1. URBAN FOOD STRATEGY MIX
Sustainable Food Workshop for European Cities
FUNDING
possible sources of funding for sustainable food initiatives
Stephanie Mantell
Brussels Environment, Belgium
urbact@environnement.irisnet.be
http://urbact.eu/sustainable-food
An URBACT II Thematic Network - Sustainable Food in Urban Communities

2. What doors to knock on ?
CO 2
Jobs
Health
Local
Econ
Biodiv
What entries for Sustainable Food?
Thematic Network Sustainable Food for Urban Communities - Launch Teleconference
9 May 2012 I Page 2

3. FUNDING
Introduction (30 min)
›Stephanie MANTELL, Lead Partner - Brussels Environment
›Quentin RICHARD, ERDF Managing Authority of Brussels Capital Region
›Jenny KOUTSOMARKOU, URBACT Secretariat
Table discussions (45 min)
›How can sustainable food action plans & actions be in part funded by EU
programmes such as ERDF/ ESF?
What other public funds can be tapped into for sustainable food at national,
regional, municipal levels (e.g. national public health funds…)?
Through what schemes can citizens & private businesses invest effectively
in sustainable food without reliance on public funds (e.g. community supported
agriculture…)?
›
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Short feedback from tables (30 min)
An URBACT II Thematic Network - Sustainable Food in Urban Communities

4. Suggested question for dicussion at tables…
How can sustainable food action plans &
actions be in part funded by EU programmes
such as ERDF/ ESF?

5. Link to ERDF or ESF?
Encouraged by URBACT Programme
to seek funding from European Regional
Development Funds or European Social Funds
through their Managing Authorities (MAs)
Find your MA on http://ec.europa.eu
European Commission > Regional Policy > In your country > Managing authorities

6. Link to ERDF or ESF?
Cities of our network will develop Local Actions Plans to
develop low-carbon and resource efficient food systems during
the coming year(s), and may apply for ERDF or ESF funding if
such actions are eligible under the operational programmes.
 Link Sustainable Food to EU 2020 Strategy pillars
– Sustainable growth
– Inclusive growth

7. Sustainable growth
for the urban food system

building a more competitive low-carbon economy that
makes efficient, sustainable use of resources
– by reducing CO2 emissions along the food chain,
– promoting local resilient food production and
– reducing the resource intensity of the food consumed in cities.

protecting the environment & preventing biodiversity
loss, including through farming practices and diversity in
food crops
Thematic Network Sustainable Food for Urban Communities - Teleconference
26 March 2013I Page 7

8. Sustainable growth
for the urban food system

capitalising on Europe's leadership in developing new green
technologies and production methods adapted to densely built
environments, including soil-less food growing techniques such
as rooftop farming and aquaponics.

improving the business environment, in particular for SMEs,
facilitating
⇒ emergence of new market actors for food production, retail &
restaurants
⇒ transition of existing market actors towards greater sustainability.

helping consumers make well-informed choices.

9. Inclusive growth
for the urban food system

raising Europe’s employment rate by creating more and
better jobs in food production, retail and catering
⇒ urban agriculture ,food transformation and distribution can yield
employment, including for job seekers with low qualifications.

ensuring the benefits of growth reach all,
⇒ guaranteeing access to sustainable food choices for people
experiencing poverty and social exclusion, and
⇒ enabling them to live in dignity and take an active part in society also
through growing, delivering and enjoying food.

10. ERDF Operational Programme & Food
Feedback from Managing Authorities
Have you funded projects related to (sustainable)
food production, distribution or consumption?
›Directly: West Netherlands
›Indirectly: West Sweden, Brussels Capital
Region, Rhône-Alpes
›No: Sicily, Attica, Romania Environment, possibly
West England
Thematic Network Sustainable Food for Urban Communities - Teleconference
26 March 2013I Page 10

11. Direct ERDF funding
Growing tomatoes on waste water.
Pilot Sustainable water cycle.
Developing new technology to re-use waste water.
ERDF – Innovation. ERDF 315,292 euro

12. Direct ERDF funding
Taskforce Green Port Westland to
make greenhouse cultivation more
sustainable.
ERDF – Innovation. ERDF 776,968 euro

13. Indirect ERDF funding
Small scale food production in Angered,
suburb of Gothenburg as part of large
urban development project
ERDF – 5 Million euro (priority 1. “Entrepreneurship, innovative
business and sustainable urban development”)

14. URBAN FOOD STRATEGY MIX
Sustainable Food Workshop for European Cities
ERDF & urban food strategy
in Brussels & other contexts
Quentin RICHARD
Brussels Regional Public
Service (BE)
qrichard@sprb.irisnet.be
www.feder.irisnet.be
An URBACT II Thematic Network - Sustainable Food in Urban Communities

