Green Minds Gather 2025 – track session report

Mark Frederiks (Amped & EU4Advice) & Jacqueline Broerse (VU Amsterdam Athena Institute & FoodCLIC / CLEVERFOOD) led Green Minds Gather 2025 programme’s track ‘Developing Localized Food Systems and Short Food Supply Chains’ with an interactive session on both days of the conference.

Over the last decade, an increasing number of European towns and cities have acknowledged the need to radically change their food systems so as to make sustainable and healthy food more available, affordable and attractive to their citizens. One pathway is to stimulate food from local sustainable sources, thereby also increasing urban-rural connections, and building stronger short food supply chains. The required changes in the food system are, however, not easily realized due to systemic barriers that hinder scaling of grassroots initiatives. 

This track seeked to work towards an integrated, interactive support structure that will empower changemakers and mobilise networks on a co-created pathway towards robust, regional and regenerative food systems;

• The role of cities in food system transformation by Jacqueline Broerse (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Athena Institute and FoodCLIC / CLEVERFOOD) 
• Building an integrated interactive support structure to empower changemakers and mobilize networks by Mark Frederiks (Amped and EU4Advice)
• Break out in roundtables focusing on young talent, networking, IT & blockchain, living labs, co-creation platform
• Integrating the inputs from the break out groups

Track session report: Interactive common source driven collaborations can empower local changemakers to establish resilient and sustainable food systems.

What if? 
We envision a future where cities across Europe have succeeded in making sustainable, healthy food available, affordable and attractive to citizens. Where short food supply chains and strong urban-rural connections have been established and systemic barriers for scaling of food-related grassroot initiatives are overcome. These changes are highly supported by interactive, common source driven collaborations empowering local changemakers to establish resilient and sustainable food systems.

Key challenges to overcome
Fragmented networks and lack of shared infrastructure restrict the impact and scalability of local food initiatives, because:

• The market doesn’t reward the values created by local initiatives 
• Limited access to finance, knowledge and supportive policy frameworks
• Insufficient digital tools and platforms for transparent, trust-based collaboration and traceability 
• Difficulties in engaging and retaining young talents and other stakeholders in food system innovation

Suggestions for ways forward

• Developing and supporting common source digital platforms for open sharing of knowledge and tools
• Creating infrastructures based on backward engineering of value creation through a network of living labs and co-creation spaces for testing of new ideas and rapid scaling of successful models
• Fostering network supporting structures connecting changemakers across sectors, facilitating action and peer learning and mobilizing resources 
• Investing in youth engagement and mentorship programs to cultivate the next generation of food system innovators, e.g. providing training workshops and experience placements
• Supporting the adoption of IT and blockchain solutions for supply chain transparency, trust and efficiency
• Establishing co-creation platforms in the shape of digital hubs for ongoing exchange and co-development of solutions

Who will need to take action?

• Networks and intermediaries by facilitating connections and knowledge exchange 
• Local and regional policymakers by enabling frameworks and support structures
• Cities by supporting food system transformation and urban-rural connection building
• Research institutions by driving innovation and providing evidence-based solutions 
• Digital solution providers by developing and maintaining common source platforms
• Young professionals and grassroots organizations by co-creating and implementing new innovations

Read more
 “Insights & recommendations to support collaborative Short Food Supply Chains”, a booklet on the main findings of the SMARTCHAIN project. In nine languages farmers, food producers etc. get applicable solutions to sustainable business performance. 

Reporting by track session leaders Jacqueline Broerse, Professor of Innovation and Communication, Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and participant in the FoodCLIC, CLEVERFOOD projects, and Mark Frederiks, Director, Amped and participant in the EU4Advice project.