EU Initiative Proposal

a. Outline. This project will develop an innovative approach to supporting, managing and developing urban agricultural spaces within regeneration areas of our cities, using innovative web technologies, experience-based learning, interactive sessions and workshops. With this project we are looking at the adaptation and use of existing urban spaces to provide food and employment for inner city areas.

This project would develop, complement and extend aspects of the work currently undertaken by the Greater Liverpool Food Alliance project see: http://www.urbanag.org.uk/projects/alliance-of-urban-agriculture-producers/

The project will provide specific support and training for people working within this arena including those responsible for regeneration, town planners, architects and local government officers. Three key modules for the project will be

1. content development

2. online environment and collaborative communication tools development

3. Training programme/framework

The content will include: Virtual Support, Mentoring, Networking and Collaborative Working, ethical and cultural implications, sustainable communities, equality of opportunity and inclusion issues and a training programme covering generic and specific support.

The training framework will be developed around active participation and collaborative learning.

b. Although there are several initiatives across the World that seek to promote community agriculture efforts and increased access to locally grown food there is a definite need to address the management and development of these initiatives within the EU including:

traditional education and training environments are not geared up to dealing with these community activities.

ethical, cultural and faith needs have not been fully considered.

the challenges with providing flexible and multi-use urban spaces for food production.

This project will address the issues above and alleviate the lack of understanding to the needs and requirements of the development and management of an urban food ‘industry’.

c. Target Groups. “AGRI-SPACES” will support those from urban communities that see urban food production as an integral part of regeneration of cities, that is, those wishing to develop innovative ways of managing urban agricultural initiatives, in addition, architects and planners that work in association with those communities including local government and NGOs. It will be developed as a best practice model with the specific focus on developing urban environments conducive to success within these communities. This will allow the “AGRI-SPACES” project to be developed, to be flexible in its design and implementation and allow it in addition, to be adapted to a wide range of intercultural dialogue activities.

d. Specific aims of the project are to develop, research best practice, test, evaluate the impact, improve and disseminate and exploit innovative approaches to targeted support, training and development of agricultural spaces within urban environments.

e. Tangible Outcomes.

1. project e-Newsletter

2. collaborative online communication facility

3. project management handbook

4. content management driven, online project dissemination and information sharing environment

5. virtual support environment

6. individual guidance and mentoring

7. training framework

8. support material inc: support content, Training material, Assessment tools, QA tools

8. valorisation web site

9. end of project regional ‘mini’ conference/workshops