Italy’s second city and economic centre of the county’s north is a leader in food policy and at the heart of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact.
In 2014, the Municipality of Milan, along with the Cariplo Foundation, began to study the Milan food system, focusing on the urban food cycle and the players operating in the city. In 2015, this analysis was shared with approximately 700 stakeholders via a process of public consultation, which led to the draft and approval of a comprehensive and multidimensional urban food policy.
This strategy identifies main areas of intervention around five key priorities: ensure healthy food and water for all, promote sustainability of the food system, strengthen food education, tac food waste and support scientific research in agrifood sectors. Food is a strategic entry point for systemic changes, which have to be implemented by involving several local players, such as research centres, the private sector, non-profit organisations and foundations.
The policies designed to reduce food losses and waste are combined with those regarding waste cycle management to increase the system’s overall sustainability with a consistent approach to a circular economy.
Milan’s experience in food policy is advanced, having worked in this area since EXPO 2015, which left two legacies: Milan Food Policy, to improve the food related public services, and the MUFPP, a global commitment by mayors to sustainable food systems. One priority of Milan Food Policy is the sustainability of the school meals programme, which has been strengthened and improved through Food Trails, in collaboration with Milano Ristorazione, the municipal agency that manages the food provision.
Pilot 1 – Nudging School Canteens. Renovation of school canteens spaces to nudge food waste prevention and to promote healthy food choices
Beautiful, colorful, and revitalized spaces to make mealtime a positive experience for children, promoting their well-being and encouraging a healthier relationship with food while reducing waste. Milan achieved a significant reduction in food waste across five schools through an innovative approach of behavioral nudging a push to influences individual choices. Monitoring, data analysis and customer satisfaction showed the experiment’s success and provided the possibility to secure internal budget for future replication.
Pilot 2 – Food Surplus Redistribution. Ensuring comparable measurements and scalability of actions already in place
To improve surplus redistribution logistics, the city enhanced data collection analysis of existing actions, ensuring better planning to scale up interventions. This initiative was significantly expanded to increase territorial coverage and reach previously underserved areas. The Municipal Agency for school canteens developed an innovative food waste monitoring system to assess meal satisfaction and feed this information into the processes to improve the service.
Pilot 3 – School Compost. Feasibility analysis of compost in kitchen centres and canteens
Milan gained a deeper insight into the potential for repurposing hard-to-abate food waste into bioeconomy solutions (such as compost, biodigesters, and feed) through a feasibility analysis conducted in kitchen centers and canteens. The assessment of the quantities of organic waste, along with the widespread geographic distribution of the locations where it is generated. This proposal includes the installation of composters, supported with an educational module designed to maximize the initiative’s effectiveness.
Pilot 4 – Food Education. Booklets for children on healthy and sustainable food habits
To raise awareness among families on food waste prevention, local food production and healthy diets, Milan distributed engaging booklets to all kindergartens and primary schools. The four years campaigns, covered various themes and allows to focused on encouraging the consumption of local agricultural products and supporting the short supply chain. The campaign engaged, together with children, also
families and teachers, thereby expanding its reach and impact.
Living Lab Numbers
5
renovated school canteens, impacting +2,000 children
6%
food waste reduction in the 5 renovated canteens, with 95% satisfaction of children
231,000
booklets were distributed for 4 years
62 ton
20 ton of bread and 42 ton of fruit were collected from school canteens by the food bank in 2023
Milan 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!