15. Indirect ERDF funding
BRUSOC project finances SMEs
projects including food services
ERDF

16. Indirect ERDF funding
Brussels Sustainable Economy (BSE)
supports entrepreneurship by study & coaching
6 sectors including sustainable food sector (production)
ERDF – 1 Million

17. Indirect ERDF funding
Construction of indoor food market
combined with 3.000 m² rooftop farm
ERDF – 6 Million euro

18. New Programming period & Food
ERDF and urban food strategy:
3 ways to achieve your goals, following 3 contexts
Context 1
Urban
food strategy supported by (a part of) the political
stakeholders:
– Like in the Brussels-capital Region, the sector is supported by influent
stakeholders, who considers it as an element of the economic development
– The sector has used previous Programmes (ERDF, other?) to test new ideas
– And the sector is included in the general development strategy of a/different
OP
– But it needs to be structured, organized, piloted/monitored to defend its
credibility (comparison with “classical” economic sectors) in term of concrete
results

19. Context 2

Urban food strategy has not been taken into account by the
Managing Authorities who have defined a very precise OP
(following the COM recommendations). Then, it would be useful to:
– Understand clearly the will of the MA, to determine a possible way to invest
through the food strategy,
– Determine the process of call for projects/selection in the relevant region(s),
– Coordinate, in such a context, a proposal from the sector (which can be
represented in many ways) in answer to OP goals (with potential links with
strong-supported ERDF/ESF actors)

20. Context 3

Urban food strategy has not been taken into account by the
Managing Authorities
who
have defined
a
flexible
OP.
The opportunity can so be taken with:
– Understanding of the OP context to determine a possible way to invest
through the food strategy,
– Determine the process of call for projects/selection in the relevant region(s),
– Prepare
(and
coordinate
if
necessary)
the
relevant
operators
(public/private?) to propose new opportunities with a clear and relevant
status (test/pilot, combined actions, urban food side of an infrastructure
project, specific sectorial investment)
Thematic Network Sustainable Food for Urban Communities - Launch Teleconference
9 May 2012 I Page 20

21. Thematic objectives of ERDF & food strategy
› (1) strengthening research, technological development
›
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and innovation;
(2) enhancing access to, and use and quality of, information
and communication technologies;
(3) enhancing the competitiveness of small and mediumsized enterprises
(4) supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all
sectors;
(5) promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention
and management;
(6) protecting the environment and promoting resource
efficiency;
Thematic Network Sustainable Food for Urban Communities - Launch Teleconference
9 May 2012 I Page 21

22. › (7) promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks
in key network infrastructures; Inclusive Growth
› (8) promoting employment and supporting labour
mobility;
› (9) promoting social inclusion and combating poverty;
› (10) investing in education, skills and lifelong learning;
› (11) enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public
Thematic Network Sustainable Food for Urban Communities - Launch Teleconference
9 May 2012 I Page 22

23. URBAN FOOD STRATEGY MIX
Sustainable Food Workshop for European Cities
URBACT Local Action Plans
Implementation and finance
Jenny Koutsomarkou
URBACT Secretariat, France
j.koutsomarkou@urbact.eu
www.urbact.eu
An URBACT II Thematic Network - Sustainable Food in Urban Communities

24. % of Call 1 partners using types of funds
for LAP implementation

25. Call 1 Local Action Plans
Level of implementation of Local Action Plans
Min: 1,00 Max: 5,00 Mean: 2,32 Mode: 2,00 Median: 2,00 Std Dev: 1,21
6,06% (4)
< 25%
15,15% (10)
28,79% (19)
between 25% and 50%
between 50% and 75%
between 75% and 99%
100%
12,12% (8)
37,88% (25)

26. Any remarks?
Structural Funds: 25% respondents report the use of Structural Funds
in the delivery of their Action Plans, with a large predominance of
ERDF
-Positive achievement considering that the LAPs have been delivered
in 2011 when several OPs were already fully committed or with very
little resources left.
ERDF:
In more than 50% of the cases, ERDF has been used to support
projects for local economic development and jobs related actions.
Only in few cases, all situated in EU12 Member States, ERDF has been
used to finance major infrastructural investments (e.g. water and
waste management system in Zabrze, Poland).
ESF:
Only 3% partner cities appear to have used ESF whereas 1/3 of the 1st
call networks had an explicit focus on social issues. Interestingly
enough, the cities having secured ESF funds have also secured ERDF
funds for LAP implementation.

