How supply meets demand..To create a breeding ground for the blossoming of cooperation

Anne de Feijter

Municipality of Amersfoort, the Netherlands

a.defeijter@amersfoort.nl

www.amersfoort.nl

An URBACT II Thematic Network - Sustainable Food in Urban Communities

URBAN FOOD STRATEGY MIXSustainable Food Workshop for European Cities

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The delivering of local products is the main problem in the local food system of Amersfoort . Everybody does it their own way.

Very community-based:

• CAO • a food collective with 120 voluntary members in an old factory hall• small restaurantowners pick up their products at farmers

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Or commercial:

• Farmshops• Boxes with products for households• Willem & Drees: supplier of supermarkets• Vers 24/7: an online fresh market (www.vers247.nl)

At 3-3-2014 our Local Action Group organises a meeting with:* suppliers of regional food: (city)farmers, CAO’s, etc.* demanders: restaurants, shops, etc.* companies in the transport industry

Together we try to formulate solutions and find succesfull matches.Role of the municipality: process guidance only!

The role of the local government:

• Organize a meeting without a preconceived plan with comprehensive goals;• Invite a multitude of different local parties, using your local network;• Have an open talk about the interests of the parties present and look for win-win situations;• Clarify the interest of the local government in the same open way of communicating, explain your role;• Make subgroups for follow-up actions. Some parties prefer quick action, others want to do research first.• Let go on time. Be clear from the start about the limited facilitation the municipality can offer. Try to monitor the out-come by keeping in touch with the parties that are involved.

Policy on sustainable food and urban agriculture of the Municipality of Amersfoort:

• The initiative lies with the city itself !• Local policy document is made by the municipality together with local action group. There is room for experiments.• Meet & Match: arranging meetings to match parties• We advice, stimulate and after that: we LET GO !

THANK YOU…

Anne de Feijter

Municipality of Amersfoort, the Netherlands

a.defeijter@amersfoort.nl

www.amersfoort.nl

An URBACT II Thematic Network - Sustainable Food in Urban Communities

URBAN FOOD STRATEGY MIXSustainable Food Workshop for European Cities