NEWS

The Spanish government intends to take up the law on the prevention of food waste at the beginning of 2024, in order to process it as soon as possible. This initiative, which fell out of the parliamentary process, seeks a more efficient management of food resources, urging companies to adopt prevention plans and to collaborate…

The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 12, 2023. The event concluded with several important decisions and commitments, reflecting continued progress and challenges in the global fight against climate change Loss and Damage Fund The…

A new FAO report highlights strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock sector. The report, Pathways towards lower emissions – A global assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation options from livestock agrifood systems, launched on the margins of COP 28, emphasises the importance of sustainable animal husbandry practices, reducing food loss…

According to the report Evolution of greenhouse gas emissions in Spain by the Sustainability Observatory Spain has achieved a significant 5% reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2023. This decrease is significant in the context of the country’s efforts to meet the targets of the 2030 Climate Change law and the Sustainable Development Goals.…

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a global plan at COP 28 to eradicate hunger and malnutrition while staying within the 1.5°C limit of the Paris Agreement. This roadmap, which emphasizes just transition as a central element, seeks to transform agri-food systems into carbon sinks and reduce methane emissions…

The Edible Cities Network, a European Union-funded project focused on exploring how urban innovations in food can make cities around the world greener, more inclusive and environmentally resilient, has reached a new milestone with the launch of its online platform. The announcement was made at a webinar entitled “The new Edible Cities Network Platform” on…

On Thursday 30 November, the opening ceremony of #DesembreEuropeu2023 was held in the Aula Magna of the Centre Cultural La Nau of the Universitat de València (UV). On this occasion, the programme is dedicated to the nomination of València as European Green Capital 2024, which will take place between 1 and 20 December. The inaugural…

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) will be held from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This global event will bring together delegates from around the world for two intense weeks of negotiations, debates and collaborations focused on driving climate action and ambition. During COP28, the World Climate Action…

The Valencia Region celebrates culinary excellence with the new edition of the “55 Best Restaurants” guide, presented by Levante-EMV. This gastronomic compendium was unveiled at a special gala on 13 November at Veles e Vents, València, highlighting the region’s most prestigious establishments. The guide, which will be available to the public for 3.5 euros from…

Today, 21 November, is World Fisheries Day, a date that highlights the importance of an age-old activity that is essential to food security and the global economy. The day, endorsed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), aims to raise awareness of the need for sustainable and responsible fishing practices. Fisheries,…

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has just published “The State of Food and Agriculture 2023”, a document that aims to reveal the true cost of food in the quest for sustainable food systems. The report introduces the concept of “hidden environmental, social and health benefits and costs” associated with food…

Last Friday, CEMAS attended the third international forum entitled ‘Sustainability and Innovation: Cities and Tourism 5.0’, held in the city of Valencia. This relevant event, hosted by the leading sustainability and innovation platform Connect Clean, focused on addressing the challenges we face in terms of sustainability. Experts and leaders came together to explore crucial issues…

The Spanish Society of Organic Agriculture and Agroecology (SEAE) is organising the VII Valencian Congress of Organic Production, a one-day meeting that will bring together at the Polytechnic School of Orihuela-University Miguel Hernandez, people who want to continue promoting organic agriculture, livestock, processing/processing and agro and food marketing from the Valencian Autonomous Region. The event…

Global progress towards climate change adaptation is slowing, warned a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Inadequate planning and financing, coupled with the still considerable freedom of the fossil fuel industry, are putting vulnerable populations at risk. UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the record shortfall in adaptation funding, which now stands at $194-366…

On 27 October, the Official College of Dietitians-Nutritionists of the Valencian Community (CODiNuCoVa) organised the first meeting “En Col-lectiu” in which around 40 people specialised in Mass Catering, dietitians-nutritionists, chefs, centre managers, educational community, catering staff and experts in food sustainability, met to discuss this sector and its current situation. The event served as a…

On Monday 30 October at the Niemeyer Centre (Avilés), high-level chefs, representatives of prestigious institutions such as the Basque Culinary Center and national producers met to talk about sustainability in Gastronomy. The conference was entitled “Sustainability in Gastronomy: present and future of the sector”. The event consisted of four round tables where topics such as…

On Thursday 26 October, the Mesa de Participación Asociaciones de Consumidores (MPAC), the Spanish organisation in charge of analysing consumer behaviour on an annual basis, presented the results of the MPAC 2023 Report in Madrid. According to the survey, Spanish society has changed its purchasing habits in 2023 as a result of the economic context.…

To commemorate the day of the UN, officially created on October 24, 1945, the UN base in Valencia, UNICTF, prepared a Humanitarian Fair in the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències which was attended by representatives of the UN in Spain and the various Committees, as well as NGOs dedicated to the dissemination of…

On Monday 16 October, at a special ceremony in Rome, FAO presented the prestigious “Heroes of Food” award to the Tribunal de las Aguas de la Vega de Valencia, Spain, for being a reference in the management and collective governance of such a scarce resource as water. The award highlights the institution’s fundamental work in…

Today, 16 October, marks World Food Day, an annual event promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to raise awareness of the importance of food security and nutrition around the world. This year’s theme is “Water is life. Water nourishes”. On this occasion, the celebration highlights the value of this…

The Valencia World Centre for Sustainable Urban Food (CEMAS) is once again at the forefront of the fight against food waste. This week, Vicente Domingo, director of CEMAS, played a leading role by participating in the filming of a documentary series that addresses the issue of food waste. This project, an initiative of Telemadrid, will…

Last week the Valencian Association of Consumers and Users (AVACU) held the conference “Food, sustainability and something more”. The aim of the meeting was to discuss food prices, the sustainability of our food systems and a projection of where consumption should be heading in the future. The Valencian Association of Consumers and Users is a…

In a gesture that underscores the growing global interest in sustainable urban food, Valencia’s iconic huerta became the epicenter of a high-level meeting yesterday. On Thursday, October 5, CEMAS Director Vicente Domingo visited the huerta of Valencia and the rice production system together with the Councillor for Agriculture, Carlos Mundina; Raschad Al-Khafaji, Director of FAO…

The València World Center for Sustainable Urban Food (CEMAS) brings together today at the Palacio de Congresos de Valencia world experts from various areas to address the urgent need to combat food loss and waste from a cross-cutting perspective. The conference, co-organized with the European Food Information Council (EUFIC), seeks to establish a productive dialogue…

In the week in which we celebrate the International Food Loss and Waste Awareness Day, Professionals and Managers of Valencia (EVAP), in collaboration with Mercavalència, Women in Gastronomy, the Butchers Guild of Valencia and the Food Bank, promoted the action “A-provecho: action without waste” in order to raise awareness among citizens about the importance of…

In the framework of the International Food Loss and Waste Awareness Day, celebrated on September 29th, CEMAS and the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) are organizing the high-level event “Strategies to reduce food loss and waste: a multi-sectoral approach” on October 3rd at 9.30 am. In the morning, the day will be structured in three…

