The urban environment of the Central Macedonian region is quite overwhelmed by exhaust gases, solid particles and noise and its cities lack in freely accessible public, green spaces. Furthermore, deindustrialization has left many abandoned industrial sites and overburdened soils, which are often a threat to public health.
That is why the social economy needs to be strengthened with more investments and innovation, and competences to adapt to climate change need to be developed and acquired. Ideally, the urban environment and microclimate is improved.

General objectives:
In light of increasing tourism GDP and its pressures on environment, infrastructures and people, there is a great need for resource efficiency and sustainable food production, food security and resilience.
The increasing influx of refugees, and the economic crisis have increased the need for better value for money food, and thus an increased need for new sustainably produced goods (local, gastronomical close to local culture).
On an organizational level, the efficiency of administration and the organization of local operations is to be increased, modernized and ensured. That also means the promotion of integrated urban governance and metropolitan synergies

The main reasons to improve the policy and with which measures, are:
A low use of innovative sustainable (mature) innovations (foster public-private collaborations); a low engagement of public and private stakeholders and citizens (develop new vision); and a weak intervention logic between strategy and implementation (showcasing good practices).

The Baixo Alentejo sub region is characterized by open plains, protected areas and intensive agriculture and forestry. Its main challenge is the increasing pressure on urban resources stemming from more people moving from rural areas to cities. Innovations that generate economic and social value from the sustained use of city resources are of key importance to ensure that Baixo Alentejo keeps the image of environmental and resource excellence.

A combination of efficient and smart practices, enhanced performance standards and structure of activities can contribute to the development of the local economy of natural resources. In this context, PEDBA policy instrument aims to promote the development of programs and initiatives in Baixo Alentejo sub region that raise awareness and capacities of the population to adopt more rational patterns of consumption / use of resources.

Its main challenge is to eliminate barriers on the processes, knowledge and innovation levels, which require the dissemination and diffusion of knowledge in order to stimulate the development  and implementation of innovative solutions in the field of urban farming and resource efficiency. Therefore, the project aims to increase the effectiveness of knowledge transfers between innovators, territories and public administration. The aim is also to support and involve more regional actors (research centers, innovative companies) to co-create new initiatives in urban farming, screening and adopting good practices to the region context.

Furthermore, the monitoring system on the PEDBA activities will be improved by tracking the performances and impacts of new projects and support services to companies in the region in terms of urban sustainability. Affected stakeholders, and the managing authority CIMBAL (Baixo Alentejo Intermunicipality Community and Municipality of Beja) will provide feedback to the PEDBA action plan.

The aim of this policy instrument is to promote resource efficiency, restore the environment and develop productive green infrastructures (urban farming for integral maintenance and economic use of city resources and spaces). Its instruments include innovation, research and development in agriculture, livestock, food, bio-energy and forestry. So far, the priority of IP 6d has been to implement active restoration of construction and demolition illegal landfills. For 2020, the managing authority wants to take a new approach that focuses on creating new management and utilization models for those sites.

Natural Heritage Foundation (FPNCYL) will enhance IP 6d by integrating urban farming in cities in the region. The transformation of ex-landfill sites into productive urban landscapes can provide new business niches for the regional economy and further resource efficiency benefits.
The region Castilla y Leon is well positioned to develop the bio-economy model of Europe 2020, to research and reconcile food safety and the sustainable use of renewable resource, to open new markets and diversify food and bio-products. The research line priority includes food safety, traceability and quality plus the innovation in processes, products and services in the integrated agrifood supply chain. The sustainable supply chain implies that the activities from farm-to-fork meet the needs of the stakeholders in the food chain while protecting, sustaining and enhancing the human and natural resources that will be needed in the future.

Frankfurt-Rhine-Main is a growing metropolitan region with strong real estate markets and fierce competition in land use. Agricultural areas constitute over 37% of the region and more than 40% in the city of Frankfurt. Despite the fact that agriculture makes up less than 0.1% of the gross value added in the region, it plays an important role in providing environmental and social benefits e.g. maintaining landscapes and habitats, biodiversity, contributing to microclimate regulation, providing areas for recreational purposes and for growing niche products.

A key threat to urban agriculture is the land consumption for new building or transport infrastructure and farmers not putting much effort against those trends, due to financial profits by the high prices paid for their land. For this reason, resource efficiency and social values support on new land management and entrepreneurial approaches are key instruments to support the development of urban agriculture. So far the RhineMain Regionalpark Framework Concept (2012) lacks the systematic development of urban farming spaces for the provision of food, public goods and ecosystem service, which is why a supplementing Action Plan for ‘Urban Agriculture in the RhineMain Regionalpark’ (AP) is to be drawn up.

The aim of the AP is to improve the resource efficiency, ecosystem services, multifunctionality and preservation of green and cultural landscapes in conurbations by securing sustainable income opportunities for urban farmers. It also aims to better respond the growing demand of local community for regional products and the related expansion of purchasing and sales relationships.
The urban farming action plan will include priorities for future measures, projects, implementation strategies and potential financing instruments that complement the Framework Concept and Action Plan for the RhineMain Regionalpark.

Relevant aspects for CityZen are the growing demand for traditional production of herbs within the city boundaries for the local specialty of Green Sauce (Grüne Soße), and traditional orchards supplying apples for the production of Hessian apple wine (Äppler), which has a Protected Geographical Indication label.