FOOD FOREST

FOOD FOREST (Fostering Organic Opportunities for Diverse Farming, Optimising Resilience, and Eco-friendly Sustainable Techniques) is a project funded under the European Institute of Innovation & Technology Food (EIT Food), which is dedicated to driving innovation across the food system. The project seeks to create a viable business model for Food Forests and encourage their adoption as a sustainable solution for food production and environmental regeneration in both urban and rural areas across Europe.

The project aims to:

• Establish two pilot Community Food Forests (CFFs) in different climatic zones of the European Union as Living Laboratories and Educational Centres.
• Lay the foundations for a future European Network of CFFs, building on the lessons learned throughout the project.
• Promote sustainable and resilient agricultural practices through dedicated educational programmes.
• Recover and disseminate traditional knowledge on edible plants, fostering healthier and more sustainable eating habits.
• Regenerate urban areas and enhance local biodiversity through ecosystem-based approaches.
• Address social challenges by creating inclusive community spaces that strengthen social cohesion and well-being.
• Contribute to the revitalisation of rural areas and counter depopulation through a sustainable and attractive land-use model.
• Mitigate climate change by improving carbon sequestration, soil health, and ecosystem resilience.
• Assess the economic feasibility of Food Forests as a food production model, identifying current barriers and opportunities.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations to policymakers and relevant stakeholders to support the adoption, scaling-up, and market integration of Food Forests as a viable business model.

The project is multidisciplinary in nature and adopts a participatory, co-creation approach with the communities involved in the development of Food Forests. It also seeks to raise awareness and provide training for professionals, local entities, and the wider public, driving a paradigm shift towards more sustainable food systems. Community participation will be essential at every stage, from design to the implementation of pilot initiatives.

The consortium is composed of 11 partner organisations from four European countries: Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Estonia. The project includes two Community Food Forests currently under development: one in Artajona (Spain) and another in Tallinn (Estonia).

Building on the knowledge generated, the project will define and validate a methodology for establishing a European Network of Community Food Forests. This will enable the creation of replicable pilot models and promote population retention in rural areas, strengthening social cohesion and accelerating the transition towards more sustainable systems across Europe.