The guest speaker was Francesca Marconi, President of the Regional Forum for Solidarity Economy of Emilia-Romagna, who shared insights into the experience of the “solidarity van”, a transport project dedicated to Solidarity Purchasing Groups (GAS) and small producers.
What are Solidarity Purchasing Groups?
These are groups of citizens who organise locally to purchase products from small producers, sharing costs and goods while adopting a conscious and critical approach to consumption. Their core principles are solidarity, fairness, and economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
Citizens establish direct relationships with suppliers, selecting them based on criteria such as respect for the environment and people, fair pay for producers, and product quality.
Why was this topic discussed?
Several Solidarity Purchasing Groups across Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Lombardy, and Piedmont have attempted to organise collective transport from producers to their distribution networks.
However, despite their highly sustainable agro-ecological production practices, Alternative Food Networks often rely on private fossil-fuel-based transportation solutions.
The discussion focused on how cooperative solutions in Alternative Food Networks can reduce the environmental impact of transportation through joint planning, consolidation, and optimisation.
The event was open to researchers, public institutions, and anyone interested in the topic.