Mensa Civica The European Alliance for Sustainable Public Food Systems

Latin for "public table"

AlimenTerra and its members have been working for over 10 years to create international partnerships and communication on sustainable public food. We believe that international partnerships and action are fundamental to achieving local objectives, in terms of advocacy to international organisations, the sharing & development of good practice and creating common tools instruments to implement and monitor sustainable practices.

In order to increase the momentum towards truly sustainable public food systems at all geographical levels in Europe, AlimenTerra instigated the creation of Mensa Civica - The European Alliance for a Sustainable Public Food System in 2007. Its principal aims are to:
  • Support practitioners are at all geographical levels who are involved in the supply of sustainable food to the public sector in Europe or the provision of support services to facilitate change to sustainable public food services
  • Advocate policy changes - at EU, national and regional levels - to ensure that public sector institutions purchase sustainable food.

What is sustainable food?

Currently there is no legal definition of, although some production systems which promote more environmental or socially sustainable practices, such as 'Organic', 'Fairtrade' or 'Produits Fermiers' are clearly defined. Our working definition is that sustainable food should be produced, processed and traded in ways that:

  • Contribute to thriving local economies, food cultures, traditional food products, social justice and sustainable livelihoods - both in Europe and, in the case of imported products, in producer countries;
  • Protect the diversity of both plants and animals (and the welfare of farmed and wild species), and avoid damaging natural resources and contributing to climate change;
  • Provide social benefits, such as good quality food, safe and healthy products, and educational opportunities.

AlimenTerra and the participants in Mensa Civica believe that public food services should take a leadership role in engendering a new food culture, based on the health of the individual, society and the planet.
Public sector buyers and educators should:

  • Purchase seasonally available ingredients that reconnect producers and consumers and minimising greenhouse gas emissions and pollution
  • Buy food from sustainable food production systems, such as organic agriculture or 'produits fermiers' that enhance biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods
  • Only use foods of animal origin (meat, dairy products and eggs) originating from sustainable, extensive production systems, as intensive livestock farming is one of the most significant contributors to climate change, and eat meals rich in fruit, vegetables, pulses, wholegrains and nuts. Ensure high animal welfare standards at all stages, including production & transport
  • Ensure that all food purchased provides good pay and conditions for people working in the food sector, and ensure that trade is fair and ethical throughout the food chain
  • Ensure that the provision of all public food services are accompanied by education activities that encourage deeper knowledge and understanding of food and food culture and develop food skills that enhance you and your family's health and well-being
  • Stop buying fish species identified as most 'at risk' by the Marine Conservation Society (www.fishonline.org/advice/avoid), and buy fish only from sustainable sources - such as those accredited by the Marine Stewardship Council (www.msc.org)
  • Avoid bottled water and instead drink plain or filtered tap water, to minimise transport and packaging waste

What are Mensa Civica doing?
Some of the key activities of Mensa Civica so far have been to create a network to promote and share good practice in sustainable public food systems across Europe through:
  • Organising and supporting events, such as workshops, conferences and study trips across Europe.
  • Creating common literature such as the dossier of good practice and newsletters with case studies of successful initiatives.
  • Consult members to devise guidance and other material to promote sustainable public food systems.

 

Newsletters and publications

International Sustainable Public & Institutional Food Newsletter;
with examples of good practice across Europe and worldwide in all sectors of public food.

This dossier is the result of a two year survey in Europe and North America with fifty examples of good practice of sustainable public food initiatives.

Sustainable public food database

To consult the AlimenTerra sustainable public food database Use username "guest" and password "guest"

Events

Part of the work for Mensa Civica is to organise events such as workshops, conferences and study trips around Europe to share good practice and promote a sustainable public food. There have been a number of events in the past which have brought key people together from initiatives all over Europe to share their experiences.

Previous events

Zaragoza, Spain July 4th 2008
AlimenTerra, Slow food Spain and the Ministry of Environment, Rural Affairs and the Sea (MARM), organised an event to take place in the Water Tribune of the international Expo in Zaragoza to highlight the work and objectives of Mensa Civica which is to promote sustainable and ecological public catering . It was chaired by the president of AlimenTerra and leading international advocate and expert in sustainable food systems Arie Van den Brand, the president of Slow Food Spain, Mariano Gomez and a representative from MARM.

Good food on the public plate. Dublin, 9th May 2008
Listen to some recordings from the Dublin event on the BBC Radio Four Food Programme on public procurement aired on 10th August 2008.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/foodprogramme_20080810.shtml

The Role of Public and Institutional Food in Promoting Sustainable Rural Development, Seville, Spain, November 8-9, 2007

Supply, Standards and Strategy, London, 17th Feb 2007

A learning journey to Italy, November 2006, A study trip to visit examples of good practice in public food systems in Rome; Tuscany and Turin. 15 participants from the Netherlands; Italy; the UK; the USA and Sweden. Article (in Italian) about the trip. Download article as PDF

Contacts

Clive Peckham cpeckham@alimenterra.org
Ida Fabrizio ifabrizio@alimenterra.org