On 12 and 13 February, Bolzano became the meeting point for the European partner organisations of the FOOD FOREST project, with the aim of consolidating progress in the development of viable business models for Food Forests and preparing the next steps for their adoption as a sustainable solution for food production and environmental regeneration in urban areas across Europe. Following the first meeting in Artajona (Spain), this gathering provided an opportunity to review progress and plan the project’s forthcoming actions.
Two Days of Progress and Planning
Over two days, the participants focused on evaluating the project’s progress and defining the actions to be carried out in the coming months. Through discussions, workshops, and collaborative sessions, different approaches were analysed and experiences exchanged, taking as reference the pilot projects in Artajona (Spain) and Tallinn (Estonia). The partner organisations identified challenges and opportunities, aiming to strengthen the Food Forest model and ensure its viability as a replicable example in European urban environments.
At the end of the first day, participants took a walk along the Talvera River at sunset, an activity that provided an opportunity to reflect on the integration of Food Forests into urban areas and to reinforce collaboration among the teams.
The partner organisations included: Eurac Research (Italy); la Universidad de Coímbra (Portugal); Institute of Baltic Studies (IBS), Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU) and the City Council of Tallinn (Estonia); and in Spain, the University of the Basque Country (EHU), RB3 Innovación Urbana Integrada , TRAINN, El Gatoverde Producciones, the City Council of Artajona and the Artajona Agricultural Cooperative.
Next Stop: Tallinn, Estonia
The project will continue in Tallinn, Estonia, where the third General Assembly will be held on 2 and 3 September 2026. At this meeting, the partner organisations will continue sharing lessons learned, consolidating the European Food Forest community, and advancing the planning for the future implementation of the project.
