sustainability of food recovery efforts.

Suggested Actions:

a) Enhance Data Transparency:

  •    Standardize Reporting: Develop uniform metrics to facilitate consistent data collection and sharing.
  • Implement Digital Platforms: Create secure systems for real-time data exchange among stakeholders.
  • Provide Training: Educate stakeholders on the benefits and methods of effective data sharing.

b). Address Resource Challenges:

  •    Diversify Funding: Explore various funding sources to ensure financial stability.
  • Recruit Volunteers: Develop incentive programs to attract and retain volunteers.
  • Utilize Forecasting: Employ data analytics to anticipate and manage fluctuations in food demand and supply.

c) Messages to End Users:

  • Embrace Sharing: Recognize the impact of sharing surplus food, understanding that small contributions can significantly aid community well-being.
  • Participate Actively: Engage with local food recovery programs, volunteer, and support initiatives aimed at reducing food waste.
  • Advocate for Change: Stay informed about food waste challenges and promote policies and practices that foster sustainability and equity.

By addressing these challenges and implementing the proposed actions, Milan can enhance the effectiveness of its Food Waste Hubs, ensuring a sustainable and equitable food system.

View detail page

The Food Waste Hubs is an urban-scale model of food recovery aiming to reduce food waste and promote social equity by redistributing it to people in need. The City of Milan partnered with Polytechnic University, Assolombarda, Fondazione Cariplo, Fondazione Snam, and some 25 civil society organisations to provide the city with a polycentric and capillary logistic system able to cover diverse types of food donors and reach recipients in every district. The programme leveraged a combination of favourable elements like a robust legal framework, a favourable policy environment and a committed public engagement. 

Key challenges included coordinating among diverse stakeholders and ensuring efficient logistics. Opportunities involved enhancing community engagement and establishing sustainable models for other cities. 

In 2024, the network expanded from five to eight hubs, recovering 795.3 tons of food—a 25% increase from 615 tons. In 2023 this effort reached 14,973 households, benefiting over 126,000 individuals, including 3,867 minors, equating to approximately 1.59 million meals and serving 176 associations.

The Foody Zero Waste Hub at the Sogemi food market was particularly effective, collecting over 440 tons of food through collaborations with 99 wholesalers, benefiting over 100 third-sector organizations.

Milan's approach showcases the effectiveness of localized food waste interventions and highlighted some recommendations for replicating:

• Forge partnerships among municipal authorities, private entities, and non-profits to enhance resource sharing and coordinated efforts.

• Implement volunteer programs and awareness campaigns to foster a culture of sustainability and collective responsibility.

• Introduce supportive policies, such as tax incentives for businesses donating surplus food, to encourage broader participation and investment in food recovery initiatives.

Additional information

Milan's Food Waste Hubs have significantly advanced efforts to reduce food waste and promote social equity. However, challenges persist:

  1. Data Sharing Reluctance: Stakeholders—including food companies, retailers, NGOs, and public entities—often hesitate to share data, hindering transparency and collaboration.
  2. Political Dependence: The success of these initiatives relies heavily on political support; shifts in leadership could impact funding and priorities.
  3. Resource Constraints: Potential issues like reduced food supply, volunteer shortages, and fluctuating demand threaten the sustainability of food recovery efforts.

Suggested Actions:

a) Enhance Data Transparency:

  •    Standardize Reporting: Develop uniform metrics to facilitate consistent data collection and sharing.
  • Implement Digital Platforms: Create secure systems for real-time data exchange among stakeholders.
  • Provide Training: Educate stakeholders on the benefits and methods of effective data sharing.

b). Address Resource Challenges:

  •    Diversify Funding: Explore various funding sources to ensure financial stability.
  • Recruit Volunteers: Develop incentive programs to attract and retain volunteers.
  • Utilize Forecasting: Employ data analytics to anticipate and manage fluctuations in food demand and supply.

c) Messages to End Users:

  • Embrace Sharing: Recognize the impact of sharing surplus food, understanding that small contributions can significantly aid community well-being.
  • Participate Actively: Engage with local food recovery programs, volunteer, and support initiatives aimed at reducing food waste.
  • Advocate for Change: Stay informed about food waste challenges and promote policies and practices that foster sustainability and equity.

