2024 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

Nilufer is a district of the metropolitan city of Bursa located in northwestern Turkiye. With a population of over 500,000 inhabitants, Nilufer is one of the largest and most rapidly developing cities in the province of Bursa. Agricultural activities enable endeavours that try to shorten food supply chains and localization of food production however peri-urban sites of the city are under the urbanisation pressure.

One of the initiatives, Nilufer Food Living Lab (NFLL), has been granted by the European Union within the scope of Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program. Part of the project is funded under the "Fostering the Urban food System Transformation through Innovative Living Labs Implementation(FUSILLI)" Project. NFLL launched in 2021, seeks to enhance the district's agricultural business. The need for the lab arose from the challenges of ensuring food security and access to fresh produce for Nilufer's growing population. As an industrial district, much of the focus has been on economic development rather than food production. NFLL aims to strengthen the local food ecosystem by supporting small-scale farmers, promoting short food supply chains, applying agroecological practices, reducing food waste, and engaging residents. The main impacts within the scope of the project are as follows:

• Food System Planning Strategy that developed and implemented within the boundaries of local government centred on citizens and food related organisations.
• Various technical, social and policy innovations were carried out to build a holistic food ecosystem in the long term.
• Access to healthy and nutritious food for all as a food security strategy was carried out especially in the disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
• Nilufer Food Living Lab was created by all food ecosystem actors such as civil society, producers, market actors, academicians, and local authorities in collaboration with urban planners via participatory implementations.
• Build shorter food supply chains and strengthen small scale agricultural enterprises and farmers with innovative business models of sustainable food planning strategy.

Within this framework, NFLL adopts a living lab approach that involves collaboration between the municipality, residents, businesses, academia, and other stakeholders. Food Policy Council and Food Commission with representation from diverse groups have been established to guide the design and implementation of programmes and policies. 

• https://fusilli-project.eu/cities/nilufer/ (External link)