National Network of Cities for Agroecology
Supporting the development of urban food policies
January 2019
Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso (FDNC)
Towards a Europe of territorial food systems ?
This study is extracted from the analysis of twenty-two French and Spanish projects related to new food models, all highlighting different challenges.
In Spain, governance is being built, while French food systems are looking for solutions to change scale. But in both countries, accessibility remains the weak link.
The National Network of Cities for Agroecology aims to develop food policies through the strengthening of cohesion, the creation of an operational working space, and the development of a common and shared strategy.
The National Network of Cities for Agroecology is composed of twenty-one municipalities, most of them urban. All of them are committed to basing their food systems on the principles of agroecology, giving priority to the consumption of local products. To carry out its mission, the network uses participatory processes. All of its concrete learnings are shared and disseminated during workshops and webinars. The member municipalities of the National Network of Cities for Agroecology are : Barcelona, Carcaboso, Cordoba, El Prat de Llobregat, Fuenlabrada, Godella, Granollers, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Lleida, Madrid, Manresa, Meliana, Murcia, Navás, Oviedo, Palma de Mallorca, Pamplona, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Valencia, Valladolid and Zaragoza.
In Spain, cities and local administrations play a key role in the implementation of sustainable food policies. They share similar origins dating back to the 2000s, with the development of initiatives and movements for agroecology and food sovereignty by civil society. These are finding a favourable echo in local governments, especially after the political changes that took place in 2015 in Spanish municipalities. A new phase is beginning with the signing, by a significant number of Spanish cities, of the Milan International Urban Food Policy Pact. The creation of a National Network of Cities for Agroecology is necessary to boost and strengthen food policies in the country’s cities. It responds to the need to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience and stimulates the creation of innovations in the development of this type of project. The National Network of Cities for Agroecology has been promoted by the Entretantos Foundation and Zaragoza City Council. The Foundation is in charge of the management and technical secretariat of the network. Alongside it, a driving group is made up of eight municipalities: Zaragoza, Valencia, El Prat de Llobregat, Pamplona-Iruña, Madrid, Cordoba, Fuenlabrada and Murcia.
These cities monitor and drive the network. Participation is open to technical staff, researchers and elected representatives and associations working on food, who collaborate with the local member entities.
Tools and work spaces… operational!
For the National Network of Cities for Agroecology, certain practices are essential to the dynamics of a food policy: the identification of the difficulties and needs of the territory, the adaptation of work tools, collective decision-making, investment in national and international networks and communication.