By addressing these challenges and implementing the proposed actions, Milan can enhance the effectiveness of its Food Waste Hubs, ensuring a sustainable and equitable food system.

View detail page

Food sharing is experiencing rapid growth in cities throughout Europe, presenting significant opportunities to promote sustainability and equity within urban food systems. The Food Sharing Governance Landscape Analysis in Barcelona seeks to deepen the understanding of the governance landscape surrounding various food sharing initiatives, including community gardens, food waste recovery and redistribution initiatives, and initiatives emerging from the social and solidarity economy. The evidence of this report is based on primary and secondary data, mainly relying on a combination of document analysis and interviews with key stakeholders to understand which critical elements shape the governance of food-sharing initiatives in Barcelona. The report examines the regulatory frameworks that impact the initiatives in these three areas, the key actors involved, their relations, and the diversity of the projects emerging in each of these three food sharing areas. Moreover, it identifies the primary beneficiaries of food sharing initiatives and characterises the barriers and enablers that affect their success. Ultimately, for each of these three areas, the report offers recommendations for local governments, food-sharing initiatives, and the private sector to foster their development and maximise the impact of these community efforts in terms of sustainability and equity.

Additional information
  • Barcelona's tradition of self-mobilization and solidarity bolsters food sharing initiatives.
  • To thrive, food sharing initiatives require stable funding and spaces, visibility, and enhanced collaboration to expand its impact.
  • Urban development and gentrification pose significant challenges, necessitating further regulation and support to secure spaces for these initiatives.
  • While political commitment exists to support food sharing initiatives, improving institutional coherence, coordination and implementation of regulation is essential.
  • Food sharing initiatives would benefit from a unified strategy by food sharing area.
  • Overall, food sharing initiatives hold great potential for transforming Barcelona's food system.
View detail page

Food sharing is experiencing rapid growth in cities throughout Europe, presenting significant opportunities to promote sustainability and equity within urban food systems. The Food Sharing Governance Landscape Analysis in Barcelona seeks to deepen the understanding of the governance landscape surrounding various food sharing initiatives, including community gardens, food waste recovery and redistribution initiatives, and initiatives emerging from the social and solidarity economy. The evidence of this report is based on primary and secondary data, mainly relying on a combination of document analysis and interviews with key stakeholders to understand which critical elements shape the governance of food-sharing initiatives in Barcelona. The report examines the regulatory frameworks that impact the initiatives in these three areas, the key actors involved, their relations, and the diversity of the projects emerging in each of these three food sharing areas. Moreover, it identifies the primary beneficiaries of food sharing initiatives and characterises the barriers and enablers that affect their success. Ultimately, for each of these three areas, the report offers recommendations for local governments, food-sharing initiatives, and the private sector to foster their development and maximise the impact of these community efforts in terms of sustainability and equity.

Additional information
  • Barcelona's tradition of self-mobilization and solidarity bolsters food sharing initiatives.
  • To thrive, food sharing initiatives require stable funding and spaces, visibility, and enhanced collaboration to expand its impact.
  • Urban development and gentrification pose significant challenges, necessitating further regulation and support to secure spaces for these initiatives.
  • While political commitment exists to support food sharing initiatives, improving institutional coherence, coordination and implementation of regulation is essential.
  • Food sharing initiatives would benefit from a unified strategy by food sharing area.
  • Overall, food sharing initiatives hold great potential for transforming Barcelona's food system.
View detail page

Food sharing offers numerous social, economic, and environmental benefits. To make these benefits more accessible, we research, test, and co-create tools and games that can support citizen engagement and social inclusion in food sharing initiatives. These are collected in the Library of Citizen Engagement. In the city of Utrecht we have co-created  serious games with food sharing initaitives (FSIs) to stimulate citizen engagement in food sharing. The games support citizen enagement by helping people connect and learn from one another and have a good time while learning about topics such as growing together, cooking and eating together, and the prevention and redistribution of food waste. Four serious game prototypes were designed. "Oma komt's eraan" is a children's game about foraging and composting in an edible neighborhood. "Let's Eat" is a game about the edible neigbourhood of Rijnvliet. "Common Ground" has been co-designed and tested with urban gardening initiatives. And the "Futures of Food Sharing" card deck game is growing with the CULTIVATE project. Practitioners can use these games to engage with citizens and find new volunteers or interested parties to work with. For example, "Future of Food Sharing", can be used with policy makers to create better futures for food sharing, while "Common Ground" gives players a sense of what it means to build and mantain an urban garden, teaching players about the challenges they will encounter in real life. In "Let's Eat" players learn about the edible wild plants growing in Rijnvliet, as well as harvesting, cooking, preservation, and maintainance. All of the games bring people together, who may not have come together otherwise. The games will be available for print and play through the Library of Citizen Engagement, and can be played in public, private, and community settings. We do reccommend using them in combination with other citizen engagement tools, with dedicated community space, and a game host or facilitator. 