What are the new eating patterns that the population is following? What can we learn from the success stories that already work in other countries around the world? On September 28 at 17h Alimentando el Cambio celebrates the day “S.O.S.tenible Food” to reflect together on these questions. At the event we will talk with professionals…

On Monday 18th, the Water Court of the Plain of Valencia held a Board of Directors meeting with its new president Francisco Almenar Cubells and the newly appointed trustees of the eight irrigation ditches. CEMAS was present to meet the new members of the Court and to deliver a copy of the certificate of the…

The wait is over! You can now register for the “A multi-stakeholder perspective on food loss and waste reduction strategies” event. This meeting to be held on 3 October will focus on the global challenge of food waste, addressing the causes, impact and possible solutions to mitigate it. This event jointly organised by CEMAS, the…

  Eating City’s summer campus, a meeting that seeks to promote cultural change towards sustainable food systems, was held last weekend. The event, which lasted until Monday 11, brought together young people from 22 to 32 years of age, ranging from cooks to farmers and students of various disciplines, all committed to a fairer and…

Recently, the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) has closely collaborated with CEMAS and the València City Council in the organization of the high-level event “Strategies to reduce food loss and waste: a multi-sectoral approach”. This event to be held on 3 October in València brings together experts in food, nutrition and sustainability to address one…

On Monday, 4th September CEMAS was present at the reception of the delegation from the Chinese province of Longxian, Zhejiang. The purpose of this meeting was to strengthen cooperation among the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), FAO’s recognition of systems that represent the perfect symbiosis between humanity and nature. In Longxian, farmers have been…

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations launched the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund in Vancouver, Canada, during the Seventh Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Assembly. The focus is on the conservation of unique ecosystems and vulnerable species, while promoting awareness of the importance of biodiversity. The investment is expected to have a significant impact…

Did you know that almost one third of all food produced in the world is thrown away? This means that approximately 1.3 billion tons per year are lost or wasted. At the same time, according to the latest data from the FAO report, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023, it…

The hospitality industry is making significant strides in the fight against food waste by incorporating advanced technologies. A recent example is the implementation of artificial intelligence systems that allow considerable savings in the amount of food wasted. Iberostar, for example, has reduced it by 28% during the first half of 2023 thanks to the artificial…

In an effort to combat food waste, Colombian researchers have developed a technology that converts bananas unsuitable for export into nutrient-rich flour. According to the National University of Colombia, approximately 25% of the bananas produced in Colombia do not meet export standards and are discarded. The initiative, called Tecniban, uses a specialised process that includes…

19 August is World Humanitarian Day. The campaign organised annually by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) demonstrates the importance, effectiveness and positive impact of humanitarian work. According to FAO data, two out of three acutely food-insecure people depend on agriculture for survival. They hold the key to their own…

In late July, representatives from 180 countries gathered at the UN Food Systems Summit “Time to Take Stock” (UNFSS+2) to discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in transforming food systems. After three days of high-level events, meetings and discussions at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, the following conclusions were reached: Science, technology and innovation are…

  The Centre for Rural Studies and International Agriculture (CERAI) and the worker cooperative Garúa have made available a series of educational resources in digital format to promote the consumption of healthy, fair and sustainable food. The project funded by the Madrid City Council aims to raise awareness among educators and families about the importance…

The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is celebrating its 40th anniversary and the importance of its work was highlighted during a meeting in Rome attended by more than 350 delegates and observers. This intergovernmental body deals with all issues specifically related to biodiversity for food and agriculture, as well as crop varieties,…

The Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation published its Activities Report, which includes its proposals and actions aimed at promoting the transition to a more just and equitable society. Among its lines of action, the transformation of food systems into more sustainable and equitable models stands out. The organisation works to encourage debate and promote the…

Days ago, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published the annual report The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023 (SOFI 2023). On this occasion, the paper focuses on urbanisation, the transformation of agrifood systems and healthy diets along the rural-urban continuum. The publication by FAO, IFAD, WHO,…

This week is very special for CEMAS, because from 24-26 July 2023 our team will be present at the United Nations Food Systems Summit +2 (Stocktaking Moment of the Summit two years later UNFSS+2) taking place in Rome, Italy, at the premises of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This important meeting…

On Monday morning, Russia announced the end of the Black Sea Grain Initiative that, since 2022, allowed to maintain the flow of food from Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain exporters, to more than 40 countries on three continents. Speaking to reporters in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the initiative was a…

On Thursday, 6 July, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released the “Agricultural Outlook 2023-32” report on medium-term expectations for agricultural commodity markets. The paper notes that uncertainty has increased as a result of geopolitical tension, adverse weather conditions, animal and plant…

World Population Day is celebrated on 11 July to raise awareness of population issues, including their relationship to the environment and development. This day established by the United Nations General Assembly is a reminder that a prosperous and fair future is possible, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The key is to…

This week, CEMAS is hosting the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) working group. The experts held a series of technical meetings in relation to this important designation. Among their planned activities is a visit to the historical irrigation system belonging to the city of València and the municipalities of l’Horta, declared GIAHS in November…

  This week we celebrate International Millet Day in an attempt to raise awareness of the nutritional and environmental benefits of this powerful grain. The day designated by the United Nations General Assembly is 3 July and, on this occasion, coincides with the International Year of Millets (2023) declared by the organisation. This initiative aligns…

On Wednesday, 28 June, the official presentation of the Science4Policy report collection was held in Madrid. The aim of the new collection of eight publications is to gather solid scientific evidence on different scientific and social problems investigated in various centres and institutes of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). The purpose of these reports…

From 22 to 23 June, the third edition of the Mediterranean Sustainable Development Cooperation (MEDCOP) Conference was held in Tangier (Morocco) to promote Mediterranean integration and evaluate solutions for the future of a more resilient Mediterranean in the face of climate change. The annual meeting brought key players from the Mediterranean region together around eight…

On Tuesday 20th, CEMAS received a visit from a Brazilian delegation in relation to the project “Cities and Food: governance and good practices to take advantage of urban circular food systems”, promoted by the EU-Brazil Dialogue Mechanism and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA). The initiative aims to foster the exchange of experiences on urban…

In December 2016, the United Nations General Assembly designated 18th June as Sustainable Gastronomy Day with the purpose of recognising gastronomy as a cultural expression of diversity in the world and as a key tool to transform our food systems into more sustainable models. In particular, sustainable gastronomy celebrates seasonal and local ingredients and products,…

  The United Nations celebrates the International Day against Desertification on 17th June. This year, the theme is “Women. Her land. Her Rights” and will emphasize the idea that investing in women’s equal access to land and associated assets is a direct investment not only in their future, but in the future of humanity. For…

