12 – 14 MAY 2025
Partners of the meeting:
- Municipality of Ljubljana: Suzana Gajić, Maruška Markovčič, Lea Stojanović,
- DOVES FEE-Slovenia Association, Eco-school programme: Gregor Cerar, Maša Meznarič Majcen, Barbara Gašperlin, Lucija Marovt,
- ZaVita d. o.o.: Samo Škrjanec, Ana Vojnovič,
- Kairos: Giorgio Prette,
- Hungarian partners: András Guti, Dr. Csaba Ágoston, Angelika Till, Ádám Takács, Agnes B. Kovacs, Barbara Somogyi, Anna Budai, Dr. Nagy Gabriella Mária, Bodáné Dr. Kendrovics Rita, Dr. Demény Krisztina,
- Partners from Poland: Tomasz Kuźma, Katarzyna Przyjemska-Grzesik
- Partners from Croatia: Iva Bedenko, Branka Mrakužić; Bernarda Božičković Kričković,
- Partner from ICE: Saša Fluher.
Absent:
- Partners from Turin, Italy.
Introduction
The CoFarm4Cities European project partners’ meeting, organised by the Municipality of Ljubljana, took place in Ljubljana from 12 to 14 May 2025. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation between partners, exchange experiences and good agricultural practices in urban agriculture, and enhance understanding of the project’s shared objectives. We also took the opportunity to present the activities, projects and approaches that Ljubljana is developing in the field of sustainable urban farming, education and community involvement to the international partners.
On Monday, 12 May 2025, we warmly welcomed all participants at 19:00 at the Sokol Restaurant, where we opened the meeting with a relaxed dinner featuring local culinary delights, fostering a pleasant atmosphere of project cooperation.
Day 1 of the CoFarm4Cities Partners Meeting, Tuesday 13 May 2025
Location: Centrum Rog, Trubarjeva street 72, Ljubljana
Organiser: the Municipality of Ljubljana
The participants gathered in Prešeren Square at 8 am. From there, we walked together along the Ljubljanica River to the Rog Centre, where the first day of the meeting was to take place. Upon arrival, the participants were registered. The opening programme began at 9 am with a welcome address from the Municipality of Ljubljana to all the project partners. The floor was then handed over to the lead partner from the Municipality of Óbuda, Hungary, who welcomed the participants and gave a brief summary of the joint activities so far. Together, we reviewed the timeline of the meeting and agreed on the key points of the programme that awaited us in the coming days.
The meeting continued from 9:30 to 11:00 with a review of the project activities timeline. This was followed by a professional review of the implemented and planned project activities, where individual partners presented their progress in implementing the tasks. The leading partner then provided an overview of the financial aspects of the project for each partner, highlighting key financial indicators and drawing attention to deadlines and necessary adjustments within the partners’ budgets.
From 11:30 to 12:30, a workshop was held focusing on the development of the joint land use model, which is one of the key results of the CoFarm4Cities project. The workshop was led by Óbuda University from Hungary and focused on conducting a SWOT analysis of the existing joint land use model. The goal of the workshop was to define the strengths and weaknesses of the current model and to identify opportunities and threats associated with its implementation in different urban environments. The development of the joint model is of fundamental importance for achieving the project’s goals, as it will serve as the basis for preparing urban action plans with regard to the efficient use of land on the outskirts of urban centres. In the final part of the workshop, the project partners reported on the current status of their pilot projects, presented financial progress and planned future tasks related to the implementation of the model and local activities.
13:30–15:30
In the afternoon, an organised field visit took place to two pilot sites under the guidance of the Municipality of Ljubljana. These sites represent an important part of the practical implementation of the project content in Ljubljana.
The first visit was a tour of the pilot school garden at Oskar Kovačič Primary School in Ljubljana. We were introduced to the children’s work in the raised beds, the compost system, and activities related to local food production, student involvement, and menu preparation.
The second visit was to the Small Learning Urban Farm Rakova Jelša pilot site, where we explored the meticulously landscaped garden with its high and low beds, the urban orchard, and the allotment area managed by the Mala ulica Public Institution. This site demonstrates a holistic approach to learning about self-sufficiency, the sustainable use of space, and community involvement.
