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The Role of Sense of Place in the Recovery of Local Food Systems in Bioregional Contexts. Challenges and Opportunities

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Preserving and Constructing Place Attachment in Europe

Part of the book series: GeoJournal Library ((GEJL,volume 131))

Abstract

Regenerating Local Food Systems (LFS) – also known as City-Region Food Systems (CRFS) or foodsheds – can bolster local socio-economic self-reliance and promote sense of belonging, place attachment, and stewardship among inhabitants of local communities. LFS are particularly effective within an urban bioregion framework which underpins and fosters the recovery of a co-evolutionary relationship between human settlements and the surrounding territory/ecosystems. LFS are key factors in reinterpreting global/local relationships and in referring to the food-production/consumption system as a viable tool for reclaiming the metabolic, cultural, and economic relationships between local societies, their inhabitants, and their resources. LFS sustain a sense of belonging and attachment to place values and to local heritage as underpinning elements for a fair and sustainable transition. We describe some initiatives in Tuscany, focusing on innovative, participative tools such as Food Communities and Organic Districts – institutionally established, but dependent on the commitment of inhabitants, consumers and stakeholders – and on bottom-up, place-based, re-inhabiting practices (Lucca Food Plain, SlowFood Presidia and Quality & Services (public catering service). In conclusion, we highlight key challenges to and potential benefits of LFS enhancing self-reliant, sustainable foodsheds in urban bioregions and stimulating innovative tools to integrate spatial planning and agri-food policy.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Italian Law 194/2015, Art. 13, Community of food and biodiversity of agricultural and food interest.

  2. 2.

    AIAB (Italian Association for Organic Agriculture). In Tuscany, various initiatives have been launched for Organic Districts according to the AIAB disciplinary. Among these we name the Organic Districts of Chianti (constituted), San Gimignano, Montalbano and Fiesole.

  3. 3.

    Tuscany Regional Law 151/2019. At the moment the only Organic District established according to the new law is the Organic District of Fiesole, while those of Montalbano (Carmignano and Poggio a Caiano – province of Florence) and Calenzano (province of Florence) are at a rather advanced stage. Other initiatives are underway in Valdera (province of Pisa), Valdichiana and Casentino Valley (province of Arezzo).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Architecture Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    David Fanfani

  2. Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Massimo Rovai

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  1. David Fanfani
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  2. Massimo Rovai
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Correspondence to David Fanfani .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Geography and Territorial Identities and Development Research Centre, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Oana-Ramona Ilovan

  2. Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznan, Poland

    Iwona Markuszewska

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Fanfani, D., Rovai, M. (2022). The Role of Sense of Place in the Recovery of Local Food Systems in Bioregional Contexts. Challenges and Opportunities. In: Ilovan, OR., Markuszewska, I. (eds) Preserving and Constructing Place Attachment in Europe. GeoJournal Library, vol 131. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-09775-1_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-09775-1_12

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