Policy: Policy Action Plan
Bruges Resources & Context
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Stakeholder name Indicate the stakeholder's name here. This refers to the organization, not the contact person for the organization. |
Expertise/skills The expertise and/or skills held by the stakeholders related to the CRFS. Emphasize how it contributes to the pilot. |
Link to CRFS theme Indicate to which CRFS theme the stakeholder relates. Indicate the themes only and do not provide an explanation or descriptive text. Multiple themes may be included if a stakeholder works across several themes. The themes can be indicated as production, processing, distribution, market, consumption, waste, security, ecosystem, livelihood, inclusion. |
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Mintus elderly community center division |
Elderly community center management and strategic direction | distribution, market, consumption, waste, security, ecosystem, livelihood, inclusion |
| Ten Hove buurtcentra | Elderly community center operations | distribution, market, consumption, security, ecosystem, livelihood, inclusion |
| Ter Leyen buurtcentra | Elderly community center operations | distribution, market, consumption, security, ecosystem, livelihood, inclusion |
| Den Heerd buurtcentra | Elderly community center operations | distribution, market, waste, security |
| Bruges Foodlab | Network of food projects | distribution, market, waste, security |
Bruges vision
Policy landscape
Aim: Identify policy gap
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CRFS policy Production |
Description Describe the policy: its approach and main goals. Please keep this succinct as this section aims to merely set out the elements contained within the policy landscape. Generally you can stop drawing the policy landscape after this point as policy gaps are evident. |
| 1. More local and seasonal food |
Bruges wants to focus on more local and seasonal food, with a short chain and a food supply with less transport and trade costs. Connecting this local production with a local market and Bruges consumers to create a between local food production and sale. To focus on a short chain also means investing in new models of food production, providing knowledge and from a short chain approach for local |
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2. Good food with less climate impact |
Reducing the consumption of animal protein makes an important contribution in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In order to limit these emissions, animal proteins should be replaced by plant-based alternatives (in terms of productions and consumption). Because of the green deal protein shift, it is possible to focus on guiding farmers in the cultivation of new agricultural crops with a focus on making the cultivation process more sustainable and innovative forms of agriculture. |
| 3. Food loss becomes profit |
Unsold food products are a major source of food loss. In the food loss plan of Flanders, it is included that the entire chain to it aims to prevent 30% of food losses. The focus is on prevention of food loss and food surpluses (through conscious purchase and consumption behaviour) and then redistribution and processing of food losses and surpluses. In addition, actions have been included to better process food surpluses, so that they are not lost. For example, a distribution network was established. around food surpluses. |
| distribution | |
| Electric biking transport | 40% of all trips in Bruges are done on foot or by bike. With this high score Bruges can rightly call itself a cycling city. Bruges wants the number of cyclists and pedestrians to increase to 50% by 2030. By more focusing on sharing mobility, Bruges wants to reduce individual car traffic including for food delivery by bike. |
| market | |
| The green deal proteine shift | In this case, Bruges promotes the choice for fair trade, to support more plant-based products from local farmers from the South. The policy can also focus on raising awareness among the hospitality industry about green protein shift. ‘The Green Deal’ provides a platform to bring together a diverse set of partners. Chain partners from the agricultural sector, the food processing industry, retail, the catering sector, and the gastronomic world are represented. |
| The CSA model | Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) constitutes a group of customers together with a farm and the community. The customers invest in the seed and the cultivation work, the farmer provides a high-quality and sustainable vegetable and fruit cultivation. This model spreads the risks and strengthens the bond between farmer and customer. The model already works in a few Flemish cities and fits 100% in the Bruges sustainable food strategy. |
| Food in Bruges institutions |
All schools, citizen organizations and healthcare institutions managed by the city of Bruges transition towards a diet with less animal proteins by making changes in their industrial catering kitchens. |
| consumption | |
| Promoting less animal proteins |