27. Call 2 LAP Implementation
Over 50% of partners declare having secured funds for the
implementation of the Local Action Plan
Min: 1,00 Max: 6,00 Mean: 2,57 Mode: 1,00 Median: 2,00 Std Dev: 1,63
Local
8,49% ( 9)
4,72% ( 5)
Regional
National
16,04% (17)
38,68% ( 41)
ERDF Operational Programmes
ESF Operationnal Programmes
Other EU funding
15,09% (16)
16,98% (18)
› 75% of partners declare having started the
implementation of actions included in the Local Action
Plan

28. Impact of the URBACT Method on the production of LAP
2/3 of partners declared they succeded in involving the Managing
Authorities of the Operational Programme in the networks activities
(56% consider the involvement as very useful/useful)

29. Health
Local economy
Suggested question for dicussion at tables…
What public funds can be tapped into for
sustainable food at national, regional,
municipal levels
Calls for projects
Environment
Lottery

30. Calls for projects at different scales
Slide Potagers parcs Oslo
for bottom-up initiatives
in Oslo’s District Sagene (=74 000 EUR)
Thematic Network Sustainable Food for Urban Communities
6 novembre 2013I Page 30

31. Slide Potagers parcs Oslo
Thematic Network Sustainable Food for Urban Communities
6 novembre 2013I Page 31

32. Suggested question for dicussion at tables…
Through what schemes can citizens & private
businesses invest effectively in sustainable
food without reliance on public funds
(e.g. community supported agriculture…)?

33. New solidarity business models
Citizen Purchasing groups
Supporting one or several farmers
(GAS, AMAP, CSA…)

34. Crowd funding
› Brussels beer, Liège wine
Brussels Beer Project
to co-create atypical beers with beer lovers
Protype creation, tastings for selection #beerforlife crowdfunding.
For 140euro >365 crowdfunders had the opportunity to get 12 beers
every year … for their entire life.
Thematic Network Sustainable Food for Urban Communities - Teleconference
9 May 2012 I Page 34

35. Community Supported Agriculture
Terres en vue
The cooperative purchases land for farmers to
safeguard it from speculation, thanks to the shares
purchased by citizens.

36. FUNDING
Table discussions (45 min)
›How can sustainable food action plans & actions be in
part funded by EU programmes such as ERDF/ ESF?
›What other public funds can be tapped into for
sustainable food at national, regional, municipal levels
(e.g. national public health funds…)?
›Through what schemes can citizens & private
businesses invest effectively in sustainable food without
reliance on public funds (e.g. community supported
agriculture…)?
An URBACT II Thematic Network - Sustainable Food in Urban Communities

37. › Huytebroek
› Encouraging demand (support for collective kitchens,
›
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veggie thursdays, gouter bruxelles week, Rabad &
GASAP network,
Food production (Network of vegetable gardens, new
economic market gardening…)
Environment-employment alliance/partnership
Transition towards a more sustainable
50 projects (public-private-company) linking to the
URBACT project…
Inspiration
Thematic Network Sustainable Food for Urban Communities - Launch Teleconference
9 May 2012 I Page 37

38. Table discussions (45 min)
Introductions (10 min)
Good practices (10 min)
?
Failed practices? (10 min)

Next practices? (10 min – if there is time)
Wrap up (5 min)
An URBACT II Thematic Network - Sustainable Food in Urban Communities

39. FUNDING
Table discussions (45 min)
›How can sustainable food action plans & actions be in
part funded by EU programmes such as ERDF/ ESF?
Different funds Rural Development Fund, Interreg CLLD Community
Led Local Development ESF food
Contact persons, Info days…
Dedicated staff person at city level (Lyon)  more peer to peer
knowledge exchanges
Points of attention Windows of opportunity, cofinance, delay in
payment, HR needed
›
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›
An URBACT II Thematic Network - Sustainable Food in Urban Communities

40. FUNDING
Table discussions (45 min)
›What other public funds can be tapped into for
sustainable food at national, regional, municipal levels
(e.g. national public health funds…)?
Marleen Brouwer: public & private funding; GP: public funds declining; approach private
sector; influence company policies; foundations for action oriented projects; cooperatives;
not only money but also other support;
›FP: very burocratic; differnt fundings don't really match ==> should be more accessible
›==> could be interesting to require projects combine the whole food chain
›horizontal funding within municipality across departments
›revolving funds
›DG sustainable food
›Jessica funding scheeme
An URBACT II Thematic Network - Sustainable Food in Urban Communities

41. FUNDING
Table discussions (45 min)
›Through what schemes can citizens & private
businesses invest effectively in sustainable food without
reliance on public funds (e.g. community supported
agriculture…)?
›Anne Saudmont: GPs cooperatives important to get better prices for farmers; crowd
funding quite new; buying shares terres en vue; Partnership between association &
american company...; become godfather of a tree... la ruche qui dit oui (flexible scheme);
optimal size to reach to be effective different than clasical enterprises when they scale up
loose original objectives - FP: AMAP schemes not flexible enough
›Marianne Karstens:
Sustainable Academy in Brussels in Flanders, private companies embracing more
sustainable management - risk of greenwashing but also genuine investment. Lack of
knowledge to run business; need for networking; access to training to start a viable & self
supporting business; social groceries; Foundations; fund-raising investments
An URBACT II Thematic Network - Sustainable Food in Urban Communities