Growing Green Communities

The objective of this project is to provide support for Europe's goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The realization of this ambitious objective necessitates the implementation of robust programs and initiatives, such as the European Green Deal, to facilitate the green transition. As indicated in the EDGAR-FOOD report, approximately one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and 30% of EU emissions (within the EU 27 countries, the range is 25-42%) are attributable to the food system (2021). It is noteworthy that approximately half of these greenhouse gas emissions are CO₂; these are primarily associated with land-use change and energy consumption. The remaining one-third of the emissions are methane (CH₄), which are largely stemming from livestock production and food waste. This data highlights the urgent necessity to address food waste and implement more sustainable practices within the food system. The objective of this initiative is to address these critical challenges by fostering collaboration among partners to develop educational tools and strategies for achieving the necessary green transition.

The implementation of this project is designed to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action) by empowering local youth as active agents of change within their communities, households, and civil society organizations. The specific, quantifiable objectives of this project are as follows: - The creation of educational tools will facilitate an enhanced comprehension of the potential for transformation in urban household food production, consumption patterns, and food waste mitigation. - Youth Engagement Activation: The objective is to develop and test an inclusive training format that inspires young learners to initiate and support urban gardening projects, thereby fostering ownership and responsibility. - Promotion of Sustainable Consumption: The project will encourage a plant-based diet and facilitate a reconnection with nature by establishing shorter food supply chains. This includes identifying effective methods to enhance producer-consumer interactions, promote Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and develop Alternative Food Networks (AFN).

-A series of activities promoting sustainable living were held at the Roskilde Festival as part of the Green Market section. These activities, included three presentations by experts in the fields of food and sustainability. The speakers included Professor Bent Egberg Mikkelsen from Copenhagen University and Dr. Karen Blinco, a board member of the Samsø Energy Academy. Subsequent to the presentations, upcycling workshops were conducted by Crossing Borders. One workshop concentrated on the revitalization of garments, while the other focused on the dissemination of information regarding the impact of climate change on food production and prices. Furthermore, the workshop provided recommendations for reducing food waste, with a particular focus on the utilisation of coffee grounds, given that the Scandinavian audience at Roskilde is the highest coffee consumer globally. -We participated in the School Food Science Conference at Heed Husene, which was attended by educational institutions and experts from Denmark, Australia, Norway, and Sweden. The conference was inaugurated by the Danish Minister of Agriculture, which provided an opportunity for us to disseminate information about the Growing Green Communities project. .At the full-day School Food event at Frederiksberg Town Hall, we presented on the mitigation of food waste through technology, which represents a key focus of our project, and displayed informational banners. -A replication of this presentation was conducted at a sustainability event held at CPH University. .In November 2022, the Growing Green Communities project was presented at the CB Annual Assembly. .Kalevan lukio has engaged with local stakeholders to explore potential collaborations with ELY-keskus Pirkanmaa and Ecobuddies. They are integrating the project's objectives into their home economics curriculum and will disseminate best practices at the training in Bordeaux in March 2023. Their partner is also preparing a presentation that will highlight Finnish initiatives for a green transition, emphasizing sustainable living and food waste reduction.

The project successfully achieved several concrete outputs and results that have significantly enhanced youth engagement in sustainable food practices. 1.Urban Gardening and (Community) Cultivation Training Format (R1): A comprehensive manual was developed for the initiation of urban gardening projects. This resource included detailed instructions for conducting hands-on assessments of soil and water conditions, thereby enabling youth organizations to effectively engage young people in community gardening initiatives. 2.The "Smart Urban Regional Food Strategies Handbook" (R2) is a comprehensive guide that provides a detailed overview of effective strategies for developing sustainable food systems at the regional level. The project resulted in the production of a handbook that synthesized research findings and best practices regarding community-supported agriculture (CSA) and alternative food networks (AFN). This innovative resource facilitated the adoption of plant-based food cultures and shorter supply chains within urban communities. 3.The GrowGreen.com Online Platform (R3) An online platform was developed to facilitate the sharing of experiences, research, and resources related to urban food practices. This platform served as a collaborative space for communities, urban farmers, and food producers, thereby ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project's outcomes. Training Activities (C1): A four-day training event for youth workers was successfully conducted, equipping them with the requisite skills to implement the Urban Gardening Training Format. The participants were instructed in the dissemination of knowledge within their communities, thereby amplifying the project's impact. Project Management, Quality Assurance, and Risk Management (WP1): Throughout the project, effective management strategies were employed to ensure the seamless delivery of all work packages, maintaining quality and adherence to timelines and budgets. Sharing, Promotion, and Use of the Project's Results and Stakeholder Engagement (WP2): is concerned with the dissemination of the project's findings and the engagement of relevant stakeholders. This work package was instrumental in disseminating project progress and results across partner countries and beyond, engaging a diverse range of stakeholders in the project's objectives. Research and Handbook Coordination (WP3): The research activities were coordinated in order to finalize the Urban Gardening Training Format and the SURF Handbook, thereby ensuring that they were aligned with the project goals. Pedagogy and Training Delivery (WP4): The objective of this work package was to develop an inclusive strategy for youth activation in urban gardening contexts. This involved the creation of pedagogical guidance and the linking of training content with digital resources. Digital Resources Development (WP5): The creation of digital resources facilitated the integration of project outputs with research communities and practitioners, thereby enhancing the exchange and collaboration of knowledge. - Crossing Borders undertook some preliminary work to open a domain for the platform and design an initial layout: https://www.growgreencom.eu/. The initially planned name of the domain was already taken when Crossing Borders undertook the purchase, so the name had to be changed from ”growgreen.com” to “growgreencom.eu”. The creation of a domain and initial layout with information about the project was also used for dissemination purposes. A roll-up was created with a QR code so partners could display it at events and people could scan the QR to access more information about the project quickly.