The aim is to improve the ratio between animal and vegetable proteins in Flemish consumption with a view to a ratio of 40/60 animal/vegetable proteins by 2030. By allowing Bruges to pioneer as a culinary city with regard to tasty and healthy plant-based food, and by actively promoting this and allowing it to be experienced here and there, the residents of Bruges will also grow along with this evolution. In addition to small-scale interventions, tourism, innovative agriculture, education, the events policy, as well as the sustainable purchasing policy to further integrate nutrition. By promoting the range of plant-based foods, Bruges residents and visitors also learn more about it. |
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Promote and invest in more local food and the short chain |
Bruges aims to change the consumption pattern of the citizens through stimulating and facilitating food initiatives from the (seasonal) short chain by the Bruges Food Lab. This is done by promoting food places and organizations that distribute and help to distribute short-chain products and Bruges markets and shops. Developing communication and marketing strategies to of) local and seasonal consumption. To further help scale up the short (seasonal) chain, |
| Food loss becomes profit |
The focus is on prevention of food loss and food surpluses through conscious purchase and consumption behaviour and then redistribution and processing of food losses. There is for example a project 'Food winners' that aims to reduce food loss in the household. They will also focus on raising awareness about food loss in other sectors (hotels and restaurants, industrial kitchens/catering of schools, the healthcare sector and food processing companies). |
| waste | |
| Food loss becomes profit: reduce food waste |
The City of Bruges is a forerunner in actions to combat food loss and has a lot of actions are already underway. We want to implement these actions and ambitions in the coming scale up the period. Naturally, the emphasis is on prevention of food loss and food surpluses (through conscious purchasing and consumption behaviour) and then redistribution and processing of the food losses and surpluses. Greater awareness when purchasing food products and processing food surpluses can make a significant contribution to the reduction of global CO2 emissions. Primary target groups: Bruges has been encouraging to avoid food loss and food surplus through ensuring training of A. citizens and organizations e.g.'Food winners' is a network of hundreds of Bruges families that actively supports the city to avoid food loss. Through targeted tips, families learn how to reduce their food loss, sometimes with spectacular consequences in the wallet and in the fridge. Bruges wants to welcome at least 5,000 Bruges families in the Food winners trajectory. B. Industrial kitchens (in care institutions, education, etc.). C. Restaurants D. Supermarkets |
| ecosystem | |
| Realisation of the Bruges Foodlab | The Bruges Food lab is a network that connects and strengthens various actors working on sustainable food. The Bruges Food Lab is a driver of initiatives and overarching projects within the Bruges sustainable food strategy. The Food lab has been set-up as a citizen’s initiative to create an active network to include all its citizens to participate in the 'Bruges food strategy' Bruges Tastes'. All stakeholders are included from Food producers, cooks, schools, catering, to farmers in order to work together to turn ideas into concrete action. |
| livelihood | |
| Food loss becomes profit |
Food waste saved going to the most vulnerable. The transition to a climate neutral and climate-robust Bruges will have an impact on nutrition. In addition will the expected heat waves or extreme precipitation have a greater impact on who are least able to cope with it to protect. Bruges will investigate all actions and measures to assess the impact on the more vulnerable Bruges residents: Bruges keeps the negative impact as low as possible and try to make a positive impact wherever possible. |
| Inclusion | |
| Mintus (OCMW) | Mintus is an organization for all residents of the Bruges region who are confronted with a temporary or permanent demand for care. Mintus has attention for the most vulnerable populations. Ruddersstove is an OCMW welfare association that focus on meals and delivery for 65+. They are committed to social, ecological and sustainable operations. |
| Social action |
The policy lab of Bruges wants to keep the climate transition affordable for everyone. Bruges wants to map out what the risks are for the vulnerable groups in Bruges. Not only in terms of financially vulnerable groups, but also for physical, psychological and social reasons. Local and fresh food is often more expensive, because of the real cost of food production. This price increase will be felt quickly, especially by the most vulnerable. Local, healthy and fresh food may be as difficult as it is to access for a vulnerable target group. |
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Identify the policy gap Based on the overview above, assess if a policy gap exists. Identify where the policy gap is located; the policy area or policy (instrument) type. |
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In the Cities2030 project, the policy lab of Bruges wants to focus on the food strategy for the elderly, namely 65+. This group hasn’t been reached in terms of the food strategy in Bruges. This group could be informed about food with less animal proteins, be part of the story of local food and prevention about food loss. |
CRFS landscape
Aim: create a snapshot of the CRFS characteristics.
