The fight against food waste poses a challenge to traditional models of governance. Among the most promising and innovative governance approaches are those that encourage active participation of citizens, businesses, and organizations in defining and implementing initiatives to reduce waste. This includes initiatives to promote collaboration with supermarkets, restaurants, citizens, and Third sector organisations to redistribute surplus food to those in need, the implementation of policies to reduce food waste, and community education on the importance of waste reduction.

Additionally, there is the possibility of encouraging the development and adoption of digital or physical platforms that facilitate the exchange of unused food and raise public awareness through communication campaigns and educational programs. This approach can lead to increased awareness and community participation in waste reduction, thus contributing to promoting a more sustainable management of resources.

These will be some of the topics addressed on December 18 at the University of Milan during the event coordinated by the Department of Italian and Supranational Public Law, in collaboration with the CRC I-WE (Innovation for Well-Being and Environment) and the OnFoods partnership.

The seminar is also part of the activities of the collaborative research project "Subsidiarity and the role of the third sector as a partner of public administration. Study of cases of co-programming, co-design, and co-accreditation in the Lombardy Region", subject to an agreement between the University of Milan and PoliS Lombardia. 

This project focuses on the analysis of cases of co-programming, co-design, and co-accreditation in the Lombardy Region, with a specific focus on the role of the third sector as a partner of public administration. These initiatives involve active collaboration among various stakeholders for the development and implementation of programs and projects, with the goal of promoting a participatory and shared approach in public policies.

Therefore, through an innovative combination of the two research perspectives described above, on December 18, the speakers will discuss how shared governance tools can be used to allow food policies to achieve more impactful outcomes for the community and the planet.

The event programme
Introduction and moderation by Prof. Benedetta Vimercati, Associate Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Milan.

Speakers include:

• Dr. Anna Scavuzzo, Deputy Mayor of the City of Milan, with responsibility for Food Policy.
• Dr. Edoardo Caruso, Researcher in Administrative Law, University of Ferrara.
• Conclusion by Prof. Lorenza Violini, Full Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Milan.

Scheduled talks by:

• Dr. Davide Zecca (Research Fellow in Comparative Public Law, University of Milan).
• Dr. Giulio Casilli (Ph.D. student in Constitutional Law, University of Milan).
• Dr. Daniele Camoni (Researcher in Comparative Public Law, University of Milan).