Shared Observatory

Developing a shared Observatory

16 territorial case studies

ATTER is structured around 16 territorial case studies with contrasted socio-agro-ecological characteristics in the 5 participating countries (France, Italy, UK, Brazil, USA).

ATTER has developped a shared observatory which gives access through an interactive map, to the identity cards of the 16 regions and their food systems, the analysis of their trajectories, and comparative insights with other case studies. Different levels of details are offered with focuses on key initiatives as well as events linked to the project, such as the “cross-fertilisation workshops” organised to foster direct exchanges between 2 case studies.

In France

Southern Ardèche in Southern France

An attractive rural region (both to newcomers and tourists), with a diversified agriculture although wine and chestnut dominate, a diversity of initiatives, both from the civil society and farmers’ networks, and committed local institutions. See https://www.assiette-territoire.com/

Mirecourt in Eastearn France

A rural region in demographic decline, with a high poverty rate, specialized agriculture ;an innovative territorial food project focused on ecological farming, is carried out by the INRAE local experimental station as a ‘living lab’.

Rennes

An attractive medium size city, the most dynamic in Britany in terms of food initiatives, with a strong growth of CSA and box schemes; a still-growing number of open-air markets and cooperative shops; and a local food strategy launched in 2019.

In Italy

Alto Salento in Southern Italy

A rural region with a strong presence of olive tree growing and olive oil culture,artisanal fisheries, promotion of local quality foods (organic, Slow Food presidia, PDOs) in connection with sustainable and responsible rural and coastal tourism.

The Lucca network of biodynamic wine producers

A dynamic group of producers which promotes knowledge sharing over agroecological practices in interaction with local actors.

The « Plano del Cibo »

A project involving several municipalities of the Lucca region,  a region with a high level of agricultural diversity and a vivid food culture, in a common local food policy.

In the UK 

Carmarthenshire in South West Wales

A rural region with diversified livestock farming, agrotourism, high quality grass-fed systems, and a diversity of experiments in agroecological systems and new marketing channels.

Cheshire

A rural plain region with a specialised dairying, arable agriculture; some alternative agro-ecological networks like the Pasture Led farming Association and new horticultural initiatives.

Coventry Sustainable Food City

A project elaborated as a member of UK sustainable food cities network (over 30 cities) which stimulates sustainable food diets in cities through community actions and developing alternative markets and retail outlets.

In Brazil

Borborema region (Paraiba)

A semiarid region in northeast Brazil, with a majority of small farm units, diversified agro-ecosystems immersed in a territorial network, involving family farming organizations and a strong women movement;diverse fields of innovation (water security, conservation of local seed varieties, access to markets)

Serra Gaucha (Rio Grande do Sul)

A region of Italian immigration where grape and fruit production was introduced. It is a cradle of agroecology in southern Brazil, where the ECOVIDA Network develops diverse experiences of innovation in production, processing, marketing, supply chains

Porto Alegre

The regional capital of the southest Brazilian State (Rio Grande do Sul), well known for its historical experiences of participatory democracy and civil society activism (World Social Forums) which now reflect in the construction of alternative food networks.

Serra do Rio

A rural montaneous region, close to Rio, with intensive production of vegetables and strong presence of family-based agriculture. Competing processes of specialisation and diversification, intensification and agroecological transitions have long been at play, with the structuring of dynamic agroecological networks.

In the USA

The Urban Farm

This physical hub and related community-engaged activities in Eugene (Oregon) act as a catalyst for agroecological dynamization in the territory.

Grassland 2.0 dairy transition project

A participatory project to transition row-crop (maize and alfalfa) dairy agriculture to managed grazing systems based on local “learning hubs,” and to use local markets to support the territorial transition

Madison Food Policy Council

A government-supported forum and platform which acts as a driver of agroecology, bringing stakeholders together to address issues of food security, food sovereignty, nutrition, and justice in local food systems, using both governmental and nongovernmental policy

Modification date: 22 November 2023 | Publication date: 04 June 2021 | By: ATTER