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Key characteristics of the CRFS Food processing/distribution |
Description |
| Bruges as a city where people are aware of aiming for low impact on the environment in food processing and distribution | People do business with low impact on the environment. So the food supply is local and circularly organized. The process and the distribution is based on preserving the natural resources by using renewable energy |
| Food marketing, catering, retail | |
| Bruges as a culinary city |
Bruges has the highest number of culinary awards per capita. Bruges hosted the first culinary festival in Belgium. Almost every Belgian chef, baker or butcher learned their craft at school around Bruges. Many have even stuck around in Bruges, so that there is a decent establishment to be found on practically every street corner. Thanks to its location right on the North Sea and the fertile soil surrounding Bruges, all of Bruges' chefs work primarily with local, fresh, high-quality products. |
| Food consumption | |
| Promote the consumption of more local and seasonal food |
We encourage the residents of Bruges to consume their own fruit and vegetables from their own home garden, allotment garden or community garden. This allows for more feeling connected to nature, cultivation, the seasonal supply and the importance of a sustainable approach. By providing sufficient space for community gardens, we create places in the city where residents of Bruges literally can work together to fill their plates with sustainably grown vegetables. |
| Food waste | |
| Bruges does not love waste | It is ingrained in local Bruges culture to not let anything go to waste |
| Food security | |
| Bruges is a city with a social character |
All inhabitants & residents are welcome and approached in an open and inclusive way. So the food system is able to give every citizen easily access to food according to their needs & culture |
| Ecosystems | |
| Bruges as a culinary city |
Thanks to its location right on the North Sea and the fertile soil surrounding Bruges, all of Bruges' chefs work primarily with local, fresh, high-quality products. |
| Bruges Food Lab |
Bruges is a special city in Belgium in the sense that the food lab grew from a city-driven initiative into a self-sustaining citizen initiative. The Brugs Food Lab is a network that connects and strengthens various actors working on sustainable food. The Bruges Food Lab is a driver of initiatives and overarching projects within the Bruges sustainable food strategy |
| Livelihood | |
| Bruges by the sea as a good place to grow old |
The Bruges general philosophy aims for equal attention to health and minimal ecological impact and this is also reflected in its approach to healthy food for the elderly to be able to continue to live resiliently at home. |
| Inclusion | |
| fair trade for plant-based food |
Of course Bruges remains dependent on imports for products. In this case, Bruges promotes the choice for fair trade, to support more plant-based products from local farmers from the South. |
Strategy development
Aim: define a lab narrative
| CRFS status quo |
| The policy lab of Bruges focus on more local and seasonal food, with a short chain and a food supply with less transport and trade costs. They are also committed to reduce the consumption of animal protein and replaced it by plant-based alternatives. The policy lab of Bruges focus on food loss that becomes profit. Bruges is committed to the local, sustainability and inclusion vision of food. |
| CRFS goals |
| The policy lab of Bruges wants to focus on the food strategy for the elderly, namely 65+. This group hasn’t been reached in terms of the food strategy in Bruges. The 65+ group needs more culinary variety for the elderly and focus on the link between food and more mental wellbeing for the elderly. We have to focus on home food delivery by bike and more vehicle sharing for food delivery. |
| CRFS strategy |
In order to be able to attain the needs, the following strategy will be set up:
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Vision definition
Aim: Translate the CRFS strategy and context assessment into a pilot vision
| Describe the CRFS context |
| The experiments will allow the LL to further evolve and specify the vision and align it with current needs (focus groups). |
| Formulate the CRFS vision |
A city vision is already in place and has been defined as following: The Bruges food strategy should be seen as a guideline for sustainable nutrition, built around six objectives:
The Bruges Food Lab, together with all the food makers of Bruges, aims to put this strategy into action. The realization of the Bruges food strategy is an important link in the realization of the 2030 Climate Plan.
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Bruges Pathway to Action
SWOT
Aim: Execute the SWOT analysis
| Strength |
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Existing structure in place: Bruges working with Mintus en Ruddersstove: synergies The Bruges Food Lab has already been created and is citizen-lead with a wide network of stakeholders. Food and Climate awareness are alive in Bruges and very much on on the rader |
| Weaknesses |
| Existing structure in place: Bruges working with Mintus en Ruddersstove: seemingly conflicting interest at times and integrational issues that need further resolve. |
| Opportunities |
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Existing structure in place: Bruges working with Mintus en Ruddersstove: moving from conflicting interests to synergies. Synergies between Agro and Biotechnology department within VIVES and Social Innovation Focus groups gave us a better insight into the real needs of our CRFS and can efforts and interests can be easily aligned. Manyn possibilities for win-win innovation. |
| Threats |
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Existing structure in place: Bruges working with Mintus en Rudderstove: moving from synergies to conflicting interests. Internal short-term (financial competition) to work out experiments and implement them. Climate change and its impact on local food production, the Covid-pandemic and impact on CRFS, Ukraine war and its a potential energy crisis and impact on CRFS. |
SMART
Aim: Define SMART pilot goals
