Aiming to contribute to the development of urban agriculture by evaluating and strengthening existing practices as well as shaping the framework of policies related to it, the new EU-funded project “FOODCITYBOOST” officially started its work on 1 January 2024, with the digital kick-off taking place on 30 January 2024. FOODCITYBOOST includes a multidisciplinary consortium of 20 partners from the following nine EU countries: Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain , Poland and Latvia, led by the Vrije University of Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam). It brings together expertise in the fields of social sciences and humanities, policy analysis, land systems, urban agriculture, and environmental and economic analysis, with the aim of expanding the knowledge base of urban agriculture through a coherent and integrated approach.

FOODCITYBOOST will develop a decision support tool to identify policies related to urban agriculture to achieve its desired growth. This tool includes: 1) The diagnosis of current urban agriculture systems, 2) A tool to assess the sustainability of urban agriculture systems, 3) The spatial analysis of the interconnection between urban and rural areas as well as the possible synergies that can develop between them and 4) Innovative urban agriculture systems and assessing the impact of policy change on future versions of urban and rural agricultural development.

Through its activities, FOODCITYBOOST aspires to respond to the urgent need expressed by policy makers and policy makers to gain knowledge about the benefits, impact and risks associated with urban agriculture.

Urban gardens, rooftop farming and LED indoor crops make up flexible farming systems that are now an integral part of European citizens’ agri-food systems and lifestyles, according to Project Coordinator Pierre Chopin from the Institute IVM, Vrije University of Amsterdam. “However, the multiple benefits they offer and the ways in which policy formulation and practice can Press Release 2 support them and contribute to their development remain unclear. The FOODCITYBOOST project aims to investigate the current and future conditions affecting the development of urban agriculture, as well as the potential impacts of its development, in urban, peri-urban and rural areas. We will work together with all those involved to give impetus to the sustainable development of urban and peri-urban agriculture”, he noted, on the occasion of the launch of the project.

The project connects more than 100 stakeholders through six “living labs” to assess the dynamics of urban agriculture, as well as current and future possible related policies. Consequently, FOODCITYBOOST aims to assist policy makers through the quantified assessment of the impact of urban agriculture. This evaluation will be supported by policy-making briefings to promote innovation related to sustainable urban agriculture practices and enhance collaboration between stakeholders at different scales and locations. To learn more about FOODCITYBOOST follow the project’s social media.