Sustainability Routes

The Sustainability Routes aim to encourage policymakers to support sustainable food policies and practices within their regions. During these Routes, policymakers and other stakeholders in the food system (such as producers, consumers, local development associations, chefs, etc.) visit sustainable initiatives in the participating municipalities, with the goal of collaboratively creating strategies to enhance the sustainability of local food systems.
Our starting point is the municipalities that are home to the 12 Tourism and Hospitality Schools of Portugal – referred to as the Focal Municipalities – alongside four Host Municipalities, selected for their strong local consumption strategies.    

The Routes will take place twice during the GrowLIFE project, in 2025 and 2027.

Each Route will last three days, with each Host Municipality paired with a group of Focal Municipalities based on geographical proximity. Considering the challenges, limitations, and best practices of each municipality, the Route will include visits to initiatives across various regions, ending with a meeting to reflect on the experience and co-design strategies to be applied in each territory.

In the first Route (2025), municipalities grouped by region will share their knowledge and initiatives to encourage local consumption. All participants will gather insights and bring back strategies tailored to their own local realities.

In the second Route (2027), the Focal Municipalities will take on the role of Host Municipalities, inviting neighboring municipalities to showcase their successful projects and initiatives. This exchange of knowledge and experiences aims to foster collaboration, inspire innovation, and ultimately promote the adoption of sustainable food policies and practices across the region.

Objectives 

— To collaborate with local policymakers in developing and enhancing effective and efficient adaptation strategies in the agricultural sector.
— To support the creation and implementation of strategies that promote the consumption of sustainable, locally sourced products.
— To encourage the participation of local stakeholders in designing and implementing strategies to develop resilient local food systems.

The GrowLIFE team will produce three documents to support the replication of the Sustainability Routes:
— A Guide to Participatory Methodologies for Organising Sustainability Routes
— A Manual of Regional Strategies for Sustainable Local Consumption
— A Manual of National Strategies for Sustainable Local Consumption.