Good practice:

Mértola Food Network

The good practice "Mértola Food Network" consists of a networking process that aims at implementing a locally based food system. It works upon a set of interconnected activities in which the production, transformation, distribution and consumption of food products is based on the sustainable use of the territory's environmental, economic, social and nutritional resources.
It aims at developing, implementing, and disseminating an innovative approach to the food system as an alternative to the food supply chains based on the currently dominant agribusiness model.
It was built upon a working model based on a combination of capacity building/infrastructure for local food production, processing and distribution; and complementary capacity building of consumers and local governance for this local consumption.
In this sense, the project promotes:
- Strengthening the food sovereignty of the territory;
- Empower production in agro-ecological practices;
- To value the value chain of the products to the territory;
- Promote short food distribution circuits;
- Promote local food by the Healthy, seasonal, and organic characteristics.
This good practice combines different local actors (farmers, local government, associations, schools, social associations, local entrepreneurs) and different initiatives, among which stands out Frescos Sobre Rodas, which ensures the distribution of local products in Mértola and neighbour municipalities.

The resources allocated to the project came from the municipality's staff, through the creation of a dedicated support structure.
Specific knowledge and mutual learning were also obtained between citizens and municipality staff.

The project was a success, and subprojects have already been developed, such as:
- Forest-Gardens - learning food production modes;
- Night at the Market - conversation with the community around the food theme and a moment of food sharing and conviviality;
- Grandma's Kitchen - Curricular Enrichment Activity;
- Local Producers Market - street market aimed at the commerce and promotion of local production;
- Frescos sobre Rodas - supply and delivery service of commercialized fresh products.

Mértola Food Network aims at stimulating local production and consumption.
The biggest challenge was the pandemic situation, and it was necessary to strengthen the production capacity and allocate more resources to agricultural production in order to ensure food needs during the emergency period.

The Rede Alimentar de Mértola (Mértola Food Network) project has the goal of implementing a locally based food system, strengthening the local food production and consumption by adopting agro-ecological practices.
One of the network's actions is based on strengthening the necessary local production capacity of vegetables and fruit, recovering and enhancing the local heritage of working small vegetable gardens, now abandoned.
With crisis like COVID-19 or the rise in food prices, this is a way to remain independent from global food markets and supply chains.
This project was built with a strong partnership between Farmers, Local Entrepreneurs, Mértola City Council, Association of Entrepreneurs of the Guadiana Valley, ALSUD Professional School, social care entities and the Association Terra Sintrópica.