By RFF
The FOODCITYBOOST consortium convened in Gembloux from 22 to 23 May 2025 for its second physical meeting. Hosted by Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech and organized by the Centre de Recherches en Agriculture Urbaine (C-RAU) of the University of Liège, the two-day event brought together 20 partners from across Europe to assess progress, align strategies, and co-design the next steps for this Horizon Europe-funded initiative, which began in January 2024.
The meeting followed the highly successful URBAgr’inn Days, held between 19 and 21 May 2025, an international flagship event dedicated to showcasing pioneering innovations in urban agriculture. Hosted at the University of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, the event was organized by the Wasabi 2.0 Strategic Innovation Initiative and featured guided visits to the university’s WASABI experimental platform, a five-hectare Walloon hub for innovative systems in urban agriculture and biodiversity.
Highlights from URBAgr’inn Days
Urbagr’inn Days brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from Europe and beyond. The symposium was built around the following thematic pillars:
• Resource-smart urban agriculture, focusing on vertical farming, aquaponics, circular systems, and renewable energy
• Sustainable economic viability, exploring models that align profitability with ecological impact
• Innovative governance, highlighting public policies and cross-sector strategies to facilitate land and resource access
• Resilient territorial planning, examining how urban space can support multifunctional agricultural projects
• Collaborative ecosystems, emphasizing co-creation, innovation platforms, and community-based networks
Significant contributions came from Jess Halliday (Resource Centers on Urban Agriculture and Forestry initiative), Marga Vintges (Strategic Advisor to the Municipality of Westland), and FOODCITYBOOST members, Haïssam Jijakli (University of Liège), Guillaume Morel-Chevillet (ASTREDHOR Institut des professionnels du végétal), Jan Eelco Jansma (Wageningen University and Research), Veronica Arcas Pilz (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Monika Onyszkiewicz (Fundacja EkoRozwoju), who led discussions on governance, sustainable design, and resilient food systems, reinforcing a shared vision of scaling impactful urban agriculture solutions. A particular highlight was the active participation of all six FOODCITYBOOST Living Labs, which presented their strategies and engaged in co-learning sessions. Their contributions reflected the project’s commitment to participatory innovation, collaboration, and practical impact. Urbagr’inn Days also helped set the tone for the consortium meeting that followed, reinforcing shared goals and operational synergies.
Highlights from the 2nd Consortium Meeting
The FOODCITYBOOST consortium meeting held on 22–23 May 2025 opened with coordinator Pierre Chopin (VU Amsterdam) setting the tone for reflection, challenge-solving, and stronger collaboration. The first day featured presentations from all partners reviewing roles, achievements, and obstacles, alongside detailed Living Lab updates that showcased on-the-ground progress. A strategic communication session by Christopher Kennard (reframe.food) provided tools to boost outreach and collaboration within the sector, while rotating breakout discussions enabled partners to engage deeply with themes like governance, co-design, data, and urban sustainability. The day concluded with a hands-on tour of the WASABI experimental platform, demonstrating cutting-edge urban agriculture technologies.
On day two, the focus turned to foresight and planning. Dr. Anna Kirstgen (Fraunhofer ISI) led a session on future urban agriculture scenarios, followed by strategic discussions on EU collaboration, project synergies, and stakeholder engagement. A policy-focused workshop addressed the development of a Community of Practice, while concurrent working groups designed innovative concepts and facilitated open exchanges. Throughout the event, the dedication of all 20 partners was evident, reaffirming FOODCITYBOOST’s collective drive toward sustainable, inclusive urban agriculture.
Looking Ahead
FOODCITYBOOST will continue to engage stakeholders, policymakers, and local communities to drive forward climate-resilient and socially inclusive urban food systems. The coming months will focus on refining Living Lab activities, scaling tested practices, and aligning efforts with policy agendas at local, regional, and European levels.
