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Description
SmartFood integrates state of the art interdisciplinary research of urban food consumption and production, with a novel approach to co-creation of insect- and vege-based, nutritious foods, without using any soil or land, while exploiting the locally available rainwater and solar energy for all year long sustainable and safe food production in corridors of urban blocks of flats. SmartFood aims to make a significant contribution towards fulfilling the long-term vision of cities of the future, where switching to sustainable food consumption and production patterns increases healthy eating habits, reduces reliance on food retailing, reduces food waste and strengthens communal connection in urban buildings. As outcome of these activities, home food production reduces environmental footprint by lowering greenhouse gas emissions for food production and transportation. Relative to the prior work on reduction of food waste and sustainable community development that primarily rely on selfreported survey measures which have low predictive reliability, we use state of the art controlled experiment that implements actual sustainable food self-production facilities and measures real environmental, behavioral and attitudinal outcomes and therefore provides evidence-based policy recommendations.
Work package:
1. Co-design of environmental innovation
2. Co-design of social innovation
3. Co-design of the IT enablers'' contents
4. Development and lab-scale tests of SmartFood solutions for environmental innovation
5. Development and tests of lab-scale prototypes, experimental protocols and tools for SmartFood IT enablers
6. Urban Living Labs implementation of Smart Food innovation
7. Measuring impacts, scaling-up and drawing lessons learnt from SmartFood innovation for Cities of the Future
Summary of project results
SmartFood project was initiated to address the growing need for sustainable food production and to reduce the environmental impact of food consumption in cities. The project''s primary objective was to engage urban residents in co-creating innovative solutions that promote food diversity, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion. It aimed to create practical models of urban agriculture that can be integrated into everyday city life, thus fostering a more sustainable and resilient urban environment.
During the project implementation, the project consortium undertook a series of interconnected activities to achieve these goals. The co-design phase included interactive workshops with city residents, resulting in the development of SmartFood Cabins for the hydroponic cultivation of edible plants. Systems for rainwater management, solar energy utilization, and small-scale insect farming complemented these cabins. These innovations were designed to be installed in common spaces of urban residential buildings, promoting community involvement and awareness. The project involved the creation and testing of laboratory prototypes of the SmartFood Cabins and Insectarium, which demonstrated the technical viability of these systems. Additionally, work began on developing the SmartFood IT enablers, which are crucial for measuring the impact of these innovations.
The Urban Living Lab (ULL) implementation played a pivotal role in the project''s success, particularly within the context of community engagement and practical application. It transformed lab-scale models into real-world practices by installing and testing SmartFood technologies directly by 20 households from Warsaw. The installation of hydroponic systems in an urban block of flats has provided residents with access to fresh, locally produced food, reducing the need for transportation and the associated carbon footprint. This step was essential for validating the project''s innovations and achieving meaningful impact. By demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of urban agriculture, the project has set the stage for broader adoption of these practices in cities of the future. SmartFood project has made significant progress in promoting sustainable urban agriculture, engaging communities, and reducing the environmental impact of food consumption. Its innovative approach and practical solutions have the potential to transform urban living and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Summary of bilateral results
The SmartFood consortium united Polish and Norwegian experts in complementary disciplines, including food production perspective (RIC), modelling of the environmental requirements of water and energy solutions (CUT, RIC), ICT and environmental outcomes (NILU) and understanding of the food consumption motivations, psychological prerequisites, incentivizing for citizen engagement and nudging through informational and social nudges (BI, MGU, WNRI). The collaboration between Polish and Norwegian partners significantly enhanced the project''s scope and impact. By integrating expertise from both countries, the project benefited from a rich exchange of knowledge and innovative practices. The Norwegian partners brought IT capabilities, strong emphasis on sustainability, and deep understanding of socio-economic and psychological fundamentals of the SmartFood innovation. This was complemented by the Polish partners'' knowledge on food production in urban environment, technological abilities, and deep understanding of local food production systems and consumer behaviour. This synergy was instrumental in developing and implementing the SmartFood solutions effectively. In particular, the Norwegian-Polish collaboration on understanding food consumption motivations and psychological prerequisites facilitated the design of targeted nudges and engagement strategies that effectively encouraged sustainable food practices among diverse populations.