Sustainability Routes
The Sustainability Routes invite policymakers and key stakeholders in the food system – including producers, consumers, local development associations, chefs, and others – to explore sustainable initiatives across participating municipalities. These visits serve as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaborative strategy building to strengthen the sustainability of local food systems.
Objectives
Collaborate with local policymakers to co-create and improve adaptation strategies for a more resilient agricultural sector.
Foster the development and adoption of initiatives that boost the consumption of sustainable, locally sourced products.
Empower local stakeholders to actively shape and implement solutions that strengthen resilient local food systems.
The participating municipalities include the 12 Focal Municipalities, home to the Tourism and Hospitality Schools of Portugal, alongside Host Municipalities selected for their exemplary local consumption strategies. This journey fosters connections, inspiring innovative approaches to promote more sustainable and resilient food systems.
Municipalities
Each Route spans up to three days, pairing a Host Municipality with a group of Focal Municipalities selected based on geographical proximity. The itinerary considers the challenges, limitations, and best practices of each municipality, featuring visits to local initiatives across different regions. The Route concludes with a reflection session to share learnings and collaboratively design strategies to be applied in each territory.
The first Route (2025) groups municipalities by region to exchange knowledge and initiatives promoting local consumption. Participants gain insights and return with ideas and strategies relevant to their local realities.
In the second Route (2027), Focal Municipalities will become Host Municipalities, welcoming neighboring municipalities to present their successful projects and initiatives. This knowledge exchange aims to foster collaboration, inspire innovation, and promote the widespread adoption of sustainable food policies and practices across the region.
Replicability
The GrowLIFE team will produce three documents to support the replication of the Sustainability Routes:
A Guide to Participatory Methodologies for Organizing Sustainability Routes.
A Manual for Regional Strategies for Sustainable Local Consumption.
A Manual for National Strategies for Sustainable Local Consumption.
