
terroirs solidaires :
localized sustainable food system
project genesis
Our project, "Terroirs Solidaires: pour un système alimentaire durable territorialisé", has been designed to meet the sustainability challenges of Geneva's food system by drawing on our expertise.
Firstly, we were able to test various participatory methodologies (world café, Urbal method, Fishbowl, intelligent games) at the first expert day organized as part of the Local Fair Trade project, and at other events we organized and moderated. These methodologies have proved their worth in supporting cooperation between system players.
What's more, we've been keeping a strategic watch on food issues, accessibility, fair prices and food justice for the past fifteen years, reading numerous articles and taking part in seminars, roundtables and webinars on the subject. In particular, the Territoires à Vivres project is a great source of inspiration for our work. Moreover, this project is relevant because it would operationalize the right to food in the canton of Geneva and respond to various issues raised in the cantonal climate plan.
project description
The creation of "territorialized sustainable food system implies mapping all the local players involved in the food sector, drawing on the right to food to break out of silo thinking, and taking a systemic approach to the various points of convergence.
The aim of this approach is to generate cooperative "tools" adapted to the needs of the various local players, to support cooperative schemes that integrate local actions into the territory, but above all, contribute to resilience solutions and promote the canton's food sovereignty.
It's an illusion to think that there's a single way to produce, distribute and provide access to healthy, local food. Each sector, each distributor and each consumer has its own specific needs, and it's time to bring them together in order to meet and support them as best we can.
First and foremost, we intend to help connect players to find resilient solutions. We want to facilitate the creation of "territorialized sustainable food systems to support initiatives and projects already underway and in line with Article 38A. Set up a process of concertation, consultation and networking to involve all local players over the long term.
Art. 38A - Right to food "The right to food is guaranteed. Everyone has the right to adequate food and to be free from hunger."
These "S.A.D.T are already existing solutions on other national or international territories. they can materialize as :
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storage sheds for producers, to facilitate access to products through direct sales or distribution
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buying groups for local products in residential areas
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institutional contracts with local authorities
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participatory gardens for education and rehabilitation, and to facilitate access to healthy, local produce for disadvantaged people
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the development of urban farmers to create spaces for exchanges, third places or even food houses, with collaborative production facilities
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neighbourhood grocery stores supported by local authorities to facilitate the distribution of products in the various neighbourhoods, local solidarity grocery stores
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create greater efficiency in the distribution of local produce by supporting distribution and access, and pooling logistics
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by facilitating contractual systems to ensure long-term production and reduce risks.
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creating associations of players in each region to share tools, organize solidarity markets and provide mutual support and exchange in the face of climatic and/or sectoral situations
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developing solidarity food banks to enable local residents to buy food according to their means
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etc......
In order to carry out this first stage of gathering and consultation, we propose to organize 4 roundtables over the course of a year, with around ten local players each time. The aim is to define "S.A.D.T. that best meet the resilience needs of the local players present. Each round table will be recorded, documented and made available to the community.
We are proposing the creation of a website to bring together current initiatives, consultation documents, links to other national and international projects, and all the players in the canton. This will facilitate consultation and access to information. We have the resources and networks to build and manage such a site on a national level, with a specific and ethical digital approach.
At the end of these four round tables, we will propose a strategy to support spontaneous or existing intentions and a prioritization of "territorialized sustainable food systems". "of "territorialized sustainable food systems to be put in place, indicating immediate and medium-term needs and the reasons for the proposed choices.
the team

Gaëlle Bigler
consultant / coordinator / project reporter
I'm an anthropologist and sociologist specializing in sustainable and resilient food systems. Passionate about the subject, I have developed expertise by participating in numerous research projects, roundtables and seminars on the themes of food accessibility, agroecology and the resilience of food systems.
For the past fifteen years, I have been designing and coordinating turnkey research-action projects combining the values of the social/solidarity-based economy and agroecology in the food sector. My current projects, supported by the cities of Geneva, Lausanne and Vevey, aim to map and characterize local food systems.
I'm a founding member of the B.R.E.A.D Collective.

Cédric Bourquin
project consultant / coordinator / reporter
A consultant specializing in sales and business strategies, Cédric Bourquin set up his consulting business over 8 years ago. An expert in the social economy, he supports companies and projects with a strong social and environmental impact. A multi-entrepreneur, he has worked in the tourism, retail, food and consulting sectors. His expertise in alternative economy enables him to quickly identify the feasibility of a project and the actions required to achieve its objectives.
As an organization facilitator, he brings to the "Terroirs Solidaires" project his management skills in the social and solidarity economy, as well as his expertise on the strategies to be implemented depending on the situation and the players involved. During project debates, he moderates by including his ethical and entrepreneurial viewpoints, and thus provides important feasibility solutions. Cédric joined B.R.E.A.D. Collective to bring his expertise to the Local Fair Trade project.
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