The word "desert" immediately conjures up the image of enormous expanses of sand where water and nourishment are almost impossible to find. An image very far from that of our cities, where shops are teeming and supermarket shelves are full of colorful products.

So why do experts talk about "food deserts" in cities? In the vast selection of foods, most of which are increasingly rich in fats and sugars, finding healthy foods is increasingly complicated. And while populations continue to migrate from rural areas to cities, the latter are unable to ensure good nutrition for all citizens: in the megacities of the South of the world, 90% of the population is unable to eat adequately and diseases such as diabetes are on the rise and obesity.

Therefore, the areas of our cities where healthy and nutritious foods are not easily accessible are called food "deserts" or "swamps". Countering this phenomenon, as well as proposing itself as an oasis from which to start again, is the mission of the Food Policy Hub of Andria which, in line with the objectives of the United Nations 2030 agenda and through a series of initiatives, intends to have a positive impact on health, food education, urban agriculture and circular economy of the city.

In fact, while the renovation and refunctionalization works of the spaces that will host the laboratory of good food policies continue at the San Francesco Cloister, the next actions of the Food Policy Hub stand as an instrument of this revolution.

Starting in September, a series of awareness-raising events will be held on the occasion of the European Day of Organic Production (23 September), the International Day against Food Waste (29 September) and the World Food Day (16 October), which will feature eminent voices from the sector but also artists and activists who dedicate attention to the topic.

The farmers' market will return to liven up the streets with a second event, an unmissable opportunity to get to know, appreciate and support the city's producers of organic and short-chain food. The Food Policies will also enter schools thanks to the days dedicated to food education, in which students from Andria will have the opportunity to understand what healthy eating means and acquire the skills and tools to "read" and correctly choose the foods to consume.

Community gardens will also be created, located in school environments, which will allow very young citizens to experience the care process in the production of herbs, fruit or vegetables, from sowing to harvesting. In the meantime, the Social Enterprises that will animate the San Francesco Cloister will continue to work.

The mission of the Food Policy HuB, however, needs the collaboration of citizens to be effective. For this reason, the invitation made to every citizen is to take care and refine the attention towards the choice and purchase of food. Because choosing healthy and sustainable products means loving yourself and the planet.

Source: Andriaviva.it