This year’s Vidzeme Innovation Week covered a long list of topics relevant for building a sustainable future with a potential of starting transformational change in the local community. The closing event of our project “The Future of Urban Agriculture” took place in 1st of March in Valmiera as a part of the Innovation Week. The main theme of the event evolved around diversity and the growing of food in the future. Keynote speakers were Inese Suija-Markova, Vice-Chair of the Development Council of the Vidzeme Planning Region, and two guests from the Nordic countries: Luciane Aguiar Borges and Kyösti Lempa. The event was moderated by our colleague Maija Kāle, Sustainability Advisor.
The Nordic partner organisation Nordregio was represented by Luciane. Her extensive professional experience, wide knowledge and a list of practical power-examples were an invaluable contribution not only to this event but also to the whole project. The other Nordic partner organisation, NordForsk, was represented by Kyösti from Oslo. His professional experience in leading research programmes such as “Sustainable Urban Development and Smart Cities” and “Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change” raised the bar for the quality and positive impact of this project, covering also the aspect of technology.
The closing event consisted of two parts. The first, informative part, featured presentations by the experts. In the second part, actor Varis Klausītājs and artist Lote Vilma Vītiņa from the Drawing Theatre helped to transform the participants’ insights and reflections on diversity, sustainability, urban agriculture and future food production into a work of art. The Drawing Theatre is known for its peculiar method of presenting content where artist acts as a bridge connecting any type of performance, the audience and the resulting peace of art. They turn words or ideas of the participants, dance or in some cases – sounds of music – into a drawing or painting.
Urban agriculture, an important aspect of sustainable urban living, is gaining momentum in the Nordic countries, driven by increased engagement from civil society. This practice involves cultivating, processing, and distributing food products, including herbs, within cities. Beyond its agricultural dimension, urban agriculture contributes to sustainable and healthy lifestyles, fosters cleaner air in cities, promotes social inclusion, and builds communities.
The goal of the project “Future of Urban Agriculture” (#FutureUA) is to identify and appraise executed agriculture initiatives in the urban setting, exchange knowledge and share experience in the field of urban agriculture and sustainable food production in the Nordic region and the Baltic states. Coordinated by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia, Nordregio in Sweden, and NordForsk in Norway, the project aims to create a platform for discussions on the potential of urban agriculture in achieving the sustainable development goals of this region. It has brought together various stakeholders across partnering countries.
We are grateful to the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences for welcoming us in their modern premises, and for the technical support.
We are grateful to every attendant of the event and to everyone who is interested in the topic of sustainable food practices for a sustainable future. Every change starts with someone with a dream, someone with an idea and someone who is ready to take the first step towards a better tomorrow.
An extensive summary of the Future of Urban Agriculture project is available here with additional materials for those willing to go deeper on the topic.
Videos of project-related workshops are available here in full versions and in abridged versions.
