Birmingham Joins its partners at Food Trails Final Conference in Brussels

Birmingham proudly participated in the Food Trails Final Conference, held in Brussels, showcasing its unwavering commitment to sustainable food systems. This prestigious event, funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 program, brought together 19 partners, including 11 cities, 3 universities, and 5 civil society organizations, all dedicated to fostering resilient and healthy food systems.

The Food Trails project, led by the city of Milan, aims to transform the collective commitment of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact into tangible, long-term progress towards sustainable urban food policies. This four-year initiative focuses on enabling cities to reimagine, develop, and implement integrated and innovative food policies for more resilient and healthier food systems. Each partner city, including Birmingham, runs a Living Lab—a participatory space for collaboration, innovation, and evidence collection to accelerate food systems transformation.

Helen Harrison, Assistant Director of Public Health at Birmingham City Council, contributed significantly to the conference by participating in a panel discussion on “The Potential of Living Labs for Food System Transformation.” Her insights highlighted Birmingham’s innovative approaches and the city’s role in driving food system transformation.

This final event not only allowed Birmingham to showcase its achievements but also facilitated the exchange of ideas, future projects, and funding opportunities that will benefit the citizens of Birmingham. The conference served as a vital forum for discussing the future of European food systems, with Birmingham playing a key role in these important conversations.

As the conference concluded, Birmingham representatives expressed their enthusiasm for sharing their journey and gaining valuable insights from European and city representatives. The collaborative spirit of the event promises to drive further advancements in sustainable food systems across Europe.