Representatives from European municipalities, authorities and experts will discuss the role of seeds and biodiversity in organic food systems
On 29 and 30 April 2025, the city of Granollers (Catalonia, Spain) will host more than 100 delegates from all around Europe to find ways to boost cultivated biodiversity through local food policies.
Political representatives, technical experts, and professionals in agroecology and organic production will participate in the First European Symposium on “Fostering Cultivated Biodiversity through Local Food Policies”, organized by the Network of Municipalities for Agroecology, the Granollers City Council and the LiveSeeding project.
The event aims to showcase successful experiences in local food policies and to foster political commitment and concrete action towards more sustainable and resilient food systems, recognizing the key role of towns and cities as global food consumers.
During the two days of the Symposium, besides the talks, there will be an exhibition of local seed initiatives and a visit to the Vallès Oriental Seed Bank as well as the Granollers Museum of Natural Sciences.
Enrique Pueyo, mayor of Ainsa and president of the Network of Municipalities for Agroecology, outlines that, with the Symposium “We want to highlight the need for robust local policies that support cultivated biodiversity within food systems. Many European municipalities are already leading the way. That’s why we warmly welcome all media outlets interested in covering this crucial topic, which we believe is vital for the future of our planet and communities “.
A Key Step Towards the Transformation of Food Systems
This symposium marks a milestone in the commitment of European municipalities to advance the development of food policies that integrate cultivated biodiversity across different policy areas. Furthermore, through the exchange of experiences and the consolidation of strategic alliances, the event aims to catalyze the transition towards organic and agroecology-oriented food systems.
The symposium is supported by various entities, including funding organizations such as the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, the Ministry of Social Rights and the 2030 Agenda, the Granollers City Council, the Barcelona Provincial Council, and the Joint Office for Sustainable Food (Government of Catalonia, in collaboration with the Barcelona City Council and the Metropolitan Strategic Plan of Barcelona).
European organizations such as the European Union, SERI and UKRI for the LiveSeeding project, Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Entretantos Foundation are also involved.
| Agrobiodiversity refers to the diversity in domesticated crops, farm animals and forest trees intentionally cultivated and reared by humans for food and agriculture. For this, it is distinct from wild biodiversity. For plant crops, we speak of Cultivated Biodiversity which includes the seeds of a vast diversity of landraces, heirloom varieties, and locally adapted cultivars. |
| The Network of Municipalities for Agroecology is an association of more than 30 local entities in the Spanish State that promotes sustainable, inclusive and territorialized food systems, from an agroecological and food sovereignty perspective. |
For more information, please contact:
- (ES, EN, CAT) Miguel Ángel Valero, Communication Officer at the Network of Municipalities for Agroecology: miguel@municipiosagroeco.red | +34 669 691 874
- (EN, FR, IT) Anamarija Ćorić, Communication Specialist, LiveSeeding project, ac@ips-konzalting.hr | +385 99 370 5757
