Labelled as a "Territory with Positive Energy for Green Growth ", The North Basque Country has committed itself to the subject of locally produced, quality food for all. The work and mobilisation of territorial stakeholders on this issue will enable the Basque Country to take a qualitative leap forward in this field, which today is essential for the future of its territories.
In the territories, the issue of food has been raised for several years by many parties, including farmers, who have facilitated the rapid development of short circuits and who offer locally a produced and high quality food supply, but also by communities through collective catering, consumer groups (e.g. Interamap Basque Country) or by citizens themselves.
The Basque Country has been selected, together with two other territories in Aquitaine (the city of Bordeaux and the Community of the Agglomeration of Libournais), to implement, as part of a regional project, a pilot project on food governance.
At a regional level, this pilot project is carried out by the Aquitaine Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing (DREAL) with the support of IUFN (International Platform for the Promotion of Sustainable Food Systems for urban areas), the Aquitaine Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (DRAAF) and the Aquitaine Regional Health Agency (ARS). The aim of this project is to support pilot territories in the implementation of a territorial food policy that is jointly developed with all actors of the local food system.
Within the framework of this project, and with the support of IUFN, the Council of Elected Members of the Basque Country* carried out an assessment in 2015 to offer a preliminary overview of the food system in the Basque Country.
The Food Governance Council was formed on the basis of the assessment.
The assessment can be viewed here: http://www.societecivile-paysbasque.com/images/pdf/transition_ecolo/diag_alim.pdf
*The Council of Elected Members of The North Basque Country is composed of 85 members:
- 44 representatives of Public Establishments of Intermunicipal Cooperation.
- 41 councillors, Basque councillors, national and European parliamentarians, as well as acting members of the government.