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- Panel 2-2 Invisible stakeholders: A history of multiple encouragements to build an urban food policy in Kyoto City /Motoki Akitsu
Panel 2-2 Invisible stakeholders: A history of multiple encouragements to build an urban food policy in Kyoto City /Motoki Akitsu
Motoki Akitsu
Professor, Faculty/Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Japan
Kyoto City, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, has long been a magnet for tourists, both domestic and international. While Kyoto's culinary traditions have evolved into a major tourist draw, the city grapples with multifaceted challenges in the field of food production and consumption. These challenges manifest in the degradation of urban agriculture, widening socioeconomic disparities among families engaged in child-rearing, escalating levels of food wastage, and a general lack of enthusiasm regarding food and agricultural sustainability. Despite the global momentum in adopting urban food policies, the 2015 ratification of the Milan Urban Food Policy in Kyoto has, regrettably, seen limited implementation and engagement within the municipality. Confronted with these pressing issues, our initiative embarked on the establishment of a local/urban food policy in Kyoto. Beginning as a researched project, it subsequently transitioned into a citizen-led endeavor.
Our endeavors encompassed a series of strategic social outreach initiatives, including workshops conducted in collaboration with civic activists and municipal officials, a matchmaking event connecting organic food retailers with children's canteens, the formation of the 'Food Policy Council Kyoto' organization, dialogues with nursery schools and organic retailers to explore the integration of organic lunches, and consultations with university students leading to the formation of a youth group affiliated with FPC Kyoto. This paper delves into the reflexive process underpinning our research and activities, shedding light on the hurdles we have encountered and continue to face. Our analysis is nuanced, considering the unique social landscape of Kyoto, and is enriched through comparative examinations with similar initiatives in other cities. Through this exploration, we aim to contribute valuable insights to the discourse on urban food policies and sustainable development strategies.
Keywords: action research, Food Policy Council, Kyoto City, sectionalism, student involvement
Professor, Faculty/Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Japan
Kyoto City, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, has long been a magnet for tourists, both domestic and international. While Kyoto's culinary traditions have evolved into a major tourist draw, the city grapples with multifaceted challenges in the field of food production and consumption. These challenges manifest in the degradation of urban agriculture, widening socioeconomic disparities among families engaged in child-rearing, escalating levels of food wastage, and a general lack of enthusiasm regarding food and agricultural sustainability. Despite the global momentum in adopting urban food policies, the 2015 ratification of the Milan Urban Food Policy in Kyoto has, regrettably, seen limited implementation and engagement within the municipality. Confronted with these pressing issues, our initiative embarked on the establishment of a local/urban food policy in Kyoto. Beginning as a researched project, it subsequently transitioned into a citizen-led endeavor.
Our endeavors encompassed a series of strategic social outreach initiatives, including workshops conducted in collaboration with civic activists and municipal officials, a matchmaking event connecting organic food retailers with children's canteens, the formation of the 'Food Policy Council Kyoto' organization, dialogues with nursery schools and organic retailers to explore the integration of organic lunches, and consultations with university students leading to the formation of a youth group affiliated with FPC Kyoto. This paper delves into the reflexive process underpinning our research and activities, shedding light on the hurdles we have encountered and continue to face. Our analysis is nuanced, considering the unique social landscape of Kyoto, and is enriched through comparative examinations with similar initiatives in other cities. Through this exploration, we aim to contribute valuable insights to the discourse on urban food policies and sustainable development strategies.
Keywords: action research, Food Policy Council, Kyoto City, sectionalism, student involvement