Development of Food Policies for the Municipality of Prato

Title Development of Food Policies for  the Municipality of Prato

Location Prato

Duration 2025-2027

Funding  Municipality of Prato

 

Contesto

The city of Prato has built its economic development around the textile industry, becoming a benchmark at European level, without, however, abandoning its agricultural roots. Over the last thirty years, the agricultural sector has regained its central role thanks to the joint efforts of farmers, trade associations, the third sector, universities and local authorities, giving rise to initiatives such as the ‘Terra di Prato’ short supply chain market, the ‘Prato Circular City’ municipal strategy and the protocol for hop fields supporting ‘made in Prato’ craft beer.

In this context, the initiative on urban food policies represents a new phase of a broader project of transition towards a sustainable, equitable and participatory urban and peri-urban food system, in which food becomes a strategic lever for bringing together environmental sustainability, social cohesion, health, culture and local identity, in line with the ‘food in the circular city’ model.

 

Obiettivo Generale

The Circular Innovation and Sustainable Commodities Unit has been involved in helping to build a sustainable, equitable and participatory urban and peri-urban food system for the city of Prato, placing food at the heart of the relationship between town and country.

The urban food policy initiative aims to ensure food security and access to healthy, high-quality food for all; promote regenerative and circular agricultural practices; highlight local, seasonal and multifunctional production alongside traditional recipes; strengthen short supply chains and local markets; reduce waste and surpluses through their recovery and redistribution; and foster social inclusion and active community participation.

In line with the ‘food in the circular city’ model and the ‘Prato Circular City’ strategy, the food policy aims to create an integrated and harmonised system of relationships between agriculture, distribution, consumption, education and awareness, capable of optimising production and consumption according to the actual qualitative and quantitative needs of the local area.

 

Cosa abbiamo fatto?

In 2025, Prato’s initiative on urban food policies took place with two main public events, which marked the launch and the first in-depth exploration of the topic at city level.

On 9 May 2025, the launch event ‘Towards Prato’s urban food policies’ took place in the ‘Maurizio Fioravanti’ Auditorium of the PIN Foundation, promoted by the Municipality of Prato in collaboration with the PIN Foundation, acting as the ARCO Laboratory. On this occasion, the three-year plan for urban food policies was outlined, the project’s general objectives were presented, and a round-table discussion was held with agricultural producers and stakeholders from local supply chains, who were invited to describe the link between their products and the local area.

On 16 October 2025, to mark World Food Day, the initiative continued with the public meeting “Food as a Common Good”. The event brought together institutions, trade associations, third sector organisations and local producers to discuss access to healthy, sustainable and high-quality food for all, the role of the catering sector, the recovery of food waste and food wastage, linking the theme of ‘food as a common good’ to the development of Prato’s future food policy.

Work on defining urban food policies will continue by listening to the various stakeholders in the sector to identify strengths, challenges and solutions for Prato’s food system.

Read more on the Cirular Innovation and Sustainable Commodities Unit