Last week, CEMAS hosted a work conference entitled “The value of teamwork”. The hybrid meeting was organised by the Mesa de Participación Asociaciones de Consumidores (MPAC) and brought together partner associations and representatives from all over Spain to discuss current issues, trends and consumer habits. On this occasion, our director Vicente Domingo stressed the importance…

The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and CEMAS met this week as part of a study that will assess the situation of small traders in the field of food in the city of València. The CEMAS-funded project aims to carry out a diagnosis of the problems faced by the city’s local produce markets in order…

On Monday, 5th June, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) celebrated World Environment Day in Côte d’Ivoire. On the 50th anniversary of this day, the theme was plastic pollution and the actions we can take to stop it. Plastic has brought us affordability and practicality. However, the durability of this material is both its greatest…

Cepsa and Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España announced a collaboration to produce second-generation biofuels from waste generated by the agricultural and livestock sectors. Cepsa, through its Research Centre, will analyse new sources of circular raw materials for the production of biofuels. Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España will coordinate the contact between the company and the different cooperatives…

In the Mediterranean, women contribute to food systems at multiple levels and play a key role in the “green transition”. However, the gender gap remains an obstacle. With this in mind, on Monday, 5th June, the SFS-MED Platform is holding the webinar “Women as key players in greening Mediterranean food systems: drivers and challenges”. The…

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) officially certified 24 ecosystems from 12 countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) at a ceremony held on Monday in Rome, Italy. This award is the highest honour of the organisation and highlights areas that, thanks to…

On 20th and 21st May, the Spanish Vegetarian Union held the 4th Congress on food, animal rights and the environment, a meeting that brought to the table current issues revolving around plant-based food. The event held at the Botanical Garden of the University of Valencia coincided with the 20th anniversary of the entity and offered…

From 8th to 12th May, Bali hosted the Fourth Meeting of the Parties, a biennial meeting to discuss issues related to the implementation of the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), which aims to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The event culminated in the approval of a strategy to intensify efforts on IUU…

On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st May, the Youth Collective of La Coma hosts the 19th edition of the 2023 Sowing Festival in the Granja Julia in the municipality of Paterna, València. The free event, open to the public, offers an entertaining programme for the whole family in a unique setting: l’Horta Valenciana. In addition…

The benchmark index of international food commodity prices rose in April for the first time in a year after averaging 127.2 points, up 0.6% from March. The jump is due to higher world quotations for sugar, meat and rice, as reported this week by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). “It…

El viernes 5 de mayo en el Palacio de Congresos de València se dio inicio a la primera fase de un ambicioso proyecto que busca luchar contra el desperdicio alimentario en el ambiente de la restauración. En el encuentro se han recopilado datos de 200 formularios gracias a la colaboración de los y las organizadoras…

On Thursday, the city of València approved a motion to declare the ‘Tira de Comptar’ as an Asset of Cultural Interest. The Counting Strip (in Valencian, ‘Tira de Comptar’) is a space where small-scale farmers from l’Horta come to sell their freshly harvested products directly. It is a living testimony of the history of Valencia…

The Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) launches a series of four podcasts with María Marte, Michelin chef and Ibero-American ambassador of culture. The contents revolve around gastronomy and its relationship with the Sustainable Development Goals. Through these podcasts, users can learn more about the issues of food insecurity, childhood obesity and malnutrition. To this end, María…

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published a new report on the situation of women in food systems. The document provides a comprehensive overview from production to distribution and consumption of food. The report notes that addressing gender inequalities in agrifood systems and empowering women reduces hunger, boosts the economy…

  On Saturday, 15 April, the València World Sustainable Urban Food Centre (CEMAS) participated in the Social-MED Festival, the first Human Rights Festival of the Mediterranean. In its third edition, the theme of the festival was “The End of Poverty”, a slogan inspired by SDG1. The event was held from 14 to 29 April with…

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently announced that the benchmark index of international food commodity prices declined in March for the 12th consecutive month. This drop is partly due to a decline in world grain and vegetable oil prices. “Although prices fell globally, they remain very high and continue to…

    On 7 April, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in coordination with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, began the research campaign “Pelacus 0423”, whose objective is to evaluate and characterise the main fishery resources through the oceanographic vessel Miguel Oliver. The vessel of the General Secretariat of Fisheries set sail from the…

  The Government of Spain has launched an Irrigation Modernisation and Transformation Plan to convert the current irrigation system into a sustainable model. Through the plan, more than 200,000 hectares of irrigated land will be modernised, benefiting more than 20,000 irrigators in the country. In addition, the almost 500,000 hectares that already have modern irrigation…

According to a study recently published by FAO, agrifood systems provided direct employment for 1.23 billion people worldwide in 2019. In addition, almost half of the world’s population lives in households linked to agrifood systems. Agrifood systems involve the primary agricultural production of food and non-food products, the production of food of non-farm origin, the…

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has just released a new report on climate change. The synthesis report, prepared as part of a collaborative effort between governments and scientists around the world, confirms that human activities have unequivocally caused global warming. Among the practices mentioned in the report are energy use, land use and…

How can we know if a food is sustainable? Recently, the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee published “Towards a sustainable food labelling framework to empower consumers to make sustainable food choices”. The initiative aims to define a legal framework that rigorously describes what we mean when we talk about sustainable food systems,…

  Humans can survive on a few sips of water a day, but we often forget that the food we eat also involves the use of water – just think of the 15,000 litres needed to produce one kilo of meat. In World Water Week we bring you 5 key facts from FAO. Because every…

  Wednesday, 22 March is World Water Day, a unique opportunity to speed up progress in this area together. With this in mind, the United Nations is holding the 2023 World Water Conference in New York. The meeting, which will be held on 22 and 23 March, aims to finalise and adopt a Water Action…

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have launched the Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA) Programme. This initiative aims to help least developed countries make their agri-food systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. ASTA helps identify investment opportunities and channel investment into food…

22 March marks World Water Day, a UN-coordinated celebration that raises awareness and inspires action to address the global water crisis. With this in mind and with the desire to give a just recognition to the oldest active legal entity in the world, CEMAS is organizing the International Congress of the Water Court on 22nd…

As more cities aspire to become climate neutral and as the effects of climate change become increasingly visible, food systems, responsible for nearly 30% of global emissions, cannot be neglected. That is why, on Thursday, 9 March, FAO is organizing in Brussels the information session “Green cities, a pathway for the transformation of agri-food systems…

The Secondary School of Picanya Enric Valor unveiled the S3 Canteen project, which aims to improve the quality of food in the school canteen to achieve a healthier, sustainable and supportive offer. The inspiring initiative has the support of the public, private and community sectors. After a year of work, last Friday, 3 March, the…

  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has launched the campaign “Aquí no se tira nada. Alimentos de 7 vidas” (Nothing is thrown away here. Food with seven lives), with the aim of raising awareness among all sectors of society about responsible food consumption. The campaign aims to recover the values of the foods…

