Bruges
Learn more about Bruges' food system below
City overview
Bruges, the capital of West Flanders in Belgium, is a renowned tourist destination with a population of 118,748. The city is known for its cultural heritage and UNESCO World Heritage Site status. It has a unique atmosphere with canals and hidden alleys, along with a reputation for gastronomy and craftsmanship. Bruges’ economy is driven by tourism, its seaport, and the service sector, particularly healthcare.
The city also prioritises sustainable food practices and fair trade. It promotes seasonal local food, supports a sustainable chocolate chain partnership with Ebolowa, Cameroon, and integrates its sustainable food strategy into the climate action plan. The Sustainable Food Strategy focuses on short-chain distribution, urban gardening, agriculture, food waste prevention, fair trade, and education. Bruges has participated in European initiatives and signed the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact. It recognizes the importance of connecting a sustainable food policy with climate action, health, economy, participation, and sustainability, implementing various programs to achieve its goals.
Challenges
- Food and Nutrition Insecurity
- Multi-stakeholder governance
- Urban agriculture and landuse
- Climate change and extreme weather events
Achievements
- Multi-stakeholder governance
- Food Waste
- Awareness raising
What challenges can AfriFOODlinks support with?
● With the AfriFOODlinks project we can take a step further and share and develop our expertise in the field of food loss and innovative urban agriculture (climate, environment and animal welfare service), sustainable agriculture (work and business), multi-actor partnerships in the field of sustainable urban development and fair trade (municipal global policy).
● Research and capacity building including tools for monitoring
● Networking, facilitating potential contacts for partnership
● Guiding towards funding programs and to give support to cities in writing funding dossiers