Dear Sirs,
Please find attached the Template for Submission for Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition on behalf of City of Ljubljana.
Best regards,
Maruška Markovčič
Proponent
City of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Department for Environmental protection – Section for rural development
Main responsible entity
Rural development in Ljubljana – short food chains
Date/Timeframe
Constant – for programing period 2014-2020 and further
Funding source
Public founds – Municipality of Ljubljana
Location
Ljubljana – the capital of Slovenia – urban areas as well as the rural areas around the city centre.
Background/Context
The City of Ljubljana (hereinafter referred to as MOL) has set an operative goal in self-sufficiency in the Rural Development Strategy of the City Municipality of Ljubljana in the programming period 2014-2020, i.e. increasing recognisability of rural areas and creating a comprehensive approach in marketing of rural goods. MOL has a varied rural area with 826 farms, which sell their products to consumers in Ljubljana in different ways. MOL helps them develop their primary agricultural activities and helps them enter the market with different actions.
For this purpose, MOL has designed some measures to shorten sales channels and citizens of Ljubljana can access locally grown food easily. The measures were prepared so that they encompass as many target groups as possible:
1. Promotion events – within Ljubljana’s rural area festival Zeleni prag, which takes place every year in October and presents different food suppliers in MOL to the citizens of Ljubljana; every Saturday Organic market takes place at the Ljubljana Central Market;
2. Doorsteps sales – we are aware that it is best to see where food was grown, therefore we encourage cultivators, also financially, to arrange sales areas on their farms and offer buyers completely fresh locally grown food;
3. Market areas – in MOL there are currently four marketplaces. Additionally, eight marketplaces are being prepared in city communities where citizens will be able to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables;
4. Basket of Ljubljana – it is a standard defining how food must be grown in the City Municipality of Ljubljana according to the principles of organic or integrated production. There are currently 70 food suppliers included in the Basket of Ljubljana;
5. Stimulating new forms of sales (e-marketing etc.)
6. Establishing short food supply chains – we are aware of the importance of cooperation between caterers, hoteliers and other providers of catering services with local cultivators. In this way, the quality of catering services has been increasing in MOL.
Categories 1-5 have been developed together by MOL and the food growers. In order to implement category 6, cooperation of larger number of participants is crucial. Firstly, MOL and the restaurant Druga violina (founded by Dolfka Boštjančič Centre – centre for people with special needs, also employing people with special needs) launched Apple Week in Ljubljana. In the framework of this programme, Druga violina has included apple dishes into their offer; from apples grown in MOL. Today other providers participate in the programme – hotels, shops and restaurants, which offer either apples or apple dishes from apples grown in MOL. At the same time, an educational programme was designed, aimed at raising awareness of local food growing.
Public institute Ljubljana Tourism, MOL and Jarina Cooperative formed a programme Green Supply Chains within the European Green Capital 2016. It is an initiative to increase locally grown food in the gastronomic offer of the municipality (http://zelene-verige.si/), project developer is Ljubljana Tourism.
Focus/Objectives
Strategic goal No. 1: Ensure quality agriculture and forestry goods from a preserved environment, with the aim of self-sufficiency of the MOL, by improving the supply of the MOL population with quality food, sustainable forest management and protection, conservation and development of functional capacity of agricultural holdings;
The strategy determines methods of production, taking into account natural and climatic conditions. A special chapter is devoted to monitoring climate change:
- Encourage the introduction of more resistant fruit and vegetable varieties – replacement of the range of products;
- Introducing new technologies in indoor production facilities, allowing the monitoring of or elimination of pests;
- Promote organic farming with the aim of the sustainable preservation of the environment;
- Promote the sustainable use of agricultural land - preservation of the cultural landscape with grazing;
Key characteristics of the experience/process
Long-term development, bottom-up approach.
Key actors involved and their role
Local government, schools, farmers, Agricultural and Forestry Institute, National institute for Agriculture.
Education, networking, producing food…
Key changes observed with regards to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food systems
Trust that was built between producers and consumers created good and long term connections.
Challenges faced
Maintaining good communication and support system for creating short food chains beginning in kindergartens.
Lessons/Key messages
Constant presence of support – logistic, financial, educational, advisory…
Sra. Maruška Markovčič