The development of a robust, regional and regenerative food system in the AMA – Update May 2023

On January 18th, we shared the latest update on the rollout strategy in Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (AMA). It is high time again, a lot has happened.

Amped’s Ian Rinkes captured our process in the AMA over the past 3 years with beautiful illustrations.

1. Short food chain network
We have established a collaborative network of 6 existing short food chains, named Dutch Short Chain Collective (Korte Keten Collectief Nederland). The network thus covers 5 provinces with more than 350 farmers and producers. They are all frontrunners investing in the connection between city and country. With the farmers, we analysed what is needed to develop the regional food system. New farmers are welcome to join.

2. Logistics and IT platform
Together, we set up the first-mile logistics hubs and we work collectively from a single transaction platform. We do the last-mile electrically. More than 3,000 products are available. We supply B2B, food banks, student networks and distribution points for vulnerable groups. We have also created a shared data platform, including blockchain. We are looking for support to accelerate sales.

3. Building an urban network
We have built a bottom-up network of 120 companies and organisations in the AMA, working on (local/regional) food from different perspectives. Together, we work on the rules of the game where top-down connection occurs. The network consists of universities, (semi-)governments, caterers, hospitality industry, urban agriculture networks, young people, cultural venues, transition specialists, neighbourhood initiatives, etc..

4. Connecting city and countryside
We connected urban food networks to our farmers and activities in the region. In 2 years, several meetings and in-depth sessions have taken place. We have also jointly launched and marketed new crops and products. The partners understand each other’s language, trust each other, see many shared opportunities and new collaborations are emerging.

5. Area-based collaboration and financing
The networks discussed what is needed to help both farmers and citizens redesign the food system. This touches on new forms of governance. Together, we are working on new transformational governance structures and area-based forms of financing, from the Commons.

6. National and international roll-out, AMA EU Living Lab
The EU4Advice Living Lab AMA uses the GAIN Transition Model and is supported for 5 years by 10 EU programmes. This is the foundation for scaling up. We are working on a Competence Centre to support the networks.

• Horizon Europe programmes EU4Advice and FoodCLIC awarded
• Data Value Center Agri & Food Short Chain was set up
• Municipality of Amsterdam as partner

UU students help analyse MRA roll-out process

On February 9th 2023 eight bachelor students from UU’s Global Sustainability Sciences were briefed on the consultancy project, tasks were divided and they have finished their research in April. In order to have a 360-degree perspective, the analysis was done with two perspectives: through the Amped/L2L lens and the one of our partners and stakeholders.

AMPED and Local2Local are very happy with the report, which has become part of the sourcing for the larger scope of research AMPED has initiated in partnership with UU and other universities.

Learning food regions: Limburg meets Amsterdam Metropolitan Area
On March 29th, we kicked off the exploration for cooperation with the Limburg region with a visit of the Limburg network to the AMA for a peer2peer network exchange. The AMA partners welcomed the Limburg guests at the Food Forum in Almere.

This meeting will be followed up with a co-creation session in Maastricht in June. All Rijper participants (De Rijper Nov 24-26 2022 & HvA April 5th 2023) have now received a personal invitation.

Co-creation session ‘Start conversion phase roll-out strategy AMA’
Date and time: June 9th 2023, 10:00 – 16:00
Location: Hotel Management School Maastricht – Zuyd Hogeschool, Bethlehemweg 2, 6222 BM Maastricht

Co-creation session Vital Food Community – March 31st
Following the kick-off meeting at VU Amsterdam campus on Nov 4th 2022, the Vital Food Community organised a co-creation session at Fort bij ‘t Hemeltje on March 31st 2023.

Rijper 2 : AMA meeting at HvA – April 5th
On Wednesday April 5th we gathered at the Amstel Campus of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam for an in-depth session of collaboration, to reflect and take steps with activities. In other words: Rijper, part 2. View the photo album of the meeting here.

HvA Community of Practice (CoP): Shake The Hand That Feeds You – April 26th
As a student, how can you contribute to a sustainable, inclusive and healthy future of our food? At the meeting on April 26th last of the CoP Sustainable Food Systems of the University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam at the Amstel Campus, students from different fields of study, through moderator Charisa Chotoe, got into a conversation with social designer Sophie Wartenbergh (Regeneratie Coöperatie), with entrepreneur Michel Penterman (Boeren van Amstel) and Belgian author Tobias Leenaert (‘Towards a Vegan World’) about their vision of the future of food. With Maarten Klop (Amped/Local2Local/Grounded Community), the students discovered in his gamified workshop how they can contribute to the food system of the future with their own talent and entrepreneurship.

LutkeMEER, the battle for Amsterdam’s last fields – May 8th
On Monday May 8th, Bart Melief’s documentary MEER was watched with great interest at Pakhuis de Zwijger. The story ends where Food Park Amsterdam begins. A film about the origins, existence and future of this green spot on the edge of the city. The programme included watching excerpts from the documentary together and participants discussing a new horizon for the Food Park and presenting the plan for the Lutkemeerpolder.

Jeffrey Spangenberg: ‘Food park chooses to exploit the added value of Lutkemeer. MORE value not calculated according to the exploitative model of our economic system, but one that considers and accounts for the value and potential of people, animals, plants, air, water and future.’

Read on and download the draft plan ‘Harvest for the Future’!

‘Care for Food’ final meeting in Rivierenland – May 12th

The Zorg om Voedsel (Care for Food) project was launched in 2020 with the aim of encouraging healthcare institutions to buy food and drinks directly from local producers in the Rivierenland region. Care for Food was made possible by the province of Gelderland and the European Union under the POP3 scheme. The project will end in June 2023. During this final meeting at Linge’s Zorglandgoed in Rumpt, the results were shared and the follow-up discussed for the Rivierenland region with the partners Oregional, Diverzio, Korte Keten Collectief Nederland and Local2Local/AMPED.

Learning together towards a new food system – June 20th, Pakhuis de Zwijger
Whether you are a farmer, chef, entrepreneur, policymaker, student, teacher or anyone else, we need to build the future of our food system together. At this event, dedicated individuals and organisations from Amsterdam will come together around a new robust, regional and regenerative food system for the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. We will explore practical ideas and strategies for this much-needed transition. This programme offers a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and build valuable relationships. View the programme and register on the Pakhuis de Zwijger website, participation is free!

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