For this purpose, the project is divided into four Workpackages (WP2-WP5) plus project management (WP1) and dissemination (WP6), and employs a mix-methods approach, combining document analysis, in-depth and structured survey interviews as well as direct participation and implementation of urban food strategies following a living lab methodology.

The first months of the project (started in November 2023) will be devoted to an extensive review of existing literature on sustainable urban food strategies (WP2) to identify research already conducted on cities that have already implemented local food policies.

Our initial theoretical focus will be on four types of broad factors: political, economic, cultural, and environmental.

The main objective is to understand what are the factors identified in already available research which influence the emergence and consolidation of local food policies.

Then, we want to draw a comprehensive map of European cities that have been developing and implementing sustainable local food policies (WP3). Among other sources, the analysis will use the following transnational networks for sustainable food strategies to identify innovative local food policies and practices. So, we will proceed with a detailed content analysis aimed at systematically describing the nature of local sustainable food strategies. Based on this analysis, 10 cases of local urban food strategies will be selected for an in-depth study from 5 different countries.

The selected cases will be examined in detail with semi-structured interviews (WP4), exploring the specific actions included in local strategies, focusing on objectives, number of partners involved and participatory mechanisms.

Each research unit will be in charge of 5 cases: one in Italy (Trento and Padua), and four in other two countries per each. For each city we will also collect and analyse policy and project documents, secondary context data related, and type of strategy in terms of political and social participation.

The two research units will oversee the activity of and contribute to develop sustainable urban food strategies of Trento and Padua through a living lab (WP5).

Furthermore, an innovative survey aimed at collecting high-quality data, based on a representative sample of the residents of the cities will be produced to understand the dietary practices and lifestyles of the citizens of Trento and Padua.

In conclusion, we will define a “roadmap” on how to implement a living lab methodology within the local sustainable urban food strategy.