  The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has made available the Statistical Yearbook 2022, a wealth of essential information for policy making, which can be easily and quickly accessed by researchers, analysts and all those interested in food and agriculture. The open-access publication comprises hundreds of pages of organised data on…

  Food waste occurs throughout the year, but is even more intensified during the holidays. According to FAO, taking measures to reduce food loss and waste is essential for the transition to sustainable agrifood systems that make more efficient use of natural resources, reduce their impact on the planet and ensure food security and nutrition.…

    The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) awarded the Innovation 2022 prize to the Chinese platform Pinduoduo for its technological innovations in agricultural systems management and emissions reduction. Today, Pinduoduo is China’s largest agricultural e-commerce platform linking small-scale farmers to the market. Thanks to it, millions of farmers can improve…

  The main challenge for the agrifood system is to adapt the quality food production model to the new social, commercial and environmental requirements in a context in which urban-rural relations demand a new status based on coherence. With this in mind, CEMAS is organising the conference “Rural development and food systems” on 14 December…

  On Monday 28th November, the association for the knowledge and recognition of paellas Wikipaella held an event at Las Naves with the aim of highlighting the value of this traditional dish and discussing the opportunities of rice as a tourist attraction. During the round table, which was attended by the director of CEMAS Vicente…

  On Monday, 21st November, at the Universidad Politécnica de València, CEMAS held the conference “Food Systems, Heritage and Sustainability in the Mediterranean” with the aim of raising awareness about small-scale fisheries and aquaculture. CEMAS Director Vicente Domingo was in charge of the opening ceremony of the meeting, together with Amparo Pérez Roda, FAO Fishery…

On Wednesday, 16th November, at the CEMAS headquarters, the 4th Food Conference of the Very Illustrious Official College of Pharmacists of Valencia was held, in collaboration with CEMAS and the City Council of Valencia. The aim of the meeting was to address obesity through healthy and sustainable eating. The opening was led by Jaime Giner,…

What is the value of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture? Why are these activities so culturally and environmentally important? If you think of food as part of your identity and as a tool to change the world, see you on 21st November at 10 a.m. at the Universidad Politécnica de València to celebrate the World Year…

This Friday marks the end of the COP27 climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The summit, which began on 6 November, takes on the challenge of slowing down the planet’s climate deterioration through an ambitious plan to reduce emissions. Part of this plan will take into account the urgency of addressing the transformation of our…

In honour of fishing communities, World Fisheries Day is celebrated around the world on 21st November. This time the celebration is even more special since it coincides with the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture declared by the United Nations. To raise awareness about small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, on this same day CEMAS and…

On Thursday, 3rd November, the Fundació Lluís Alcanyís-Universitat de València (FLA-UV), CEMAS and the Valencia Conference Centre signed an agreement to promote food sustainability by monitoring, dating and diagnosing food waste in the area of the Conference Centre. The initiative is based on an initial diagnosis that will take into account the way food is…

  Last week CEMAS and the Very Illustrious Official College of Pharmacists of Valencia (MICOF) signed an agreement to carry out mutual cooperation activities. For this reason, the institutions are organising the 4th Food Conference “Make your diet an ally against obesity”, which will take place on 16th November at the CEMAS headquarters in the…

  This year is special for CEMAS because we are launching a series of meetings that address the importance of having a fair, sustainable and healthy food system. On 18 October, we held a wonderful conference called “The ethical and moral importance of re-educating ourselves towards fair, sustainable, healthy and inclusive food systems”, where we…

  At a gala held on Thursday in Grenoble (France), the European Commission awarded the title of European Green Capital 2024 to Valencia. It was the city’s first time being presented to the award and it competed with the city of Cagliari (Italy). Valencia is the second Spanish city, after Vitoria-Gasteiz, to win the title…

  On Tuesday, 18 October, we celebrated “The ethical and moral importance of re-educating ourselves towards fair, sustainable, healthy and inclusive food systems” conference on the occasion of World Food Day. The following are some of the outstanding speeches given: “Providing food, like providing health or education, is part of the basic elements of welfare…

  The environmental organisation Justicia Alimentaria (Food Justice) is promoting the “Seeds of Change” project through the series of educational workshops named “Our diet, our planet”. The free workshops began on Monday, 24 October and will run until the end of January with the aim of educating consumers and encouraging a transition towards a healthier,…

The second edition of the Cridem pel Clima festival will be held at the Centre del Carme de València (CCCC) from 27 to 30 October. The event organised within the framework of the International Day Against Climate Change, celebrated on 24 October, offers various activities to raise awareness of the climate crisis: music, cinema, urban…

  From 11th to 16th October, the third edition of the Biennial of Thought was held in Barcelona. This event consisted of six days of shared reflection on the major issues of today: the socio-political system, technological change and the physical configuration of cities. The conference was attended by more than 200 speakers, including political…

  On Sunday, 16th October, we celebrated World Food Day with the main objective of promoting healthy eating, food security and taking steps to eradicate hunger by 2030. This year, the slogan chosen by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for 2022 was “Leave no one behind”. The year 2022 finds…

The third edition of the Biennial of Thought will be held in Barcelona from 11th to 16th October, six days of shared reflection on the major issues of today: the socio-political system, technological change and the physical configuration of cities. For this reason, until Sunday, more than 60 activities will take place in the streets…

Did you miss the CEMAS meeting on food loss and waste? Do you want to learn more about its content? For you to know all the details about the “Actions against food loss and food waste” event, the video is already available on our YouTube channel. The meeting held by CEMAS on Monday, 26th September…

The 26th session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO26) will be held from 3-7 October at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This time, COFO26 will be held in a hybrid format and will provide strategic direction for FAO’s future work in forestry. One of the key themes of the conference will be the analysis of…

On Monday 26th September, CEMAS held the conference “Actions against food loss and waste” at the Palacio de la Exposición (València), within the framework of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste to be celebrated by FAO on Thursday 29th. In the opening of the event, Mireia Mollà, Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate…

On Tuesday 27th, representatives of the Sabri Ülker Foundation, the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and EUFIC met at CEMAS for a press conference to raise awareness of the worrying figures on food waste and to share efforts aimed at prevention. The meeting was attended by Selen Tokcan, Secretary General of the Sabri Ülker Foundation; Zeynep…

From 3 to 7 October, Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and the Federal City of Bonn will host the Daring Cities 2022 Virtual Forum. Its week-long program includes a series of workshops and high-level talks on the climate emergency. The free sessions will share best practices, technical training and ideas from leaders who are taking…

The Innotransfer event will take place on Wednesday, 21st September, from 9 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. at the Marie Curie Auditorium of the Science Park of the Universitat de València. The free meeting will address the themes of zero waste, recovery and reduction of environmental impact in the context of precision agriculture and sustainable food.…

In the framework of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, on Monday, 26th September, CEMAS will hold the meeting “Actions against food loss and waste” in the Sala Noble of the Palau de l’Exposició de València. The aim of the event is to create a space for participation and opportunities to…

