Renewal of urban – rural relationships: the key role of food

A Food Strategy for the Amsterdam Region

CEMR Brussels, 12th June 2007

Pim Vermeulen

p.vermeulen@dro.amsterdam.nl

Amsterdam as a (blue)green metropolis

Envioronmental impacts of food

Ecological footprint– Sustainable production (CO2)

– Food miles (CO2)

– Sustainable consumption (meat!)

Health –70% of the health problems are related to food

–45% of the people in Amsterdam are overweight (14% serious: obesitas)

Other Food

24%

Other consumption

and services

15%

Meat

6%

Paper: books, , magazines

6%

Other consumption

7%

Living

7%

transport

8%

Energiy : gas, electricity

8%

Diary

9% Recreation

10%

Schoolbags: no food!

Objectives of the Amsterdam Food Strategy

Natural and local food for everybody

To promote healthy eating habits, esp. of children & young people.

To achieve a balance between the demand of urban consumers and the supply of food products from the surrounding countryside.

Food Chain

Primary production

Processingv & Manufacturing

Transport, Storage, Distribution

Food wholesale & retail

Purchasing Food

Preparation, Storing & Cooking

Eating & Consumption

Disposal

Stages of the Food Chain Key organisations Town-Country side

Food Security

Health Environ-ment

Economic Social and Cultural

Grassroots approach

Spread the word and launch discussions in city and region

Invite people, private and public organizations to come up with initiatives

Finding common interest

Our main policy themes:

Green Metropolis Plan to preserve and develop the

green areas in and around Amsterdam

Improving Health

(reports on Public Health and Sports)

Sustainable production and consumption

(Environmental Policy Plan)

Some targets Natural en local food in

all school canteens,

municipal canteens

hospitals,

care institutions.

tourist industry

local daymarkets

Preserving agriculture in the immediate surroundings of the city for

the long term. Kitchen amenities in new schools. Every primary school to have access to a nearby school working

garden. Simpler regulations for retail and daymarkets for natural and local

food. Reduction of foodmiles & lower emissions of transport School curricula include life style and eating habits

School working gardens

Links with EU-Policies

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strenghten the economic position of farmers New economic activities and diversification of agriculture

Gothenburg Agenda Adresses threats to human health Combat climate change Ensure sustainable transport Manage natural resources & stop biodiversity decline Prioritizes social inclusion

Lisbon strategy Economic & social renewal and growth of jobs Marketing the cities Free and fair trade

Leipzig Charter Cities on the front line for growth, quality jobs & innovation Cities should be linking territorial & urban development

Next steps

September 2007: City Board decides on the Projects

included in the Food Strategy

Fall 2008: Amsterdam will host an International

Meeting on City/Metropolitan food and agricultural

strategies (New York, London, Copenhagen)

2008-10: Implementation

Amsterdam meeting in 2008Issues to be addressed:

How to build Infrastructures that maximise the availability and use of natural and local products in cities

How to create educational vehicles for children and other consumers to increase awareness of health and its

relationship to natural and farmed environments

Working out the specific role of metropolitan areas in developing sustainable food systems