EU4Advice Multi-Actor Workshop in Amsterdam Nieuw-West

On Friday the 11th of July, Amped organised the second EU4Advice Multi-Actor Workshop, as EU4Advice living lab manager in the Netherlands, in collaboration with Jeroen Nagel of Regieorganisatie GLB (Dutch AKIS), and Robin van Asperen of MijnStadstuin (MyCitygarden).

Robin van Asperen (re)introduces the original
(Amsterdam) yellow cucumber.

Robin is also known as the City Farmer. He is the owner of the MijnStadstuin-project in Amsterdam West, where individuals can grow their own organic fruits and vegetables. MijnStadstuin focuses on sustainable urban agriculture, with a combination of individual vegetable gardens and a food forest.

Advisors, policymakers, food initiatives, entrepreneurs, students and citizens active in short food supply chains and community gardens were invited to engage with us and share their insights into how we can shape and realise a new local food economy for the Nieuw-West district of Amsterdam and also give us input on the development of training programmes for formal and informal SFSC advisors.

Multi-Actor Workshop
The main aim of this workshop was two-fold:

– To do a deep dive workshop with stakeholders in the context of an area-based approach for collaboration in the SFSC in the district of Amsterdam Nieuw-West
– To gather input and preferences regarding the development of the training program for formal and informal advisors who are or wish to be active in SFSC

Leading up to this workshop, Regieorganisatie GLB (Dutch AKIS) and the EU4Advice Living Lab, in collaboration with Master students from Utrecht University, have researched 110 short chain projects and with the workshop we aimed to use this research to further support the parties and individuals active in Nieuw-West and Amsterdam in their food activities and be part of the design of a local food system in Nieuw-West.

The participants represented a wide variety of local stakeholders: local food initiatives (but also from outside Amsterdam), researchers, citizens, food producers, food communities, entrepreneurs and soil and water experts. Accordingly the topics consisted of:

– an explanation of the EU4Advice Living Lab and the steps towards designing a new food system in New West – Mark Frederiks, EU4Advice Living Lab Amsterdam
– a view on the current stakeholders in relation to regulations and subsidies of Dutch AKIS: what are the values we pursue? – Jeroen Nagel (Regieorganisatie GLB / Dutch AKIS)
– participants input, contributing to
- – shared ownership
- – adaptability to local situation
- – connection to policy
– summary of contributions – Mark Frederiks

Learnings

Obstacles to deal with
It’s hard to break through routines regarding buying food through the wholesalers. Consumer-citizens also have routines. On top of this we need to make sure local food is affordable. We discussed that the total of 170.000 population in Nieuw-West and we can build the food system based on their food consumption. We discussed that the ambition to feed 20% of the people within 5 years could be possible.

Governance
The need to make sure that the focus is on land positions in the value chain, in which the collaboration is a collateral. Introduce alternative currencies to close the internal market and reward social capital. Facilitate multi-level collaboration on the practical (food production), tactical (infrastructure) and strategic level (economic design). Build a co-creation space to facilitate. Understand all legal compliances.

Adaptability
Production based on the local retail, food hubs’ and individual needs. Include the diversity of interests from the neighbourhood in the opportunities that a local food system offers. Make sure you align with the narratives of the local community of Amsterdam Nieuw-West. 60% of the population is Muslim and make sure to make the connection with the narrative of Halal. The development of training and knowledge programs is key to inform, motivate and train partners in the value train. The participants gave input on the developed training topics and prioritized them for the Dutch Living Lab.

Policy
Dutch AKIS and the Dutch LL aligned on building a peer reference group of policymakers for each level. Local, regional, national and international. With all participants we discussed that contact with policymakers should also focus on discussing the right-to-own vs responsibility, connecting with other neighbourhoods and the network of charter cities and discuss the application of alternative taxes for social capital.

Harvest Summercamp – Community Farming
The workshop took place during Grounded Community’s Harvest Summercamp, a weekend experience at MijnStadstuin that brougth together nature lovers, change-makers, creatives, and curious minds for three days of meaningful work, inspiring learning, and joyful play.

MijnStadstuin, a beautiful urban agriculture oasis in Amsterdam – home to food forests, edible gardens, a sauna caravan, and a thriving network of grassroots initiatives. It is the perfect place to camp, explore, and co-create.

Activities
Support the harvest at a healthcare-driven veggie farm – get grounded in purposeful physical work (for one afternoon!), do and learn while working at the Community Farm MijnStadsTuin. You’ll work with the founder and experience expert Robin van Asperen throughout the area – small acts, big impact. Join workshops, talks, and hands-on sessions covering urban ecology, permaculture, food systems, creative expression, and justice.