About this Research Topic
Biodistricts have been defined in the EU Organic Action Plan as:"..a geographical area where farmers, the public, tourist operators, associations and public authorities enter into an agreement for the sustainable management of local resources, based on organic principles and practices. The aim is to maximise the economic and sociocultural potential of the territory. Each ‘Bio district’ includes lifestyle, nutrition, human relations and nature considerations..". They can be considered practical examples of Sustainable Food Systems. Their number, and the interest from public, private and civil society organizations is growing. Different regulations, approaches to their creation and management exist. Information, analytical and normative tools, supporting a coordinated and effective development of the Biodistricts, at the national and international level, are lacking.
The research Topic “Biodistricts: a Concrete Example of Sustainable Food Sytems “aims at tackling the challenge of defining a manageable holistic approach to develop Sustainable Food Systems, and support the Ecological Transition, through the Biodistricts. To this end new or updated knowledge should be produced on the analysis of the Biodistricts’ structure and dynamics. On top of the organic agriculture, which represents the core of the Biodistricts values and practices, recent advances in managerial, organizational and technical solutions should also be considered; this include innovative agronomic practices like regenerative agriculture, as well as tools supporting the creation and monitoring of the Biodistricts; the interaction among the different dimensions characterizing the Biodistricts, and contributions to effective strategies and policies definition should also be involved. This includes also institutional aspects like the role of Biodistricts networks in supporting their development.
The scope of the research topic is quite broad, mirroring the systemic nature of Biodistricts, where different themes interact.
• Integrated sustainable rural development/Land Planning (Biodistrict definition, creation and management tools and guidelines, strategic planning)
• Sustainable tourism/gastronomy
• Sustainable farming (organic, agroecological, regenerative agriculture)
• Sustainable organic food chains (from farm to fork, including Green Public Procurement)
• Social sustainability (inclusiveness, gender gap, social agriculture, urban/rural relations)
The manuscripts should refer to state of the art contributions (research, literature reviews) on Biodistricts. The above mentioned topics should be considered in terms of their role within a Biodistricts' analysis perspective. Analytical frameworks and methods design, empirical analyses, strategic planning and policies addressing the Biodistricts are welcomed.
The research Topic “Biodistricts: a Concrete Example of Sustainable Food Sytems “aims at tackling the challenge of defining a manageable holistic approach to develop Sustainable Food Systems, and support the Ecological Transition, through the Biodistricts. To this end new or updated knowledge should be produced on the analysis of the Biodistricts’ structure and dynamics. On top of the organic agriculture, which represents the core of the Biodistricts values and practices, recent advances in managerial, organizational and technical solutions should also be considered; this include innovative agronomic practices like regenerative agriculture, as well as tools supporting the creation and monitoring of the Biodistricts; the interaction among the different dimensions characterizing the Biodistricts, and contributions to effective strategies and policies definition should also be involved. This includes also institutional aspects like the role of Biodistricts networks in supporting their development.
The scope of the research topic is quite broad, mirroring the systemic nature of Biodistricts, where different themes interact.
• Integrated sustainable rural development/Land Planning (Biodistrict definition, creation and management tools and guidelines, strategic planning)
• Sustainable tourism/gastronomy
• Sustainable farming (organic, agroecological, regenerative agriculture)
• Sustainable organic food chains (from farm to fork, including Green Public Procurement)
• Social sustainability (inclusiveness, gender gap, social agriculture, urban/rural relations)
The manuscripts should refer to state of the art contributions (research, literature reviews) on Biodistricts. The above mentioned topics should be considered in terms of their role within a Biodistricts' analysis perspective. Analytical frameworks and methods design, empirical analyses, strategic planning and policies addressing the Biodistricts are welcomed.
Keywords: Biodistrcit, Food system, Organic agriculture, Integrated rural development, Agroecology, Regenerative agriculture, Social agriculture, Sustainable tourism
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