The latest EdiCitNet publication explores the ongoing challenges of digital equity and the affects of the pandemic on participatory planning processes.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the participatory planning process in the Edible Cities Network project, in particular the work with the project’s Follower Cities (Berlin, Carthage, Guangzhou, Lomé, Montevideo, Sant Feliu and Sempeter pri Gorici) who are working – mostly online – to develop Edible City Masterplans. The project partners involved in this work have been assessing this impact in order to learn from the pandemic – about what can be done to make digital processes more effective and identify what challenges occur.

With this paper, published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, the EdiCitNet Follower Cities provided insights into their disrupted workflow and helped the project to better understand the difficulties in each city during the pandemic. Additionally, the reflections in this paper offer learnings from the disruptions caused by Covid-19 to better understand how participatory planning processes can be managed online along the lines of equity, access, and participation. The findings demonstrate how participatory processes in the ongoing crisis can be maintained, with relevance to future waves of this and other pandemics.

Click here to explore the full list of EdiCitNet publications.

Under the slogan “Economy meets science”, the annual event “BuGG Day of Research and Education” took place in Stuttgart on the 10^th of May 2022, organized by the German Federation for Building Greening (Bunderverband Gebäudegrün – BuGG).

In attendance were all universities and research institutions active in the fields of roof, façade and interior greening, as well as BuGG members and other building greening experts.

The aims of the “Building Greening Research and Education Day” are:

– To present current research projects

– To identify further research needs

– To network and get to know each other

– To exchange experiences across disciplines

The BuGG Research and Education Day was divided into two parts this year. In the first part (mainly in the morning), the participating universities and research institutions had the opportunity to give short presentations about themselves and their university or institution with their current research and funding projects. Rebecca Gohlke from BuGG presented the EdiCitNet project to the almost 100 participants.

After the lunch break in the second part, there was the opportunity to casually network, get to know each other and exchange ideas.

On June 3rd 2022, EdiCitNet partner UT SEMIDE, together with the city of Nice, organised a workshop for the city’s garden managers. The workshop aimed to present the EdiCitNet project and all of the services, tools and platforms that it offers. 

The workshop brought together the Deputy Mayor in charge of urban agriculture and neighbourhood activities, representatives from the city of Nice, and 5 associations in charge of the management of community gardens.

The associations expressed their interest in using the EdiCitNet Toolbox to be able to compare the positive social and ecological impacts of their Edible City Solutions and to become members of the international network created by the project. 

The workshop ended with a visit to one of the community gardens in the city.  The next step is to visit all the community gardens in Nice to collect the data needed for the EdiCitNet Toolbox.

Until 25 May, bachelor’s and master’s students at the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin can apply for the EdiCitNet Summer School on WATER RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE (June 20th – July 1st 2022), organized as a collaboration between the Edible Cities Network Project, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Universitat de Girona. Participants will be part of an interdisciplinary and international team exploring nature-based solutions and their impact on cities.

WHAT:

The intensive course will provide basic understanding of the interdisciplinary topic “The potential of Nature-based solutions (NBS) for water resources management in Mediterranean medium-sized cities” in the context of climate change, using a hybrid approach that combines:

– on-line Problem-Based Learning (PBL) formation, and
– face-to-face practical and interdisciplinary teamwork in Girona (Catalonia) to solve a real urban assignment.

WHEN:

June 20th – July 1st 2022

WHO:

30 students with different backgrounds (environmental sciences, biology, geography, urban planning and engineers) from the following international universities:

• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany
• University of Venice IUAV, Italy
• University of Sassari, Italy
• University of Genoa, Italy
• University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
• University of Girona, Catalonia, Spain

Establishment of three teams of 10 students with different background and origin.

HOW:

First week (mode on-line) (June 20th – June 24th)

– Formation about Problem-Based Learning (PBL) methodology
– Formation about NBS for Water Resources management in the context of Med cities
– Complementary conferences
– Presentation of the case/problem (PBL unit) and discussion

Second week (mode face-to-face in the University of Girona) (June 27th – July 1st)

– Assignment of real practical cases
– Interdisciplinary teamwork on diagnostics and proposals
– Field work and visit to related facilities
– Complementary conferences
– Final presentation and discussion

Detailed programme as download: PDF

More info:

• Participants who successfully complete this summer school will be awarded 3 ECTS points
• Accommodation & breakfast is covered by the University of Girona
• Participants from Humboldt-Universität will have to cover their own travel costs and other expenses

Please send the filled out application form and a CV to marisa.pettit@hu-berlin.de by 25^th May 2022.

In May, the EdiCitNet Marketplace Business Consulting Team organised a new workshop to discuss the different kinds of spaces available in cities that can be used to start an nature-based urban food initiative. The workshop was conducted in German and targeted early-stage urban food entrepreneurs.

Felix Mollenhauer from the German Association of Building Greening offered insights into how best to organise edible greenery on a rooftop setting. This was followed by input from Anneli Karlsson from the “Edible City” of Andernach, who talked about various measures in the city that use both public and private spaces for growing edible plants. Both presenters focussed on important resources and key partnerships that can be leveraged to help different stakeholders successfully implement Edible City Solutions.

After the presentations, participants were divided into breakout rooms to discuss their ideas with the experts using some concepts from the EdiCitNet Business model canvas (which you can find in the Growing Jobs in Urban Agriculture Playbook). The session closed with a few key points on water usage from Erwin Nolde from Nolde & Partner. The consulting team also offered one on one consulting sessions to the participants to further elaborate their ideas and concepts.

Are you involved in an urban food initiative and looking for FREE consulting services to strengthen and maintain the sustainability of your organisation? Drop a line to the EdiCitNet Marketplace Business Consulting Team and get started today.

On 30 April, EdiCitNet’s Living Lab in Oslo announced the start of a new season with a market, activities for young and old, food, music and great connections – across age, cultures and backgrounds.

As part of the EdiCitNet Project, in Oslo, a community space with a focus on urban agriculture and social inclusion has been developed on the grounds of the stately Linderud mansion in one of Oslo’s suburbs – thanks to the help of partners Bymiljøetaten (Urban Environment Agency), MiA – Museene i Akershus, NIBIO Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, Nabolagshager and the support of many local organisations and institutions.

The project is now in its 3rd season and has seen a complete transformation of a formerly empty field. We are very much looking forward to the next season and lots more activities together with all the participants!