Short description
Name of the initiative? Feeding Cordoba in COVID-19 (Alimentando Cordoba COVID-19)
Country Spain
Region Andalusia
What kind of initiative Farming/production, Biodiversity, Community
Key words Agroecology, Local supply chains, Food aid, Peasants, Multi-actor networks, Activist research, Food sovereignty
Success factors
Briefly describe what your initiative is about The sanitary crisis due to COVID-19 is affecting local peasants (places to sell are closed, short food supply chains are at stake), and socially excluded families. Through a collective process we have organised a home distribution system of local food from agroecological peasants, and a solidarity fund from consumers’ donations to provide local agroecological food aid to families.
The Story
As a result of the pandemic lockdown, places where local peasants typically sold their produce closed, putting their livelihoods and short food supply chains at stake. It also made it harder for socially excluded families to access food. Although these concerns and some collaboration already existed, this crisis led us to a more concrete system in mid-March 2020.
“Leaning on our long-term relationships, long-term networking work and support and long-term facilitation processes towards collective organisation of local agri-food system, we were able, very quickly to set up a network system”
Leaning on our long-term relationships, long-term networking work and support and long-term facilitation processes towards collective organisation of local agri-food system, we were able, very quickly to set up a network system based on the active collaboration of all partners, assuming weekly tasks such as food supply updating; food offer communication; order collection; order organisation by consumer and by peasant/processor; baskets organisation; distribution; solidarity fund management; solidarity basket organisation and distribution. All has been organised with strong support of virtual tools based on open software.
The groups involved are: Agroecological peasants network Alimentando Cordoba, Ecomercado (an association of peasants that develop a local peasants’ market), social market La Tejedora, Ecocórdoba (an articulation of local organic retailers), other local farmers and local food processors, food aid social and solidarity initiatives around schools located in socially excluded areas in the city and a local distribution cooperative.
There have been challenges: the speed needed to give answer to the urgent situations, to agree with different actors about the strategy, the governance and the commitment. We have a shared vision about the need for collective action and a real need coming from an unknown crisis that unites us.
“When real needs arise, people give their best to support collective initiatives. But these are not spontaneous processes”
When real needs arise, people give their best to support collective initiatives. But these are not spontaneous processes, they need long-term supporting processes towards networking and bridging.
“In Cordoba, a common goal translated into a common project.”
In Cordoba, a common goal translated into a common project. There is a clear option to buy local food from agroecological peasants, and it has been connected to people that are needing food aid. We need more consciousness about the importance of food sovereignty and collective action to face such crises. Food sovereignty and collective action is the only possible way for food security.
“Food sovereignty and collective action is the only possible way for food security.”
Community solidarity has strongly emerged.
Additional information
Website: http://www.osala-agroecologia.org/category/noticias/
twitter: https://twitter.com/AlimentandoCor /@AlimentandoCor
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alimentandocordoba/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alimentandocordoba
telegram channel: https://t.me/alimentandocordoba
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Repository compiled by: Isabel Vara Sánchez
E-mail contact: isabel.vara@uco.es
