On April 2nd and 3rd, the Food4CE Consortium gathered in Bologna, Italy, for a project meeting hosted by ITL – Istituto sui Trasporti e la Logistica. Against the backdrop of one of Italy’s most iconic cities, partners took stock of the project’s progress and mapped out the next crucial steps toward strengthening local Innovation Hubs and enhancing the two key tools developed within the project: the Knowledge Transfer Platform and the Matchmaking Platform.
During the two days of meeting, discussions focused on the progress of the five local Innovation Hubs established in Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Poland, and Hungary, as well as the achievements and challenges faced in the project’s implementation. Additionally, partners explored strategies to actively engage stakeholders for the Transnational Innovation Hub through an interactive session aimed to initiate reflections on the replicability and transferability of the project, ensuring its long-term impact beyond the initial implementation.
A highlight of the meeting was the visit to Camilla, Italy’s first community cooperative, offering partners a firsthand look at an innovative model of cooperative and sustainable food distribution.
Camilla: pioneering a sustainable food model
Camilla is a groundbreaking self-managed community-based food cooperative that has paved the way for a new model of ethical and sustainable consumption. Officially launched in February 2019, Camilla now boasts 737 members. It offers a sustainable alternative to the large-scale retail model, where only cooperative members can shop. This unique structure operates on the principle of the “cooperative shift,” enabling members to actively contribute to the cooperative’s management by dedicating 2 hours and 45 minutes per month to run the emporium whether managing logistics, organizing operations, or supporting communications.
Camilla’s commitment to high-quality, organic, and ethically sourced products is at the heart of its philosophy based on the claim “quality at the best price”. The store works with around 150 suppliers and offers more than 3,000 products, prioritizing local sourcing whenever possible. For items that cannot be found locally, such as coffee, Camilla partners with international producers who uphold the same environmental and social standards. Access to the store is exclusive to members, ensuring a fair pricing model that balances affordability with fair compensation for producers.
Camilla is a non-profit and self-financed cooperative through the quote all associates pay yearly. Every extra profit is reinvested in the development of the emporium, which creates a self-sustained system of circular economy within the community.
Today, Camilla serves as a model for similar initiatives, with six other community emporiums now operating across Italy. Looking ahead, Camilla aims to expand its reach and attract younger members, ensuring a thriving, sustainable future for this pioneering cooperative. With its innovative approach to cooperative food distribution, Camilla is redefining the way communities’ access ethical, high-quality products proving that a fairer, more sustainable food system is possible.
Recognized for its innovative approach, Camilla is featured as one of the best practices on the Food4CE Knowledge Transfer Platform (KTP), designed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences among stakeholders in the sustainable food sector.
The recent meeting in Bologna was a great opportunity for the Food4CE Project, offering partners a platform to evaluate progress and strategize forthcoming initiatives. In the coming months, the consortium is set to unveil key developments, including the Matchmaking Platform, designed to connect stakeholders across the sustainable food ecosystem, and the establishment of the Transnational Innovation Hub, aimed at fostering cross-border collaborations and driving innovation in urban food logistics. These advancements underscore Food4CE’s commitment to enhancing sustainable food systems and promoting innovative solutions across Central Europe.
Stay tuned for more updates as Food4CE continues to drive transformative change in sustainable urban food logistics!
Special thanks to our Italian partner, ITL for their warm hospitality and impeccable organization during our time in Bologna.