METROPOLITAN REGION OF AMSTERDAM

The Amsterdam city-region food system.

Due to the beneficial conditions of the Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam, situated in a fertile agricultural production area, the city-region’s agricultural productivity is high. Moreover, agri-food industries are well represented: from seed breeders to food processing. Research and innovation into agri-food is supported by a variety of companies and research institutes.

The city-regions lays a high focus on exporting products, such as milk, meat, vegetables, potatoes, onions and flowers. However, by contrast to this, 95% of the products consumed by the inhabitants are imported. Similarly, concentrate for livestock is primarily imported from South-America.

In response to these statistics, the municipality of Amsterdam has formulated the ambition to source 25% of the food consumed in the municipality from local sources by 2030. The cities of Almere and Amsterdam both adopted a food strategy. And two Food Policy Networks are operating in the city-region: Stichting Voedsel Verbindt (“food connects”) serves as a network for higher education institutes, policymakers and the private sectors. The Food Council of the Metropolitan Region connects citizen initiatives, start-ups and food cooperatives.

The image shows a map of Europe with a placemarker identifying Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Quick facts:

The Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam stretches across thirty municipalities of two provinces in the Netherlands: Noord-Holland and Flevoland.

Approximately 2,5 million people live in the region, in larger cities, such as Amsterdam (the capital of the Netherlands), Almere, Haarlem and Hilversum, as well as smaller towns and rural areas.

Within FoodCLIC, the idea of a healthy food system revolves around food environments that allow everyone to access healthy and sustainable food. Sustainable food production, regional sourcing, food security, animal and environmental friendliness and appropriate remuneration for producers are key components of the future food system in the Metropolitan Region.

Food Policy Networks

Two Food Policy Networks operate in the Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam. First, there is the Food Council of the Metropolitan Region. The strength of the network lies in its proponents, who connect people on a personal basis, with the goal to create a more sustainable and healthy food system for everyone. Members of this Food Policy Network take an active role as practice partners for FoodCLIC.

Parallely, an institutionalised network of government actors, entrepreneurs, initiatives and higher education institutes act under the guise of Vodels Verbindt (“food connects”). The network aims to create a sustainable, regional and circular food system, by providing a stimulating platform for relevant agri-food initiatives. Currently, the network is involved in two different projects, namely the Data Value Centre Agri-food and FoodCLIC. For FoodCLIC, Voedsel Verbindt is acting as the official practice partner and coordinator for the Living Lab.

AMSTERDAM'S FOOD-RELATED POLICIES:

The Amsterdam Voedselstrategie (“food strategy”) comprises six action lines ranging from the social function of food (1), via healthy food environments (3) to regional production (4) and nutritional aspects (6).

The Voedselvisie Noord Holland (“food vision of Noord Holland") focuses on production aspects, such as regenerative agriculture, circular agriculture and short supply chains. The implementation of the food vision is arranged via the Food Policy Network: Voedsel Verbindt.

The Amsterdamse Nota Gezondheidsbeleid (“Amsterdam’s health policy”) recognizes food environments as an important element for improving public health.

CITY-REGION FOOD INITIATIVES:

Plenty of food-related initiatives thrive in the Amsterdam city-region:

Bloei en Groei constitutes a collection of gardens in the city district of Amsterdam Zuidoost that aim to support healing and community building. Over four hundred women have been involved in the gardens, that aim for health and wellbeing, via the act of growing food.

Boeren voor Buren (“farmers for neighbours”) is an initiative that connects production and consumption. Particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, large amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables were brought from production oriented areas in Flevoland, to the outskirts of the city of Amsterdam.

Food Garden IJplein produces food with and for the community. Take what you need. Part of the grown food goes to community restaurant ‘van Harte’, where free meals are organised. Another part goes to the Amsterdam Food Bank.

PROJECT PARTNERS LOCATED IN Amsterdam CITY-REGION:

Food Connects Founcation (Stichting Voedsel Verbindt)

Municipality of Amsterdam

Virje Universiteit Amsterdam (Stichting VU)

The image shows a market stand selling cheese.

FOODCLIC. We are connecting people, food, policy & places.

FoodCLIC is a four-year project funded by the EU. The project runs from September 2022 to February 2027. The acronym FoodCLIC stands for 'integrated urban FOOD policies – developing sustainability Co-benefits, spatial Linkages, social Inclusion and sectoral Connections to transform food systems in city-regions