EU4Advice Multi-Actor Workshop Held in Amsterdam Nieuw-West

On Friday, 11 July, Amped hosted the second EU4Advice Multi-Actor Workshop in Amsterdam’s Nieuw-West district. As the Living Lab manager for the Netherlands, Amped co-organised the event in collaboration with Jeroen Nagel from Regieorganisatie GLB (Dutch AKIS) and Robin van Asperen of MijnStadstuin (MyCityGarden). 

Robin van Asperen, also known as the City Farmer, leads the MijnStadstuin project, an urban agriculture site in Amsterdam West that combines individual garden plots with a food forest, offering a space where residents can grow their own organic produce.

On behalf of Amped, Mark Frederiks explained the EU4Advice Living Labs and the contributions summary.

The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders involved in short food supply chains and local food initiatives. Advisors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, students, and community members came together to share a goal of exploring how to build a more resilient and inclusive local food economy in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. A key focus of the day was collecting feedback to inform the development of training programmes for both formal and informal SFSC advisors.

Two primary goals guided the session. The first objective was to explore area-based collaboration strategies within the short food supply chain context, with a specific focus on local conditions in Nieuw-West. The second goal was to engage participants in shaping the structure and priorities of training content for those working or wishing to work within SFSC frameworks. This effort was built on research conducted in advance of the workshop by Master’s students from Utrecht University, who identified and analysed 110 short chain food projects across the Netherlands.

Throughout the day, participants were presented with information about the EU4Advice Living Lab and its step-by-step approach to designing a local food system in Nieuw-West. Jeroen Nagel provided insights into current stakeholders, policy frameworks, and subsidy structures, raising questions about the values underpinning these systems. Attendees contributed input on a range of themes, including how to ensure shared ownership, adaptability to local needs, and coherence with existing policy structures.

The group discussed several practical challenges. One of the main barriers identified was the difficulty in changing both consumer and institutional routines related to food purchasing. Participants also recognised that the affordability of local food remains a concern. With a population of around 170,000 in Nieuw-West, the idea of feeding 20 percent of local residents through a redesigned food system within five years was considered ambitious but achievable.

Governance issues were also examined, particularly the role of land access and value distribution within the food system. Participants proposed the introduction of alternative exchange models to acknowledge social capital and enable localised economic circulation. Collaboration was discussed in terms of different layers—practical, tactical, and strategic—and the need to establish legal clarity and co-creation spaces to support this work.

The conversation also highlighted the importance of building food systems that reflect the diversity of the local population. Production should respond to the needs of local retailers, food hubs, and residents. Since approximately 60 percent of Nieuw-West’s population is Muslim, participants discussed the importance of engaging with Halal food narratives and culturally relevant food practices. The development of targeted training and educational programmes was viewed as a critical component for informing and empowering future actors in the local food economy.

Policy coordination was another key area of discussion. Dutch AKIS and the Living Lab team are working on forming a peer reference group of policymakers operating at local, regional, national, and international levels. Participants emphasised that policy engagement should strike a balance between rights and responsibilities, involve dialogue with adjacent neighbourhoods, and explore innovative fiscal mechanisms, such as alternative tax structures, to support social impact.

The workshop was held during the Grounded Community’s Harvest Summercamp at MijnStadstuin. The camp provided a unique setting for exchange and action, bringing together participants for hands-on work, learning sessions, and reflection. The site itself—a mix of food forests, garden beds, and grassroots initiatives—served as a living example of community-based agriculture and sustainability in practice. 

Participants were invited to participate in farming activities, attend workshops, and engage in discussions covering a range of topics, including urban ecology, permaculture, food systems, and local governance.