Globally, 30 to 50 percent of all food produced is lost or wasted between crop and plate. There is a large potential for the sharing economy as food sharing can decrease the high amount of food waste especially at the consumer-side. Additionally, food often travels miles between producers and consumers. The sharing economy plays a potential role in building local food economies based on local production, processing, and exchange. For example in urban farms, community gardens and -kitchens. (City) governments play an important role in removing legal barriers and facilitating the transition to a community-based food production and food sharing culture. This room contains research, case studies and food for thought regarding this topic .
The case studies demonstrate a new model of food production, acquisition, and consumption led by citizens through bottom-up innovations and (local) government engagements.