On Monday, the Minister of Agriculture, Mireia Mollà, presented the first edition of Organic Week, to be held from 19 to 25 September. This is a new annual event for the agro-ecological sector to promote the sector’s opportunities and boost agro-ecological demand. The event is organized around seven themes linked to the sector’s objectives in…

Until now, our food systems have been plagued by plastics, a material that represents 80% of the waste found in the sea. There are already many factors indicating that the food industry must transform itself to meet the challenges we face, and the replacement of plastic packaging with sustainable alternatives is a major step forward.…

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands announced that it will invest USD 4.95 million to finance the WaPOR project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The initiative, which aims to manage water resources sustainably, will now be able to expand the scope of the database to the entire…

The Delegation for Agriculture, Sustainable Food and Orchard launched the “Orchard Markets” initiative with the aim of helping Valencian farmers sell their products without intermediaries. These markets will soon be up and running in Castellar-l’Oliveral, Benimaclet, Pla del Remei and Malilla one morning a week. Farmers will offer consumers fresh or processed products from their…

  The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched the “One Country, One Priority Product” global initiative in the Europe and Central Asia region with the aim of transforming agri-food systems into more efficient, inclusive and sustainable models. “One Country, One Priority Product” focuses on boosting ecology and promoting sustainable value…

Our food systems are facing major challenges that, coupled with the need to find urgent solutions, create the perfect environment for the development of domestic foodtech startups. So much so that there are currently more than 400 Spanish startups involved in developing the future of the agri-food value chain, a figure similar to that found…

CEMAS signed an agreement with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), a global network of cities and local, regional and metropolitan governments committed to representing, advocating and amplifying the voices of governments to promote the ideals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The agreement signed between UCLG and CEMAS aims to promote innovation within food…

FAO announced the addition of two new sites in Japan to the list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), FAO’s flagship programme that serves as a key tool for promoting sustainable agriculture and revitalising and developing the distinctive features of rural communities. Sustainable fishing Located near Kyoto, the Biwa Lake to Land Integrated System…

Like every year, the European Training Consortium in Public Health and Health Promotion (ETC-PHHP) will organise an annual summer school focused on the development of practical and theoretical tools to improve health promotion strategies in Europe. On this occasion, the event coincides with its 30th anniversary and the organisation has chosen València as the venue.…

During this month of July, the World Sustainable Urban Food Centre of València (CEMAS) has completed three years under the commitment to promote sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems. Since our inception during the summer of 2019, we have worked to share knowledge, policies and actions on nutrition, food, the relationship between urban and rural…

Until 4th September, the Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània de València will exhibit Emergency on Planet Earth to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the environment. The themes of the exhibition created in situ by fourteen urban artists include 12 different spaces that address different environmental issues: global warming, climate change, pollution, deforestation, soil…

The International Center of Rural and Agriculture Studies (CERAI) and the Network of Municipal Nursery Schools of Madrid launched the recipe book “The world on your plate”, an initiative that contributes to a balanced, healthy and sustainable diet. The book is the result of a whole school year spent working on sustainable and healthy eating…

On Thursday 8th July, CEMAS hosted the launch of the website “Camins de la Pesca”, an initiative of the Cátedra Tierra Ciudadana of the Universitat Politècnica de València and the Consell Alimentari de València, with the collaboration of the Diputació and the Ajuntament de València.   The website highlights the unique fishing heritage of the…

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched the 2022 edition of SOFIA on Wednesday, 28th June: The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, a biennial report analysing the state of world stocks and trends in fisheries and aquaculture at a global and regional level. The report notes that in 2020, aquaculture…

The Institució Alfons el Magnànim-Centre Valencià d’Estudis i d’Investigació published “Pescar en la memòria. Sistemes de pesca tradicional a l’Albufera” (Fishing for memories. Traditional fishing systems in Albufera), an ethnographic study carried out between 2008 and 2012 by Beatriz Santamarina Campos and Aida Vizcaíno Estevan, following the anthropological studies of Professor Ricardo Sanmartín Arce in…

On 28th June, the Food Justice team and CERAI (International Center of Rural and Agriculture Studies) met at CEMAS as part of the “Dreaming of the Platform we want” Workshop Series. The objective of this third meeting was to create a space for dialogue to share experiences and lines of action to enrich the “Schools…

From 21st to 24th June, CEMAS took part in Floriade, the international horticultural exhibition hosted by the Netherlands every ten years, through a photographic exhibition and a workshop on the Tira de Contar (a Valencian tradition in which local farmers sell fresh produce directly from their vegetable gardens to the city). In addition to Vicente…

CEMAS has opened the call to fill four positions in the following areas: – Administration and Management – Communication and Awareness – Knowledge Management – Institutional Relations and Secretariat Those interested can obtain more information about the positions and acceptance requirements here. The submission deadline is next July 7, inclusive.

From 14th April to 9th October, 2022, the Dutch Horticultural Council, the municipality of Almere and the province of Flevoland are holding the international horticultural exhibition Floriade Expo 2022 in Almere, the Netherlands. CEMAS will take the opportunity to participate in the event from 22nd to 24th June through a photographic exhibition on the Tira…

From 14th to 16th June, Ifema Madrid held the fifth edition of the Madrid Cities Forum. The three-day event is part of the fourth Sustainable Environmental Solutions Forum (FSMS 2022) and hosted 50 round tables and the participation of more than 260 speakers, organised around the need to make progress in urban planning, the naturalisation…

On 27th May, National Geographic and Disney Plus released the new documentary “Feeding the World”, a feature film by Oscar winner Ron Howard about the evolution of the non-profit organisation World Central Kitchen, spearheaded by U.S. naturalised Spanish chef José Andrés Puerta. The documentary focuses on the challenges faced by humanitarian aid organisations in the…

On 7th June, the Council of Ministers approved the draft Law on the Prevention of Food Loss and Food Waste, the first regulation on this subject to be enacted in Spain, with the aim of reducing and preventing food wastage. The Law contains 18 articles structured in six chapters: general provisions; obligations of the agents…

Following the variations in the month of May, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) food price index shows a decrease in international prices of vegetable oils and dairy products with an average of 157.4 points. The data show a decrease of 0.9 points compared to April and represent a drop of…

Kattya Cascante, a specialist in international development cooperation and current professor at the Complutense University of Madrid, dismantles the productivist approach to hunger in her new book Obesidad y desnutrición: consecuencias de la globalización alimentaria (Obesity and malnutrition: consequences of food globalisation) published by Catarata. In her book, the author points out that malnutrition and…

On Sunday, 5th June, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) celebrates World Environment Day. This year, the host country will be Sweden and the campaign slogan “Only One Earth”, encouraging us to live sustainably in harmony with nature. Above all, World Environment Day provides a global platform to inspire positive change. It encourages people to…

