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Governing Food Sharing in Barcelona, Milan and Utrecht

Mont, Oksana LU ; Sadovska, Vera LU ; Voytenko Palgan, Yuliya LU and Plepys, Andrius LU (2027) In Politics and Governance 15.
Abstract
Urban food governance is expected to address food insecurity, waste, social exclusion, and resilience. Food sharing initiatives (FSIs) can contribute to these goals, but their capacity to operate depends on the governance arrangements in which they are embedded. This article examines how governance modes shape the conditions under which FSIs operate, endure, and contribute to urban sustainability. Drawing on comparative qualitative case studies of Barcelona, Milan, and Utrecht, the analysis focuses on actors, power, and rules. Barcelona is characterised primarily by self-governance: civic autonomy, neighbourhood embeddedness, and local legitimacy support responses to vulnerability, but initiatives depend heavily on voluntary labour and... (More)
Urban food governance is expected to address food insecurity, waste, social exclusion, and resilience. Food sharing initiatives (FSIs) can contribute to these goals, but their capacity to operate depends on the governance arrangements in which they are embedded. This article examines how governance modes shape the conditions under which FSIs operate, endure, and contribute to urban sustainability. Drawing on comparative qualitative case studies of Barcelona, Milan, and Utrecht, the analysis focuses on actors, power, and rules. Barcelona is characterised primarily by self-governance: civic autonomy, neighbourhood embeddedness, and local legitimacy support responses to vulnerability, but initiatives depend heavily on voluntary labour and insecure spaces. Milan reflects closed co-governance, where recognised coalitions, infrastructure, and municipal coordination support food redistribution and access but privilege initiatives aligned with policy and philanthropic priorities. Utrecht illustrates open co-governance across health, green space, circular economy, welfare and neighbourhood development, but fragmented support limits continuity. The article uses governance modes not only to classify arrangements but to evaluate how they shape the resources, recognition, and autonomy available to FSIs. Beyond 2030, urban authorities and their partners need to balance coordination, flexibility, and autonomy while recognising diverse forms of value, care, and participation. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
cities, food sharing, governance modes, sustainability, urban governance, urban food systems
in
Politics and Governance
volume
15
article number
12778
publisher
Cogitatio Press
ISSN
2183-2463
DOI
10.17645/pag.12778
project
CULTIVATE: Co-designing Food Sharing Innovation for Resilience
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e440ec68-60d5-4a39-b468-fe925e053c12
date added to LUP
2026-09-10 14:56:26
date last changed
2026-09-11 07:48:34
@article{e440ec68-60d5-4a39-b468-fe925e053c12,
  abstract     = {{Urban food governance is expected to address food insecurity, waste, social exclusion, and resilience. Food sharing initiatives (FSIs) can contribute to these goals, but their capacity to operate depends on the governance arrangements in which they are embedded. This article examines how governance modes shape the conditions under which FSIs operate, endure, and contribute to urban sustainability. Drawing on comparative qualitative case studies of Barcelona, Milan, and Utrecht, the analysis focuses on actors, power, and rules. Barcelona is characterised primarily by self-governance: civic autonomy, neighbourhood embeddedness, and local legitimacy support responses to vulnerability, but initiatives depend heavily on voluntary labour and insecure spaces. Milan reflects closed co-governance, where recognised coalitions, infrastructure, and municipal coordination support food redistribution and access but privilege initiatives aligned with policy and philanthropic priorities. Utrecht illustrates open co-governance across health, green space, circular economy, welfare and neighbourhood development, but fragmented support limits continuity. The article uses governance modes not only to classify arrangements but to evaluate how they shape the resources, recognition, and autonomy available to FSIs. Beyond 2030, urban authorities and their partners need to balance coordination, flexibility, and autonomy while recognising diverse forms of value, care, and participation.}},
  author       = {{Mont, Oksana and Sadovska, Vera and Voytenko Palgan, Yuliya and Plepys, Andrius}},
  issn         = {{2183-2463}},
  keywords     = {{cities; food sharing; governance modes; sustainability; urban governance; urban food systems}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Cogitatio Press}},
  series       = {{Politics and Governance}},
  title        = {{Governing Food Sharing in Barcelona, Milan and Utrecht}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.17645/pag.12778}},
  doi          = {{10.17645/pag.12778}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2027}},
}