Europe is waking up to the transformative power of food in all areas of life - social, economic and environmental. Cities are at the heart of food system transformation. They play a critical strategic role in boosting food circularity. Global food systems are pivotal for population growth, urbanisation and economic development.

It is estimated that there will be around 9 billion people on Earth by 2050, with almost 70% of them living in urban areas. This increase in the global population might require three times more resources than we currently use.
This requirement is problematic since around 80% of all materials are directly discarded after usage, highlighting the need for a circular alternative to the linear “take, make, and dispose of” model.

As part of the EU’s Green Deal, the Farm-to-Fork strategy will attempt to make Europe’s food systems fair, sustainable and healthy.

The University of Turin, the Leadership Group on Food waste, food system, bioeconomy and the ECESP will be holding a #EUCircularTalks event on the role of cities in boosting the circularity of food systems. The event aims to share insights and best practices on how we can help design and build circular food systems that foster the urban food transformation.
From a holistic and multi-stakeholder approach, we want to understand the new role played by local authorities, food companies, farmers, start-ups, digital platforms and individuals in bringing about inclusive, resilient, safe and diverse urban food systems.

Registration is now open.

Draft agenda

Moderator: Simona Grande, University of Turin & ICESP

10 a.m. - 10.20 a.m. Introduction and opening remarks

Peter Schmidt | EESC member, President of the Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Section at the EESC

Ander Eizaguirre | Junior Policy Analyst, Water Governance and Circular Economy, Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development Division, OECD

Emma Chow | Lead of Food Initiative, Ellen MacArthur Foundation (TBC)

10.20 a.m. - 11 a.m. Presentation of case studies

Moderators: Simona Grande and Giacomo Pettenati, University of Turin & Turin Food Atlas

Keynote speakers:

Salomè Galjaard | Deputy Programme Manager Circular Economy - City of Amsterdam

Elisa Porreca | Milan Food Policy Officer, FOODTRAILS Project - City of Milan

Einar Kleppe Holthe | Managing Partner of Nordic Circular Hotspot. CEO and founder of Natural State, an Oslo-based studio specialising in change management and value creation - Nordic countries

11 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. Presentation of Urban Food Transformation innovative start-ups

Moderator: Alessio D’Antino, CEO and Founder Forwar Fooding
Panel discussion on Innovation in Urban Food Transformation:

Philippe Schuler | Too Good To Go

Tomas Pasqualini | Wasteless

Nikolaos Ntavos (Greece) and Theodoros Gkiourkas (Macedonia) | HOOP Project /Clube project/Scalibur project (biowaste)

11.30 a.m. - 12 noon Discussion and closing remarks

Moderator: Simona Grande, University of Turin & ICESP

Chiara Nobil | ICESP- Italian Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform working groups on AgriFood

Franc Bogovič | MEP (tbc)