Institutional Context Summary Sheets (Deliverable D1.4)

Edible City Solutions (ECS) are recognized by city representatives for their potential to contribute
to addressing key socio‐economic and environmental challenges. Differences in local context,
however, shape local priorities and thus the best locally‐ suited mechanisms for integrating ECS
in local planning.
In larger cities, there is a growing demand for policy action from citizens, which are involved in a
multitude of community‐based ECS. In some cities ECS initiatives have already benefited from a
wide range of existing supportive programs. Information on existing opportunities, however, is
hard to access. Furthermore, many ECS initiatives are threatened by uncertainty in the context of
competing demands for scarce land. Yet, strategies for ensuring their long‐term sustainability are
generally lacking. ECS are often seen as a fashion among other urban trends. City administrations
are beginning to experiment with both vertical (borough, district, city‐wide) and horizontal (crosssectoral)
modes of coordination involving a wide range of stakeholders. Furthermore, new ways
of facilitating access to information are being explored. However, existing processes often lack
broad‐based citizen involvement, which is a challenge that needs to be addressed.
In smaller cities, where land for agricultural production is more easily accessible, ECS policy integration
tends to be a municipal‐led endeavour aimed to create awareness and knowledge on
environmental problems, revitalizing the local economy and enhancing opportunities for special
target groups. Some local administrations have begun to experiment with the use of ECS
implementation as a strategy for the social integration of long‐term unemployed and youth.
However, effective strategies for the engagement of marginal groups need to be better explored.

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