FOCUSE

The project combines empirical research, experimental trials, and participatory methods across five European cities (Stockholm, Skellefteå, Wrocław, Bologna, Barcelona). Work includes mapping current food and resource flows, identifying opportunities for circular integration, and testing innovative approaches for using urban residuals in food production. Experimental trials in research labs and pilot sites (e.g. rooftop farms, vertical systems, community gardens) will assess technical viability. Complementary analyses will examine urban morphology, governance, and business models to understand enabling and inhibiting conditions. Outcomes will be synthesized into design typologies, sustainability assessments, and policy recommendations that guide the transition towards circular urban food systems.

The project will generate new insights and tested approaches for integrating food production within urban infrastructures, reducing reliance on external inputs and strengthening resilience against supply disruptions. Anticipated results include: (i) design typologies for circular-urban farming adapted to different urban forms; (ii) sustainability and resilience assessments of novel circular food systems; (iii) knowledge on governance and market mechanisms to support their adoption; and (iv) tools for municipalities and stakeholders to implement these approaches in practice. By demonstrating solutions in diverse European contexts, FOCUSE will deliver replicable strategies for enhancing resource efficiency, climate adaptation, and food security in urban areas.