The contribution of informal and citizen-driven food initiatives in the post-Covid-19 food system in 9 European cities

The COVID-19 pandemic has had immediate and severe impacts on the farm-to-fork value chain because of the lockdown measures to contain the virus and the subsequent economic recession. A substantial contribution to overcoming these problems came from innovative solutions in agri-food systems, and more will be required to foster the transition towards a sustainable and resilient food system in the post-lockdown era. Whether it is still uncertain how fundamental and long-lasting the changes dictated by the pandemic will be and which structures and systems will remain after the emergency, this paper seeks to investigate potential transformation trajectories linked to informal and citizen-driven innovative food initiatives in changing the post-Covid-19 food system. Examples of innovation in the agri-food systems include technological and digital innovations but also green channels connecting fresh food producers with urban centres, local Food Hubs, community-supported agriculture, initiatives to reduce food waste and foster recycling, education projects for students and teachers, training for kitchen staff in school canteens, e-commerce solutions. Using quantitative and qualitative approaches, we map various innovative initiatives, not only technological, relevant to the transition of food systems in different countries, and collected data on the type, degree, capacity of innovation, and citizens’ involvement. We explore their trajectories, obstacles and enabling factors and whether and how these initiatives can shape the future’s regional food system and play a pivotal role in the transition in the post-Covid-19 era. The analysis of the collected data highlights several overlaps and synergies between the goals and outcomes of innovators’ activities and the actions needed to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic.