AMPLE - Madrid
EIT Food worked with Entreculturas, Acción Contra el Hambre and Germinando to co-create 3 traininging programmes focused on: Cooking & Food Handling , Urban Gardening & Regenerative Agriculture, and Agrifood Entrepreneurship.
Strengthening Food Security Through Community Action
Launched in October 2023, AMPLE Madrid is an EIT Food's transformative initiative supported by Citi Foundation that tackles food insecurity among vulnerable populations in the city. In collaboration with Entreculturas, Acción contra el Hambre, and Germinando, the project delivers three co-created training programmes focused on food skills, urban agriculture, and agrifood entrepreneurship.
Through AMPLE, EIT Food and its partners aim to create sustainable solutions to socio-economic challenges by enhancing knowledge, supporting local food systems, and building pathways to employment and inclusion.
Cooking & Food Handling
This programme has been co-organised with Entreculturas. Held in 2024 and continuing into 2025, the programme is offered to individuals at risk of social exclusion living in Madrid. It includes a series of sessions focused on the preparation of traditional Spanish dishes—covering starters, main courses, and desserts—accompanied by a tailor-made recipe book developed exclusively for AMPLE.
Participants also attends food handling classes, culminating in the official Food Handling Certificate issue by Cáritas. In total, the programme includes 12 sessions:
- 8 cooking workshops
- 4 food handling sessions
Additionally, a special session is delivered by a nutritionist focusing on healthy eating habits and zero food waste practices. The sessions are supported throughout by volunteers from Entreculturas, who play a key role in mentoring and assisting participants.
About Entreculturas
Entreculturas is an international NGO committed to social and educational justice. Through projects across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe, it advocates for equal opportunities in education, gender equality, migration support, and environmental protection.
Urban Gardening & Regenerative Agriculture
In collaboration with Germinando, AMPLE has developed and delivered the Regenerative Agriculture and Urban Gardening Programme. Designed for individuals both with and without prior gardening experience, the programme consists of 8 hands-on sessions held at Finca El Pozo, Madrid (Spain), a site equipped with urban plots and gardening tools.
The course curriculum covers the following areas:
- Introduction to regenerative agriculture
- Soil management and improvement
- Seed selection and planting
- Horticultural calendar and plant families
- Pest and disease management
- Maintenance of urban gardens
In addition, participants receive targeted entrepreneurship sessions delivered by Barrios Productores, offering insights into starting a business within the agrifood entrepreneurship ecosystem of Madrid. If you are interested in the matter, you can find more information here: https://barriosproductores.madrid.es/
About Germinando
Germinando is a cooperative that promotes agroecological transition through entrepreneurship support, training, territorial development, and public policy consultancy.
Agrifood Entrepreneurship
To foster entrepreneurship in the agrifood sector, EIT Food collaborates with Acción Contra el Hambre to deliver an 8-session course for individuals from vulnerable backgrounds with business ideas in food and agriculture. The course provides foundational knowledge in entrepreneurship and business development, helping participants shape and structure their ideas for market readiness. Each participant receives individualised mentoring from entrepreneurship experts at Acción Contra el Hambre, offering continuous guidance and personalised support throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
About Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger is a global humanitarian NGO focused on ending hunger and building resilience. In Europe and beyond, the organisation supports at-risk individuals with food, water, and integration tools to foster autonomy and stability.
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