Catania, Italy
City population: 290083
Duration: 2017 – unknown
Implementation status: Unknown
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Residential
Last updated: April 2022

The municipality of Catania, in collaboration with the University of Catania promotes sustainable agricultural practices in specific areas of the city with the project “Urbanhort” (Uban Horticulture systems for Resilient, Efficient and Sustainable cities). The main focus of the project was placed on biological, indoor and vertical gardening. The main goal of the intervention is to give value to the territory, to increment tourism, culture and the environment. What wanted to be tested was the efficiency of the practice in terms of price, health outcomes and the promotion of a correct diet. (Ref.1.) The project might still be ongoing, however, no information was found on the website of Catania's municipality or on the website of the University of Agriculture of Catania for a later date that can show the current stage of the project (as of July of 2020).

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Community gardens and allotments
  • Community gardens

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Enabling opportunities for physical activity
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
  • Sustainable consumption
  • Sustainable production

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising

Project objectives

The goal of the intervention was to experiment with new practices for urban agriculture in the city of Catania, namely biological, biodynamic, indoor and vertical farming. The aim was to reach goals such as better quality food provision, and higher quality green spaces usage. In addition, the environmental impact was planned to be assessed as well, by respecting the principles of sustainable production and consumption (Ref.1.)

Implementation activities

In order to reach the goals, the University of Catania in collaboration with the municipality identified specific areas for the intervention where to start cultivating the products. The choice of the products will be respecting the seasonal cycle of cultivation, by promoting at the same time local practices of cultivation - cultivation is carried out by local citizens willing to participate in the project -. (Ref.3.) Regarding the status of the project: The project might be ongoing, however, no information was found on the website of Catania's municipality or on the website of the University of Agriculture of Catania for a later date that can show the stage of the project (as of July of 2020).

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Researchers/University
  • Citizens or community groups
  • Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners)
  • Young people and children

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality
  • Researchers/university
  • EU body

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The EU offered funds for its own project, named "Horizon 2020 SFS48-2017" for the practices of efficient urban agriculture. The University of Catania (agriculture section) proposed the initiative Urbanhort to get funded by the EU programme, with the approval of the municipality of Catania which provided the land for cultivation. Volunteer citizens, trained by experts and university professors, were assigned to land areas for cultivation. (Ref.4.)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (The EU strategy "Eu Horizon 2020 SFS48-2017", with a specific strategy concerning resources and efficient urban agricolture for multiple benefits (contribution to the Eu- China Urbanisation Partnership) with a multi-sectoral project for urban agriculture. (Ref.4.))
... a national policy or strategy? Yes (The intervention was influenced by the national plan of the Italian ministry, named "Schema di decreto ministeriale recante approvazione del piano triennale per il rilancio e la razionalizzazione delle attività di ricerca e sperimentazione in agricoltura" (Ministerial scheme of approval of the triennal plan for the regeneration of sperimentation and research activities in agriculture), which establishes the criteria for urban agriculture practices (Ref.5.))
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

Source(s) of funding

  • EU funds

Type of funding

  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased conversion of degraded land or soil

Economic impacts

  • More sustainable tourism
  • Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Other

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

Ref.1. Comune di Catania (2017). Il comune di Catania aderisce al progetto multisettoriale di agricoltura urbana, Urbanhort. Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)
Ref.2. LiveUnicit (2017). UNICT – “Urbanhort”, il progetto di agricoltura per valorizzare il territorio. Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)
Ref.3. T&G MondoAgricolo (2017). Comune Catania, piu' orti urbani per promuovere territorio. Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)
Ref.4. MetroCT (2017). Agricoltura, Catania aderisce al progetto Urbanhort. Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)
Ref.5. CAMERA DEI DEPUTATI (2016). N.332 ATTO DEL GOVERNO SOTTOPOSTO A PARERE PARLAMENTARE. Roma: pp. 1-181 (Attached)