Transforming Local Food Systems towards Sustainability by Building Networks and Ecosystems of Change

Achieving sustainability in local food systems is largely about empowering communities and fos-tering collaborative innovation ecosystems in which a variety of stakeholders can contribute meaningfully. This presentation shares insights from activities within the framework of the inter-national Belmont Forum project “Co-Creation of Sustainable Food Supply Chains through Coop-erative Business Models and Governance (CO-SFSC)” https://www.sustainablefood-sc.org/ and its Karlsruhe hub in Germany, which explores how to create enabling conditions for local gov-ernance rooted in community engagement and shared responsibility within regional short food supply chains including new cooperative business models.The project’s goal is to lay the groundwork that will empower administrations and civil society to actively develop and shape sustainable local food networks and systems. A key part of this approach involves building trusting connections and nurturing relationships through participatory methods, culminating in the organisation of events such as a Food Summit and the Bioregional Fair. These platforms bring together local producers, consumers, policymakers and innovators to facilitate open dialogue, networking and collaborative development. ... mehrBy focusing on commu-nity empowerment and collaborative network-building, this transdisciplinary case study demon-strates how local food systems can become dynamic ecosystems of change, cultivated through shared learning, mutual support and collective action.