Successful Exchange in Milan for the EU Food Security HUB Project

This week, professionals and stakeholders from the partner organizations of the EU Food Security HUB project gathered in Milan for a two-day exchange program aimed at fostering cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the expansion of best practices in food security and social inclusion.

The event took place on January 28th and 29th, 2025 in Milan, which allowed the holding of relevant field visits and deepening collaboration with key local actors.

Activities and Highlights

On Tuesday, January 28th, the partners met at  Cascina Cuccagna, where they explored the new Food Hub Cuccagna. Managed by ACRA, the project supports families in vulnerable situations ensuring access to food but also includes training and personal and family counseling, which draws connections with La Botiga’s experience in El Prat. 

Participants also engaged with EStà, represented by Francesca La Rocca, and other local partners involved in food security initiatives. The first module test, Sustainable Agriculture Training – Unit #3: Relationships between Agricultural Producers & Consumers, was conducted.

The afternoon featured a visit to CasciNet, where attendees learned about its Food forest project, agroecology, and permaculture practices. The day concluded with a “Social Aperitivo” at CasciNet’s Agriristoro, allowing participants to taste locally produced goods and network in a relaxed setting.

On Wednesday, January 29th, the group gathered at So.De – Social delivery Hub, which provides a social and environment friendly delivery service focusing on ecological transition, workers’ rights, and green mobility. Participants also visited Rob de Matt, a social inclusion restaurant where they later had lunch. The agenda included two additional module tests: Inclusive Team Management – Unit #1: Stereotypes and Sustainable Food Systems Training – Unit #2: Climate Change and Food Systems. The exchange concluded with a wrap-up and evaluation session.

Parallel Meetings and Delegation from El Prat City Council

A delegation from ABD and the City Council of El Prat de Llobregat took part in parallel meetings to explore synergies with local food policy initiatives. The delegation included:

• Arnau Consesa – Head of Social and Community Action Service, City Council of El Prat de Llobregat
• Joaquim Bartolomé – Deputy Mayor for Environmental Action and Urban Services, Deputy for City Promotion and Agriculture
• Maria Sais – Project Manager, La Botiga
• Mònica Plana – Director of Inclusion and Poverty, ABD

The delegation met with representatives from EStà (Francesca La Rocca, Francesca Federici, and Andrea Calori), MUFPP (Cecile Michel), the Milan City Council (Elisa Porreca), and ACRA (Michele Curami, Valeria De Paoli, and Sara Baglioni). Discussions focused on food security policies, sustainable agriculture projects, and best practices from the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, including the Local Food Waste Hubs initiative, which operates 11 supermarkets dedicated to food waste recovery.

Looking Ahead

This exchange in Milan was the fourth of five planned events under the EU Food Security HUB project, following previous exchanges in El Prat de Llobregat, Lyon, and Palermo. The final exchange will take place in Athens at the end of February 2025. These exchanges continue to play a crucial role in developing a common European framework of competencies to support innovative career pathways addressing food insecurity in a sustainable and socially inclusive manner.

The project remains committed to fostering collaboration and sharing best practices to improve food security across Europe.