Last Thursday, 19th May, work began with CEMAS to promote the sustainability of the Palau de Congressos de València (Valencia Conference Centre). A meeting was organised with the participation of the Director of CEMAS, representatives of the Centre, the Universitat de València and the BonProfit Plan. The same activities that will now be carried out…

For the second consecutive year, València celebrated World Bee Day and promoted a series of activities with the aim of raising awareness of the fundamental importance of bees for the planet and people. The celebration was hosted by the València City Council and was supported by the Valencian Association of Urban Beekeeping (AVAU). In recent…

On Sunday 22nd May, we celebrated International Biodiversity Day to highlight its value and the need to preserve it. This year’s theme is “Building a shared future for all life”. This theme seeks to promote the idea that biodiversity is fundamental to live in a better world, given that the different ecosystems influence the climate…

World Bee Day is celebrated on 20th May to raise awareness of the essential role pollinators play in maintaining the health of both people and the planet. The number of bees, pollinators and many other insects is currently declining. This day proclaimed by the United Nations is an opportunity for governments, organisations, society and citizens…

On Tuesday 17th, the Environmental Education Centre of the Valencian Community (CEACV) celebrated the fourth edition of the EAR Environmental Education Awards. On this occasion, the theme of the event was “Sustainable Food”, with the slogan “Healthy Eating for a Healthy Planet”. The day began with a presentation followed by a round table discussion with…

On 6th May, the Government of Azerbaijan held the High-Level International Conference “Vision for the Future: Transition to Digital Agriculture” with the support of FAO. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu assured the attendees of the conference that data, digitisation and innovation are key factors in accelerating this transformation and are at the core of FAO’s actions…

On 7th and 8th May, in the city of València, the European Green Party held the conference “Resilient Municipalities and Regions”, where 150 public officials analysed the role of institutional policy to address the multiple challenges of the present from a sustainable perspective. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss and share ideas on how…

On 5 May in Madrid and on 8 May in Ejea de los Caballeros (Zaragoza), the Center for Rural Studies and International Agriculture (CERAI) will screen the documentary “Rebeldía Rural: la luz llega al pueblo”. Directed by Susan Labich, the film highlights the need for a global change in our food systems and seeks to…

On Thursday, 28 April, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs opened the prior public consultation of a draft Royal Decree establishing rules for the development of Articles 40 and 41 of Law 17/2011, of 5 July, on Food Safety and Nutrition, for the promotion of healthy and sustainable food in schools. The objective of the project,…

Last Friday, FAO published Wildcheck: Assessing the Risks and Opportunities of Trade in Wild Plant Ingredients, which provides detailed information on a selection of ingredients derived from “flagship” wild plants.   Of the 21% of the medicinal and aromatic plant species evaluated in the report, 9% are considered endangered. The livelihoods of an estimated 1…

On 20th and 21st April, CEMAS held the meeting of the Follow-up Committee of the Forum of Struggles for Land and Natural Resources (FLT) where they discussed how to feed the world and the problem of access to land in peasant and family farming.   Iñaki Liceaga, from CERAI and moderator of the event, pointed…

On Thursday 21st April at 18:00 (CET) the Spanish Society for Organic Farming and Agroecology (SEAE), in collaboration with AGROBIO, will carry out a new online seminar on sustainable refrigeration and air conditioning systems. The event is free of charge and seeks to accelerate the shift to sustainable and climate-friendly refrigeration. The topics to be…

On 20th and 21st April, CEMAS will host the Forum of Struggles for Land and Natural Resources. The objective of these conferences is to exchange experiences and reflections in order to contribute to citizen mobilisation and the creation of alliances to reorient public policies and curb land and natural resource grabbing. The topics to be…

Last Friday, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced that world food commodity prices reached their highest levels ever in March, as the war in the Black Sea region extended the shock to markets for basic cereals and vegetable oils. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 159.3 points in March, up…

A team of researchers from the Institute for the Preservation and Improvement of Valencian Agro-diversity (COMAV) of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has recovered, improved and typified the purple carrot of Villena (Safanòria morà), a historical crop from the south of València and north of Alicante that was in the process of disappearing. The…

José María García Álvarez-Coque, professor at the Department of Economics and Social Sciences of the Universitat Politècnica de València, has been appointed as a member of the Scientific Advisory Group of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) program. Professor García Álvarez-Coque was the coordinator of the project that in 2019 granted l’Horta de València…

On 7th April, we will celebrate World Health Day under the theme “Our Planet, Our Health”. In the midst of a pandemic, a polluted planet and an increasing incidence of disease, the theme proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) this year aims to draw global attention to the interconnection between the planet’s ecosystems and…

Last Tuesday, in collaboration with Alimentando el Cambio and CEMAS, Danone organised a meeting for dialogue that brought together the most important figures in Spain in the fields of education, health and nutrition. Its objective was to reinforce the keys to empowering the next generation and to bring healthy living and eating habits to the…

Last week the Bamberg Foundation held the “One Health” meeting, where the need to develop medium- and long-term strategies by taking specific actions to help achieve good health at all levels was addressed. The following are the conclusions of the event: The pharmaceutical industry is a health agent for promoting and defining the One Health…

The World Water Council and the government of Senegal are holding the 9th World Water Forum in Diamniadio (Dakar) from 21st to 26th March. Under the theme ‘Water Security for Peace and Development’, this forum is the largest gathering of the water sector worldwide around Sustainable Development Goal 6 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.…

Last Friday, the fourth edition of the Food Industry Participatory Forum on the draft bill on Food Loss and Waste Prevention was held. This initiative is part of Spain’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and seeks to curb this phenomenon, considering it one of the most crucial aspects when it comes to…

This coming Wednesday 23 March, the Bamberg Foundation will hold the “Spain One Health Summit” event, which will address the Strategic Plan on Health and the Environment, prepared by the Ministry of Health as part of the Ministry’s Public Health Strategy. It will also address the social determinants that influence health, such as the demographic…

On 21 March, the International Day of Forests is celebrated under the theme “Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption”. Through the event “Inspire for the Future: the Role of Forests in Ensuring Sustainable Production and Consumption”, the United Nations seeks to raise awareness of the importance of caring for and preserving all forest areas on…

On Monday, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released the report “Thinking about the future of food safety – A foresight report”, which shows the factors that will shape the food safety of the future. Variables include economic growth, consumer behaviour and consumption patterns, a growing world population and the climate…

Fundación Alternativas and Fundación Carasso have published the “Libro Blanco de la Alimentación Sostenible en España: enfoque global y medidas concretas” (White Paper on Sustainable Food in Spain: global approach and specific measures). The study develops measures to be taken into account in the transition towards sustainable and resilient food systems. Throughout its thirteen chapters,…

UN scientists released a new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) showing a dangerous and widespread disruption to nature. Among other aspects, it points out that the gaps between the measures to be taken and those carried out are “ever widening”. The publication constitutes the second instalment of the Sixth Assessment Report…

