The project is developing a network that supports and fosters research and business avenues in the restaurant and local food industries in the Uusimaa region. Testing platforms, products, and services are developed in cooperation with businesses, local food agents, cities, and research institutes.
Urban&Local – Future Food Ecosystem project envisioned an ‘edible city’, where sustainable and local food practices are a part of the cityscape, thus supporting nature’s biodiversity. The sustainability and availability of food have risen as hot issues among societal crises. The project brings local food closer to people living in cities, supporting a local and sustainable food system.
Read the summarizing article about the results of the project!
Objectives
The project aimed to create a future food ecosystem in the capital region. This was done in cooperation with cities, local businesses and research, development, and innovation organisations. The purpose was to enable a continuous cooperation between agents, exchange of knowledge, co-creation and the use of scientific research in business models of local food industries and restaurants.
The objective was to further a sustainable and lively food culture in cities, as well as strengthen the growth and competitiveness of businesses through innovative solutions.
The project tested and created new solutions to support production, marketing, distribution and the use of digital technologies. The aim was to also develop and enable the use of cities as testbeds.
Duration, partners, funding and total budget
Duration: 1.1.2023–31.12.2025
Partners: FVH, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Perho Culinary, Tourism & Business college and the city of Vantaa
Funding: The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council
Budget: The total budget was 1 890 000 euros, of which Forum Virium Helsinki’s share was 650 000 euros.
Our role
Forum Virium Helsinki was the main executor and project coordinator. It was responsible for the mapping of the testbeds in the Uusimaa region as well as the development of Tukkutori and Teurastamo areas as testbeds within the project.
Forum Virium Helsinki was also responsible for the agile pilots, which handled for example creating new market places and the digitalisation of food supply chains. Furthermore, Forum Virium Helsinki was also responsible for the communications of the project, to inform and engage stakeholders in the network.
Benefits for Helsinki
The project promoted the city of Helsinki’s strategy to utilise testbeds and the fostering of a sustainable food culture within the cityscape. Active cooperation with universities and businesses enabled experimentation and strengthened the liaison between different agents in the local food network. Together we built structures for a sustainable and vibrant food network in the capital region, which enhanced the growth in the field and increased Finland’s reputation as a clean food destination.
Sustainability
A short and transparent food chain was a more sustainable alternative to the current, global supply chain. Urban farming and food that was produced near cities was more climate friendly and increased the resilience of the food chain in the face of climate change. The development of alternative food chains was a part of national and international climate change targets.
The creation of a network supported economic sustainability by promoting cooperation between local food producers and restaurants, as well as opening new sustainable avenues, business possibilities, and jobs. Cooperation between businesses, restaurants and research institutes increases the awareness of the environmental impact of food and enabled the use of topical research data in business models.
Social sustainability was promoted by bringing food production closer to the consumer, where its sustainability is easier to ensure. The availability of local food and services also increased consumer awareness of sustainable choices. The project raised awareness and appreciation for the female-dominated food and restaurant industry.
Urban&Local – Future Food Ecosystem -project (01/2023–12/2025) aimed to develop innovative solutions, practices, products and services in local food and restaurant business, as well as create a framework for sustainable business models and cooperation between stakeholders. The project was coordinated by Forum Virium Helsinki. Partners were Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Perho Culinary, Tourism & Business college and the city of Vantaa. The project was partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Publications
- Empowering the Edible City – guidebook for city developers
- Towards the Edible City – guidebook for entrepreneurs