By VLM
Working towards our vision of unlocking urban farming’s potential, FOODCITYBOOST works closely with local stakeholders in six locations. In these locations, it brings together local actors, farmers, scientists, and policymakers, using an approach based on the idea of ‘Living Labs’. One of these locations is in Belgium, where the Vlaamse Landmaatschappij (VLM) is building a community of practice on food policy. It connects urban, peri-urban, and rural initiatives in the border area between Flanders region and the Brussels Capital region. It explores the governance and the impact of food strategies across regional administrations (Flanders and Brussels Capital region), and the synergies between urban, peri-urban, and rural areas around Brussels. It also examines how policies can be implemented across regional borders.
VLM: Supporting Sustainable Rural Development and Food Systems
Vlaamse Landmaatschappij (VLM ) is an independent public agency within the Ministry of Environment of the Government of Flanders. Its mission is to protect and enhance Flanders’ countryside and open spaces, making them more resilient to urbanisation, fragmentation, and climate change. VLM runs various programmes focused on water and soil quality, biodiversity, and open space design. It also oversees Flanders’ rural development policy and implements the LEADER/CLLD programme to empower rural communities.
The transition to sustainable food systems is a key focus of the rural development programme. VLM supports bottom-up food initiatives and assists municipalities in creating local food strategies. VLM also provides funding for local food facilitators. These facilitators enhance collaboration between farmers and other stakeholders in the local food chain, helping to expand short food supply chains and strengthen urban-to-rural connections. Additionally, VLM engages with urban gardens, including allotment gardens, community gardens, edible parks, and food forests, promoting sustainable (peri)urban agriculture and local food initiatives.
Objectives of VLM’s Living Lab:
• Explore the governance and impact of urban food strategies, particularly between Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region, focusing on urban, peri-urban, and rural Synergies.
• Strengthen interregional cooperation and enhance policy coherence on food systems. Support local municipalities in transitioning to sustainable food systems.
• Promote connectivity between rural, peri-urban, and urban areas.
Read more on www.vlm.be/en/