The Chairman of the Valencian Government, Ximo Puig, announced, on 1st March, the investment of 6 million euros to promote four innovation “agrohubs” in the Valencian Community. The centres will be led by the Valencian Association of Farmers and will be located in the towns of Morella, Requena, Polinyà del Xúquer and Elche. Each of…

Human activity and the climate crisis are causing enormous losses in the biodiversity of our planet. According to a report published by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, reducing human activities that cause biodiversity loss can significantly reduce the emergence of new pandemics.   Regarding this problem, Dr. Peter Daszak, President of the institution that…

Every Thursday from 9:30 to 14:00 you can enjoy the Agroecological and Fair Trade Market in the Agora of the Campus de la Vera (Vera Campus site) of the Universidad Politécnica de València (UPV). This initiative has been promoted by the Centre for Development Cooperation (CCD) of the UPV, Engineers Without Borders València, CERAI, Ecolleures and the CEDAT Foundation.    The market took its…

Last Wednesday 2nd December, the Anniversary of the GIAHS Designation of the Historical Irrigation System in L’Horta de València was celebrated. One year ago, the list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), managed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), included it as the fourth Spanish site listed for its priceless value.  The virtual event, organised by the Cátedra Tierra…

On Thursday 3rd December at 12:00pm the event “Sustainable Food Systems in the Mediterranean: Accelerating Progress on the 2030 Agenda” was held within the framework of the 3rd Global Conference of the One Planet network’s Sustainable Food Systems Programme. The meeting focused on the catalytic role that food systems play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through an interactive dialogue, participants discussed the…

On the 17th, 18th and 19th November, the Gastronomic Sciences Association of the UV (ACIGA) held the Third Congress of Gastronomic Sciences online at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of València (UV).   In this edition, the sessions concentrated on the sustainable gastronomy, transition and innovations that may contribute to healthier eating. Furthermore, the consequences of COVID-19 on the…

During the European Week for Waste Reduction, held from 21 to 29 November, the Association of Businesswomen and Professionals of Valencia (EVAP) carried out the A-provecho initiative to show the population that it is possible to avoid wasting food at source by highlighting those foods that, because they are not sold, are normally thrown away.  The EVAP’s…

On November 26 at 10:30 am, the Consumer Participation Board of Trustees (MPAC) will present the fifth edition of the Survey on Consumption and Purchasing Habits 2020. The event will be held at the headquarters of the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) and will be broadcast via streaming.  The results of the report will allow us…

The fourth Milan Urban Food Policy Pact regional forum was held on 4th November. The event “Mediterranean Cities: What have we learned from COVID-19?”, organised by València and Tel Aviv-Yafo was an opportunity for participating cities to share their experiences in managing the health and socioeconomic crisis.   The first speaker was Tel-Aviv, which, in response to the…

On 24th and 25th November, from 10am to 1pm, the FIT4FOOD 2030 Final Conference will be held online. The sessions aim to broaden our understanding and the importance of transforming food systems and help the different parties involved to be part of the change. The director of CEMAS, Vicente Domingo, will be one of the speakers of the segment “Urban…

On 18 and 19 November from 15:00 to 18:00, the International Center of Rural and Agriculture Studies (CERAI) will hold the virtual event “Intercambio de Experiencias Agroecológicas en la voz del campesinado”. The meeting is aimed at government officials, civil service, NGO and foundation staff, research staff, farmers, teachers, students and all those interested in rural development,…

16 October marked 75 years of the history of the FAO, its protagonists and its achievements. Many positive achievements have been made during these decades on issues such as increasing food production and regulating food trade and fisheries. Throughout history, FAO has reached historical milestones that have brought about great progress for humanity and that fill us with hope for…

African swine fever (ASF) is advancing rapidly in several countries, affecting the food security and livelihoods of some of the most vulnerable populations of the world. To cope with this situation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) call upon all countries of the…

On 24 October, the United Nations celebrated its 75th anniversary at a time when the world is experiencing major turmoil, compounded by an unprecedented global health crisis with severe economic and social repercussions. Like every year, a concert was held in the General Assembly Hall. This time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was recorded…

On 4th November at 2.30pm the fourth regional webinar of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact  (MUFPP) will take place. The seminar called“Mediterranean Cities: What have we learned from COVID-19? “is organised by València (CEMAS) and Tel Aviv-Yafo, though other cities from the Mediterranean region such as Barcelona, ​​Montpellier, Mouans-Sartoux and Palermo will also participate. Since…

October 31st is World Cities Day, an initiative by UN Habitat to invite us to reflect on our cities and think about the future. The aim of this day is to promote interest in urbanisation and promote cooperation among countries to seize opportunities and meet the challenges posed by urbanism.  This year, life in our cities has changed drastically. The health impact…

We are very proud of the warm reception the videos published by CEMAS on World Food Day have received. Due to this great success, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Chinese version. Six videos are available. Three of them are related to this year’s World Food Day motto: “Grow, nourish, sustain. Together”.…

On Friday 30 October, at 12pm, CEMAS will participate in the virtual event “Feeding Change Together”, a conference organised together with DANONE, which will open up a common space for reflection, dialogue and actions aimed at fuelling change towards a fair, healthy and inclusive society.   It will address the highest priority issues on the public agenda on the future of food, as well…

On Monday 26th October, we will participate in an event to launch the book This is not (only) a cookbook: it is a way to change the world, published by the Instituto Cocina da Amanhâ in association with CEMAS, who worked on the Spanish translation; UNIRIO and the Heinrich Böll Foundation – Brazil.  We are facing a paradigm in crisis and to…

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many countries to adopt strict measures that have disrupted production and trade in agricultural and fishery products. As a result, large amounts of perishable products have gone bad and been thrown away. It is urgent to make good decisions and formulate policies to address the impending global crisis and, to…

This year, CEMAS is celebrating a year of growth: of structural changes, of challenges and of great achievements. For all of us who are part of this organisation, we are very happy to see it grow and become stronger at a steady and firm pace. Today, 15 October 2020, CEMAS is happy to announce a new…

Every 16 October, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) celebrates World Food Day (WFD) to commemorate its founding in 1945. In the 75 years since then, the world has come a long way in the fight against poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Today, we are at a turning point in international efforts…

A third of the food produced in the world is lost or wasted. And with it, so are countless resources: from water and seeds to the energy used in transport and processing. This has enormous consequences for the environment, as food waste increases greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to climate change. In the midst of so much…

In early September, the African Green Revolution Forum 2020 (AGRF) was held under the theme “Feed the Cities, Grow the Continent: Leveraging Urban Food Markets to Achieve Sustainable Food Systems in Africa“. This online event encouraged us to rethink Africa’s food systems to make them more resilient, nutritionally sound and conducive to greater prosperity for…

To discuss our local food systems in depth, the Annual Meeting of the Network of Cities for Agroecology will take place on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October: “Local food systems facing global risks: from covid-19 to the climate crisis”. Today, more than ever, improving the way we eat is an absolute priority. This is…