| Goal |
S specific |
M measurable |
A attainable |
R relevant |
T time-based |
Theme |
| Goal 1 |
Increase the amount of elderly enjoying a culinary meal prepared at the spot at a community centre. |
Determining the number of 65+ who attend the culinary meals in the community centre |
People at home are harder to reach, the elder age makes things more complicated for research and motivate them to participate at the culinary sessions. |
Increase the amount of elderly visiting the community centre. This way there can be less social isolation with the elderly |
End of 2024 | consumption, livelihood, |
| Goal 2 |
Increase the consumption of more meals enriched with additional plant-based proteins that are taken and validated for large scale production. |
Measure the additional plant-based protein components added to meals Measure the number of plant-based meals are made on a weekly base |
Prejudices of the elderly towards vegetarian and organic food Sensitization of the elderly population to the benefits of plant and organic food |
less muscle loss for the elderly, allowing in more movement and longer independence Increasing the Quality of life within the elderly population |
End of 2024 |
production, consumption,, livelihood |
| Goal 3 |
Continuous monitoring of the needs and requirements of the older target population in order to be able to tailor the customers |
Measure the amount of elderly who want to participate at debate concerning their needs |
Social inclusion, how to make sure that everyone’s opinion is heard. Bringing the elderly together. Not everyone is able to get transportation |
Selecting groups of the target population who are motivated to debate about their needs. So, in the future tailored changes can be implemented within the food service system. |
End of 2024 |
production, processing, distribution, market, consumption, waste, security, ecosystem, livelihood, inclusion |
| Goal 4 |
Decrease the amount of CO2 by reevaluating the current food delivery system concerning the elderly |
Monitor the amount of km driven by car. Exploring other possibilities to deliver meals, for example by bike. connecting with other organizations within the city of Bruges to explore opportunities and discover new partnerships |
Logistics needs to be assigned to make sure people get their food in time. |
Decrease impact on climate due to carbon transport while at the same time stimulating movement for the health of delivery drivers |
End of 2024 | distribution, ecosystem, |
| Goal 5 |
increase the amount of elderly people coming for the first time to elderly care centres to eat together with other people in order to strengthen their mental resilience |
count the first comers and new members |
Focus groups indicate specifically that people that lose their partner need to go through a transition period of about 3 years and eating alone is a hard transition. |
Designing easily accessible activities where people just come pick up a small gift (flower) without commitment works the best to establish first contact in terms of social connectedness. People later attend different courses and sharing a recurring activity with a common goal allows them to develop meaningful new friendships. |
End of 2024 |
production, processing, distribution, market, consumption, waste, security, ecosystem, livelihood, inclusion |
Bruges Action Plan
Execution plan
Aim: set out the execution of each task
| SMART goal |
| Increase the amount of elderly enjoying a culinary meal prepared at the spot at a community center. |
| SMART task | Responsibility | Timeframe | Prioritization |
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Selecting a community centre to implement an experiment concerning food prepared on the spot Increase the awareness of the elderly in Bruges concerning the food options within the community centre trough sensitization Exploring and setting up a partnership with chefs, restaurants, etc. who can provide culinary dishes every so often within a community centre |
P3. Ruddersstove P4. VIVES Agro- and Biotechnology |
January 2023 until December 2024 | TBA |
| SMART goal |
| Increase the consumption of more meals enriched with additional plant-based proteins that are taken and validated for large scale production. |
| SMART task | Responsibility | Timeframe | Prioritization |
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Setting up a brainstorm with the industry (processing and distribution) to map the possibilities increasing the number of plant-based meals within the delivery system of Ruddersstove Sensibization of the elderly concerning plant-based options Informing the elderly |
P3. Ruddersstove P4. VIVES Agro and Biotechnology |
January 2023 until December 2024 | TBA |
| SMART goal |
| Continuous monitoring of the needs and requirements of the older target population in order to be able to tailor the customers |
| SMART task | Responsibility | Timeframe | Prioritization |
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Inform the elderly population that consumes meals from Ruddersstove about the meetings
Set up different meeting moments where elderly can join and share |
P3. Ruddersstove P4. VIVES Agro and Biotechnology |
February 2023 until December 2024 | TBA |
| SMART goal |
| Decrease the amount of CO2 by revaluating the current food delivery system concerning the elderly |
| SMART task | Responsibility | Timeframe | Prioritization |
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Monitoring the current amount of km driven by car to deliver the meals to the elderly population Organizing a public debate in which various stakeholders and the general public can participate in order to map out the possibilities for alternative transport Exploring the possibility to set up a platform to communicate about the sharing of cars |
P3. Ruddersstove P4. VIVES Agro and Biotechnology |
February 2023 until December 2024 |
TBA |
| SMART goal |
| increase the amount of elderly people coming for the first time to elderly care centres to eat together with other people in order to strengthen their mental resilience |
| SMART task | Responsibility | Timeframe | Prioritization |
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count the first-comers and new members |
P4. Vives Social Innovation |
February 2023 until December 2024 |
TBA |