European funding award to create network of 'edible cities'

RMIT is set to help develop of a global network of cities focused on green infrastructure and food production solutions after being named a partner on a €11.5 million European research project.

The funding through the European Commission's prestigious Horizon 2020 research and innovation scheme was secured by RMIT Europe and RMIT's Centre for Urban Research.

It sees RMIT join a consortium of 35 research and industry partners across 13 cities.

RMIT Europe's Gareth Macnaughton said the impact of the research project, which is named EdiCitNet: Strategies towards integrating urban Edible City Solutions for social resilient and sustainably productive cities in Europe, will allow new thinking on how innovative food networks are developed and sustained in dense urban centres.

"The research will allow models developed in leading innovation cities to be tried and tested in 'follower cities' to understand how transferable and generalisable the policy and strategies are in a global setting," Macnaughton said.

RMIT has been awarded €400,000 as a partner on the project, which is being led by the Technical University of Berlin.

Macnaughton, who heads up RMIT Europe's urban futures agenda, said nature-based solutions are increasingly being employed in cities to address complex or 'wicked' multi-faceted problems that can have an impact on multiple policy areas.

"It covers a range of areas such as health, environment, transport, social interaction and community engagement," he said.

RMIT's work on the five-year project will include designing the governance framework to enable collaboration across the research partners and cities.

Additionally, the University will drive the development of the project's success factors, metrics and evaluation.

Cities that have shown leadership or innovation in the area of city food networks, irrespective of whether they are members of the project or not, will be recognised at annual conferences.

Story: Karen Matthews

EdiCitNet is an Innovative Action funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program under Grant Agreement number 776665.

Society and Environment

29 March 2017

Society and Environment

29 March 2017

Research
RMIT Europe

Engage

Contact RMIT News

Find an expert

Study with us

Related News

Key design and creative subjects ranked #1 in Australia, top 20 in the world

RMIT has secured its position as the nation’s leading institution for design and creative fields, with Architecture / Built Environment and Art & Design both ranked #1 in Australia and in the top 20 globally in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Education and skills for the future: insights from sector leaders

Government, university and industry leaders discuss the skills we need for the future amid critical shortages in key industry sectors.

Urban futures expert joins RMIT Europe

Professor Wendy Steele, a leading expert in sustainability and urban policy, has joined RMIT’s European Innovation Hub.

Spanish language and cultural institute opens on City campus

Melburnians now have access to more Spanish language courses and cultural activities, with the opening of the Cervantes Institute’s office at RMIT University.

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

More information

European funding award to create network of 'edible cities'