Did you know that one third of the food produced worldwide is lost or wasted? Meanwhile, for 870 million people eating is a daily challenge. That vegetable or the fruit that is spoiling in your fridge or on the shelves at the market takes on another meaning, doesn’t it? To raise awareness and promote global…

On Wednesday 7 October at 12pm, CEMAS is holding the conference “Cultivar, nutrir, preservar. La importancia del medio en nuestra alimentación” [Cultivate, nourish, preserve. The importance of the environment in our diet], a meeting organised jointly with the Official Association of Dieticians and Nutritionists of the Valencian Community (CODiNuCoVa) on the theme proposed by the…

One hundred cities from all over the world have already joined the initiative and a thousand cities are expected to join in no time. The Green Cities plan was launched last Friday at a virtual high-level event entitled “Green cities to build back better for SDGs – A new powerful venture”. The event was organised…

The consequences that the covid-19 crisis has had on food systems has been the main focus this year in the celebration of United Nations Day for South-South cooperation that has been held in a virtual session with the participation of FAO, IFAD and WFP.

Taking action on food systems could account for 20% of the emission reductions to be achieved by 2050. The report was published by WWF, the United Nations Environment Programme, EAT and Climate Focus.

Next 29th September will be the first International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. While hunger continues to rise, according to FAO, one third of all food produced is lost or wasted.

CEMAS celebrates its first anniversary with the publication of the book ‘CEMAS and the global challenges of sustainable urban food’. In the presentation of the book, the mayor of València, Joan Ribó, announced the upcoming transformation of CEMAS into a foundation, which will enable the opening to other public and private entities and expand the funding sources.

A recent report by the EAT Foundation argues that changing the eating patterns of many of the G20 countries is essential to protect the health of people and the planet.

The main model of food solidarity continues to revolve around food aid: charity canteens and using unsold products to reduce waste statistics. Over the last 20 years, the concept of poverty management has evolved, but there have been no equivalent developments in the field of food solidarity. This is one of the conclusions drawn from the analysis conducted by the UNESCO Chair on World Food Systems: “For a reform of our food solidarities”.

Both UNHCR (the UN agency for refugees) and WFP (World Food Programme) have warned of the emergency situation in which millions of refugees find themselves. On top of the problems caused by conflicts, disasters and rising prices, the added challenges of the supply chain and the economic consequences of Covid 19 must now be dealt with. These two United Nations agencies have just made a new appeal for urgent action.

Poverty and economic difficulties are the biggest challenge for not only managing to eat, but doing so in a nutritionally adequate way. This will be addressed in the next report on The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 (SOFI), which will be presented in New York on 13th July.

Local governments have played a fundamental role in the crisis caused by Covid-19. The Mayor of Valencia, Joan Ribó, made this statement during his speech at the virtual meeting organized by UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments), UN-Habitat, Metropolis and CEMAS, under the slogan Food Systems: Lessons from a pandemic.

The situation caused by the coronavirus crisis increased the percentage of healthy food on our daily menus.  This is shown in a study carried out by the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC). These changes are closely linked to the living conditions of the confinement itself.  The question now is whether this change is here…

CEMAS (World Sustainable Urban Food Centre of València) submits a report, written by medical doctors and nutrition specialists Florence Egal and Elliot M Berry, as a brief reflection on the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic on food security and the consequences of this disruption on the food systems of the Mediterranean region.

Good information helps to make the right decisions.  That’s the philosophy of the Food Systems Dashboard. This is a very intriguing interactive tool that has gone into operation in the first week of June as a result of the collaboration between FAO, GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition) and the Johns Hopkins Alliance for a…

Several entities integrated in the platform Schools that Feed, the Association of Nutritionists and Dieticians and the City Hall of Valencia are carrying out a campaign to promote healthy diets among the school population.   It is particularly aimed at families who have joined the municipal School Meal Funding programme, which has been expanded as a…

The United Nations has declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health under the slogan “Protecting plants, protecting life”. The year is a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment and boost economic development.

New York is surely the city in the world that is suffering most from the ravages of the COVID 19 pandemic. Although we cannot ignore that before the crisis, a million people suffered from food insecurity, the actions taken to date in this emergency context represent a historical convergence between local government, the private sector and civil society actors to feed more than eight million New Yorkers.

A new story book that aims to help children understand and come to terms with COVID-19 has been produced by a collaboration of more than 50 organizations working in the humanitarian sector, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Save the Children.

The World Health Organization is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to rapidly expand scientific knowledge about this new virus, track its spread and virulence, and advise countries and individuals on measures to protect their health and prevent outbreak spread.

The city of València has participated in the study that FAO has launched to analyze global data regarding the impact and management of urban food systems during the Covid-19 crisis. The objective is to guarantee supply and food security during confinement. The research work is directed by the FAO Food for Cities department and in…

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve rapidly and UN-Habitat is working on a daily basis to support its staff and partners, while also leveraging its knowledge to help cities and human settlements on the front lines manage the health, social, and economic impacts of the pandemic.   The world’s great cities are now on the…

CEMAS and FAO have collaborated to jointly participate in the 10th World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi. This forum, which UN-Habitat convenes every two years, analyses experiences related to sustainable development and how the New Urban Agenda (NUA) is being implemented.

The glass hall of the València City Council has hosted the official celebration of the incorporation of the historic irrigation system at l’Horta as a GIAHS. It is a recognition that distinguishes it as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) that FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization) made public last November. The act,…

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognises that food systems and agriculture can play a fundamental role in the fight against climate change. FAO Director General Qu Dongyu has participated in the proceedings of COP 25 in Madrid this week. The head of the FAO, in addition to inaugurating International Mountain Day…

These are the systems that constitute the registry of GIAHS, Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. So far, this is an official recognition that FAO has granted to about 60 agricultural systems worldwide. They are diverse, locally adapted farming systems, managed for centuries by farmers, herders, fishermen and foresters who have produced extraordinary landscapes that combine…

The announcement was made by the Mayor of València, Joan Ribó, at the opening of the congress that celebrates United Nations Day, organized by the UN Information Technology Centre based in Quart de Poblet (València). Located in the La Base de La Marina de València building that houses the CEMAS offices, the congress focusing on…

The CEMAS facilities have hosted the celebration of World Food Day for the first time. Public administrations, institutions, universities, various organizations and civil society gathered together in one event to highlight the urgent need for all of us to commit to working in order to achieve #zerohunger with sustainable and resilient food systems. The mayor…

The work sessions of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) took place from 7 – 9 October 2019 in the French city of Montpellier. More than a hundred cities from around the world and representatives of various associations, foundations and universities shared experiences and knowledge about urban food systems: food production and supply, nutrition…

After months of preparation, on 22 July 2019, CEMAS held its opening event at the Marina de València chaired by Queen Letizia.