collaborative governance

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Mértola’s Food Network is a project building territorial food sovereignty through the production and local consumption of organic and regenerative products. 

Based on a collaborative governance model that brings together farmers, public entities, and local citizens, the Network develops and implements an innovative approach to the food system, as an attractive and effective alternative to conventional food supply chains.

With the goal of meeting the Municipality’s target of locally sourcing 75% of the products for public canteens, the Food Network now has a central role in connecting producers and consumers, strengthening relationships, interdependence and trust. The Food Network paves the path towards territorial food sovereignty—an essential dimension of the social, economic, and ecological resilience of Mértola.

The project’s success has inspired studies and has been replicated in other regions. The Food Network will now be an integral part of the TerrAlimenta 2.0 project—a Baixo Alentejo-wide initiative that will develop a regional food basin, weaving together various local projects, as part of a common strategy for innovation and regeneration of the food system.

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