Known worldwide as the capital of wine, Bordeaux Metropole is the economic and cultural centre of the French region of Nouvelle Aquitaine. It is home to more than 774,000 people over 28 municipalities.
The Metropole was the first territorial body in France to set up a Food Policy Council in 2017. Despite this, achieving food autonomy at the Métropole scale remains a utopia. Agricultural production does not meet the needs of the inhabitants, and encouraging farmers to support local supply chains whilst increasing production remains challenging.
In response to this situation, the Métropole prioritized engaging local stakeholders. By joining Food Trails, Bordeaux designated its Food Policy Council as Living Lab and focused on 2 innovative actions aligned with the EU’s “Food 2030” Policy framework.
Pilot 1 – Metropolitan Food Council Transition from advisory to executive body
The Metropole strengthened the territorial food network and governance, thus ensuring greater stakeholder involvement and coordination, starting with the involvement of the Food Council in the co-creation of the Food Strategy. Neighboring territories joined the momentum and overcame traditional rivalries to share a coherent vision, leading to a more ambitious food policy and a doubled budget. In 2022, the Food Policy was launched, and the Food Council became the official governance body for its implementation
Pilot 2 – Public Food Procurement. Voluntary working group for municipalities to jointly purchase sustainable, local and organic food
Bordeaux Métropole focused on sustainable food procurement to support local supply chains by connecting producers with public canteens. The Metropole facilite meetings between suppliers and purchasers to structure local supply chains; offered training sessions to empower suppliers to respond efficiently to public procurement tenders; and held workshops aimed at promoting sustainable meals among collective catering staff, thus also helping to ensure access to healthy and sustainable food for all.
Living Lab Number
300
Active stakeholders in the strengthened Food Policy Council and involved in the Food Policy design
20
Municipalities participated in purchasing sustainable, local and organic food
4mln/year
Budget to implement the new Food Policy, unlocking the means to collective ambitions
Bordeaux Metropole Food Policy is available in the report Official Municipal Acts for Urban Food Policy Approval.
The description of the city’s living labs is available in all the project languages in the Food Trails Final Publication. Go to the resource!