Additional information

Future actions will be the replication of the games for spoke cities of the consortium CULTIVATE. 

View detail page

Food sharing offers numerous social, economic, and environmental benefits. To make these benefits more accessible, we research, test, and co-create tools and games that can support citizen engagement and social inclusion in food sharing initiatives. These are collected in the Library of Citizen Engagement. In the city of Utrecht we have co-created  serious games with food sharing initaitives (FSIs) to stimulate citizen engagement in food sharing. The games support citizen enagement by helping people connect and learn from one another and have a good time while learning about topics such as growing together, cooking and eating together, and the prevention and redistribution of food waste. Four serious game prototypes were designed. "Oma komt's eraan" is a children's game about foraging and composting in an edible neighborhood. "Let's Eat" is a game about the edible neigbourhood of Rijnvliet. "Common Ground" has been co-designed and tested with urban gardening initiatives. And the "Futures of Food Sharing" card deck game is growing with the CULTIVATE project. Practitioners can use these games to engage with citizens and find new volunteers or interested parties to work with. For example, "Future of Food Sharing", can be used with policy makers to create better futures for food sharing, while "Common Ground" gives players a sense of what it means to build and mantain an urban garden, teaching players about the challenges they will encounter in real life. In "Let's Eat" players learn about the edible wild plants growing in Rijnvliet, as well as harvesting, cooking, preservation, and maintainance. All of the games bring people together, who may not have come together otherwise. The games will be available for print and play through the Library of Citizen Engagement, and can be played in public, private, and community settings. We do reccommend using them in combination with other citizen engagement tools, with dedicated community space, and a game host or facilitator. 

Additional information

Future actions will be the replication of the games for spoke cities of the consortium CULTIVATE. 

View detail page

Data on urban and peri-urban (UPU) food system actors and organisations is incomplete. An essential prerequisite for transitioning UPU food systems towards sustainability is comprehensive information about the food initiatives which operate within them. While online directories of commercial food businesses exist in many UPU areas, food sharing initiatives (FSIs) such as community gardens, kitchens and food redistribution initiatives rarely appear in these. The CULTIVATE project has developed an automated mapping tool to help close this knowledge gap. The Food Sharing Map developed in CULTIVATE uses AI queries to identify, classify and map FSIs in specific UPU areas. The European Food Sharing Dictionary was used to ensure correct terminology in native languages for this process. The resulting map is interactive. Users can search for FSIs by location, food sharing activity - growing, cooking, eating, redistributing - and by the mode of sharing used, e.g. gifting, bartering, collecting and selling. The CULTIVATE project will map 200 UPU by the end of the project globally. The Food Sharing Map is open access and free to use. It can be used by: citizens looking for opportunities to get engaged in food sharing; FSIs who wish to connect with other FSIs in their UPU; food supply actors looking for recipients for food donations; and municipalities wishing to know the type and distribution of FSIs across an UPU area to help inform and evaluate their policies. Adding new FSIs to mapped cities is easily accommodated. Functionality for UPU expansion is being incorporated within the AI tool and can be requested for a fee.

