This Italian region now has Europe’s highest Tibetan bridge
It’s not for the faint-hearted
16 members should advise on how to make local food consumption more sustainable
Consuming local produce, instead of purchasing items from abroad or even out of Europe, has numerous advantages. To start with, it helps the growth of local small businesses. For the customer, buying local items usually means products of greater quality and limited quantity and in better and fresher condition. In addition, this saves tonnes of resources that are otherwise spent on packaging and transportation, which certainly means more sustainable consuming.
Hardly is there a local authority unaware of that and not willing to stimulate locally-produced goods and services. Leuven, of course, is no exception. Here is why the Flemish city famous for its breweries has launched a food and agricultural advisory board (VLAR). Their objective - to advise the city council on food and agriculture and support the rollout of the food strategy of Leuven.
In particular, the VLAR will advise the city council on the strategic policy vision on food and agriculture and the implementation of agricultural and food policy, the further development, implementation and evaluation of the food strategy for strongly increasing the share of locally grown and seasonal food products.
The board will issue non-binding statements at the request of the city council or on its own initiative; it consists of 16 members and meets at least four times a year. All members have an affinity with agriculture and/or food in the Leuven region and have contributed to drafting the food strategy.
The members of the board have already met twice, elected a chairperson for six years and agreed upon a set of internal rules which will be presented to the city council for approval. Tessa Avermaete, a bio-engineer and researcher at the Sustainable Food Economies Research Group of the KU Leuven, was elected chairperson. Speaking for the municipal portal, she underlined that a food strategy for Leuven will offer many opportunities for farmers and residents.
The establishment and the composition of the new advisory board was approved on November 26, 2018 by the City Council of Leuven. The VLAR is the successor to the informal food and agriculture council.
What are the reasons for that and are there any possible solutions for that problem?
Possibly making it the only legislature in the world with a religious temple on-site
It’s not for the faint-hearted
Presenting the next chapter in the Dutch capital’s ‘Stay Away’ campaign aimed at rowdy tourists
The City says this has become a necessity due to the increasing number of incidents involving these vehicles
That way you can notify a canal lock keeper to open the gates so the animals can swim through
The organizers had been considering different Parisian spots, but always with the idea of the flame being visible to the people
Electricity production in that Eastern European country will not release direct CO2 emissions anymore
Possibly making it the only legislature in the world with a religious temple on-site
This initiative is not just about making books more accessible – it has larger ambitions in its sights
We owe the unusual cultural icon to this country in Europe
The country’s capital has been a pioneer in crafting policy and initiatives to improve coexistence between people and pets
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team