MAIA Project to hold 4th Policy Roundtable and 2nd Workshop: Sustainable Food Systems: Bringing the Farm to Fork into a Regional Perspective

On October 8, 2024, the MAIA project will hold a Policy Roundtable and Workshop within the framework of the 22nd European Week of Regions and Cities. This hybrid in-person and online event will explore the role of the global food sector as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. 

EU progress in cutting emissions from this sector lags behind achievements in other sectors. This makes it imperative to deliver policies that promote shorter supply chains, which can help curb the release of harmful gases and promote food security and wellbeing at the local level. The event will explore the challenges and the strategic role of regions in achieving these aims, showcasing best practices that can serve as models for other regions. 

Held as part of “EU Regions Week Close to You” side events, the Policy Roundtable & Workshop will feature a policy roundtable and panel discussion with regional European representatives and experts in the field.

Following the debate, a workshop will engage citizens in a participatory session aimed at identifying proposals to promote local products through behavioural changes and new business models, as well as  streamlining current EU and national policies to cater to territorial intricacies. 

The results of this event will also support ongoing debates taking place within the framework of the MAIA Thematic Working Group on the Food System.

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Key workshop objectives:

• Promote understanding of the effects of sustainable agri-food transformation on climate and biodiversity indicators.
• Explore European Policies and Initiatives, such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy.
• Facilitate Knowledge Exchange and Best Practices on Sustainable Food Systems.
• Address Environmental and Social Impacts in promoting Sustainable Food Systems.
• Develop Actionable Recommendations to support sustainable food systems at regional, national, and EU levels.
• Foster Collaboration Among Stakeholders.
• Showcase MAIA’s tools and services in supporting Sustainable Food Systems.

Event details

Date:  08/10/2024

Time: 14:15 – 16:15 CET

Format: Hybrid in-person & online roundtable and workshop

Venue: Ambiorix Center, 7 Ambiorix Square, Brussels, Belgium.

Language: English 

Speakers:

• Rosa Onofre, Territorial Planning Unit Director & MAIA Ambassador, CCDR Alentejo.

• Clara Douzal, Research Analyst, FABLE consortium.

• Nelson Ekane, Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute.
  
• Nikolai Pushkarev, EU Policy Manager for Food and Land Use Sectors at Agora Agriculture.

• Moderator, Maria José Sanz, Scientific Director, Basque Centre for Climate Change.

This “EU Regions Week Close to You” side event will run within the framework of the 22nd European Week of Regions and Cities.

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This event promises to be an opportunity for policymakers, researchers, and local/regional stakeholders to share invaluable insights on the transformation towards Sustainable Food Systems.

The MAIA project is an essential part of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. It aims to make the currently dispersed knowledge and research at the EU level more accessible and increase the outreach of research projects and initiatives to policymakers and practitioners for accelerating climate action.

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.