Additional information

The Food Sharing Map is underpinned by a novel AI tool which uses the European Food Sharing Dictionary to generate bespoke queries for searching online for FSIs. It is not entirely automated. The AI tool still requires manual checking to ensure only eligible FSIs are mapped. AI technology is moving fast and this can be both a challenge and an opportunity. A challenge because the Food Sharing Map has been built and tested with the available technologies which are rapidly evolving over time. Access to, and costs of, AI technologies also remain uncertain and may become prohibitive for non-commercial use or if open access tools are removed. The Food Sharing Map functionality can be combined with other CULTIVATE tools. For example Sharing Solutions services, part of the Food Sharing Calculator tool in CULTIVATE can combine UPU mapping with sustainability impact assessment data which may be of interest to municipalities seeking to understand the impacts of their investments in FSIs. Expansion of the Food Sharing Map to cover additional UPU is possible but will incur costs.

View detail page

Data on urban and peri-urban (UPU) food system actors and organisations is incomplete. An essential prerequisite for transitioning UPU food systems towards sustainability is comprehensive information about the food initiatives which operate within them. While online directories of commercial food businesses exist in many UPU areas, food sharing initiatives (FSIs) such as community gardens, kitchens and food redistribution initiatives rarely appear in these. The CULTIVATE project has developed an automated mapping tool to help close this knowledge gap. The Food Sharing Map developed in CULTIVATE uses AI queries to identify, classify and map FSIs in specific UPU areas. The European Food Sharing Dictionary was used to ensure correct terminology in native languages for this process. The resulting map is interactive. Users can search for FSIs by location, food sharing activity - growing, cooking, eating, redistributing - and by the mode of sharing used, e.g. gifting, bartering, collecting and selling. The CULTIVATE project will map 200 UPU by the end of the project globally. The Food Sharing Map is open access and free to use. It can be used by: citizens looking for opportunities to get engaged in food sharing; FSIs who wish to connect with other FSIs in their UPU; food supply actors looking for recipients for food donations; and municipalities wishing to know the type and distribution of FSIs across an UPU area to help inform and evaluate their policies. Adding new FSIs to mapped cities is easily accommodated. Functionality for UPU expansion is being incorporated within the AI tool and can be requested for a fee.

Additional information

The Food Sharing Map is underpinned by a novel AI tool which uses the European Food Sharing Dictionary to generate bespoke queries for searching online for FSIs. It is not entirely automated. The AI tool still requires manual checking to ensure only eligible FSIs are mapped. AI technology is moving fast and this can be both a challenge and an opportunity. A challenge because the Food Sharing Map has been built and tested with the available technologies which are rapidly evolving over time. Access to, and costs of, AI technologies also remain uncertain and may become prohibitive for non-commercial use or if open access tools are removed. The Food Sharing Map functionality can be combined with other CULTIVATE tools. For example Sharing Solutions services, part of the Food Sharing Calculator tool in CULTIVATE can combine UPU mapping with sustainability impact assessment data which may be of interest to municipalities seeking to understand the impacts of their investments in FSIs. Expansion of the Food Sharing Map to cover additional UPU is possible but will incur costs.

View detail page

Contacts

Project email

Project coordinator

  • THE PROVOST, FELLOWS, FOUNDATION SCHOLARS & THE OTHER MEMBERS OF BOARD, OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLIN

    Project coordinator

    secretary@tcd.ie Website Civil servant, Other

Project partners

  • ICLEI EUROPEAN SECRETARIAT

    Project partner

    Website Other

  • LUNDS UNIVERSITET

    Project partner

    Website Other

  • WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY

    Project partner

    Website Others

  • UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA

    Project partner

    Website Other

  • ADAPT

    Project partner

    Website Research institute

  • ICONS

    Project partner

    Website Others

  • GEMEENTE UTRECHT

    Project partner

    Website Public Authority

  • COMUNE DI MILANO

    Project partner

    Website Public Authority

  • PLAN ESTRATEGIC METROPOLITA DE BARCELONA

    Project partner

    Website Public Authority

  • ESPIGOLADORS

    Project partner

    Website Other

  • CASCOLAND

    Project partner

    Website Other

  • UPFARMING

    Project partner

    Website Other

  • FOODCLOUD

    Project partner

    Website Other

  • DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL

    Project partner

    Website Public Authority

  • ZUSAMMEN LEBEN

    Project partner

    Website Other

  • BOROUME

    Project partner

    Website Other

  • NESHENUTI

    Project partner

    Website Other

  • BRIGHTON & HOVE FOOD PARTNERSHIP

    Project partner

    Website Other