Global food production does make it possible to supply a wide variety of food. However, it also has negative sides. These include greenhouse gases due to long transportation routes or food losses due to incorrect storage or overproduction. In order to address these challenges within urban areas, the project CITY.FOOD.BASKET took a look at how regional food production and consumption can be promoted in cities like Graz and Vienna. 

For a climate-conscious and healthy way to eat it is vital to buy seasonally and regionally produced food, stresses the ITA project team Mashid Sotoudeh and Niklas Gudowsky. The ITA dossier "Regional Food Futures" explains problems and obstacles for regional foods and makes recommendations to promote regional diets.

In order to improve regional supply, an interplay between producers, agriculture, trade and regional institutions is required, among others. Recommendations include buying directly from producers to avoid transportation and packaging, eating seasonally to make the best use of farmland, and promoting small regional living spaces to prevent urban sprawl.

Read more here: ITA Dosser No. 71 - Regional Food Future