At 16:00, we returned to the Rog Centre, where the programme continued with an interactive workshop focusing on strengthening public participation and the visibility of results, as well as the effective communication of local and international activities.
The afternoon part of the programme continued with the content provided by the DOVES and ICE partners, who presented a brief overview of the training and events for decision-makers that have taken place in all partner countries during the year. The focus was on the objectives, content and impact achieved by such events. This was followed by an interactive session on the evaluation of the trainings, where partners shared their experiences, good practices and challenges they faced in organising and delivering the trainings. The suggestions, comments and observations collected will serve as a basis for improving future meetings with decision-makers and other key stakeholders at local level.
The final part of the meeting was dedicated to the presentation of the Peer-to-Peer Visit 2P process led by the partners City of Turin and Kairos. During the presentation, the partner Kairos explained the purpose and the process of the visit to the City of Turin, where the project partners learned about local practices of community engagement and the integration of urban agri-culture in spatial planning.
Day 2 of the CoFarm4Cities Partners Meeting, Wednesday 14 May 2025
Location: City Hall, Mestni trg 1, Ljubljana
Organiser: the Municipality of Ljubljana
The participants gathered at Prešeren Square at 8am, from where we walked together to the Ljubljana on the Road to Carbon Neutrality Info Point. Upon arrival, a short presentation was given by the staff of the Department of Environmental Protection, who presented the guidelines, plans and key actions for Ljubljana’s transition to a carbon-free future. The presentation highlighted the city’s efforts towards sustainable development, emission reduction and the role of the local community and education in achieving climate goals.
After the presentation at the Info Point, we went on an organised tour of the educational Bee Route, which runs through the centre of Ljubljana. The purpose of the tour was to learn about the importance of conserving bees and other pollinators in the urban environment and to link natural heritage with public awareness. We also visited the Plečnik Beehive, one of the symbols of Ljubljana’s beekeeping tradition, in the Prule area. The guided tour highlighted the sustainable placement of bee habitats in the urban space, the importance of biodiversity and the role of educational trails in spreading knowledge about pollinators among different generations.
A joint workshop was held in the large meeting room of the Town Hall to share experiences from the pilot sites and to present the different activities taking place in the partner cities. The workshop was led by DOVES and the Municipality of Ljubljana, who presented the development of urban school gardens at selected pilot schools and the pilot project Small Learning Urban Farm at Rakova Jelša. Afterwards, all project partners had the opportunity to give a short 5-minute presentation of their pilot project. The presentations were in the form of PPT-presentations with pictures, which gave a better insight into the implemented and planned activities and contributed to the exchange of knowledge and practices in the field of community-based urban agriculture.
The meeting was closed with a short presentation summarising the key points of the workshop and an exchange of suggestions for further cooperation between the project partners. The final presentation summarised the main findings and highlighted important steps for future activities and strengthening international cooperation within CoFarm4Cities.
The meeting of all CoFarm4Cities partners was successfully concluded with a pleasant cultural and culinary experience on the Ljubljanica River. We had an unforgettable farewell with a guided tour on a tourist boat, where we were accompanied by a guide who introduced the participants to the attractions of the Ljubljanica River and its historical and natural features.
Conclusion
The CoFarm4Cities partners’ meeting in Ljubljana was successfully held and further strengthened the strong international cooperation and shared commitment to sustainable urban practices. By sharing knowledge, experiences and presenting pilot projects, the partners strengthened the foundations for further joint activities. For us as hosts, the meeting was an important opportunity to present our local solutions and good practices and to gain valuable insights into the different approaches of other cities. We expected an open dialogue that would help to improve the project and strengthen the links between them, and this has been realised. We are pleased to have been able to build relationships in a relaxed but professional environment and to exchange concrete experiences that will contribute to the future success of the project. The partners meet regularly to ensure ongoing communication and the successful implementation of the project tasks. The next face-to-face meeting will take place in September this year, when we will gather again in Krakow, Poland, to continue working together and consolidating partnerships.
We look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead to grow and develop sustainable solutions in the CoFarm4Cities partner cities.
Prepared by
Lea Stojanović
coordinator VII/1
lea.stojanovic@ljubljana.si, tel.: 01 306 43 07
