Food Systems, Bioeconomy Models and Innovation for the Territorial Revitalization of Marginal Areas

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, a growing emphasis has been put on the potential of revitalization strategies to overcome territorial marginality fostered by a variegated repertoire of factors, ranging from depopulation to low employment rates. As a result, several multiscalar policies and practices of territorial revitalization underline the need to support the sustainable development of territories by focusing on sectors which are considered as crucial to tackle the new challenges faced by marginal territories, such as sustainable food systems and innovative bioeconomy models.

As far as food systems are concerned, it is thought that the adoption of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), among other things, will induce major transformations in agriculture and food systems in order to achieve food security and improve nutrition by 2030. As a result, environmental, economic and social sustainability should be the core of productive, environmentally oriented and inclusive food systems at different scales.

While food systems are usually regarded as exclusively embedded in agricultural and/or rural territories, they actually encompass a wide repertoire of transcalar and interdependent actors, practices and value-adding activities ranging from production and processing to distribution and consumption of food products.

Particularly in the context of growing urbanization at the global scale, food has recently been increasing in priority in several urban agendas. Different urban food policies and strategies have been developed in order to face the challenges of food in land-use and infrastructure planning, transportation, and rural–urban connections, notably in marginal areas. Other issues are related to the transformation of urban spaces due to new foodscapes and consumption-led practices, ranging from the right to healthy and affordable food to food gentrification.

Nowadays, food systems can integrate the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability, as well as address social justice and health issues at various scales. They can be seen as an opportunity through which planners and institutional actors can try to promote more sustainable natural resource management, eco-system services and rural–urban connections, particularly in peripheral regions and marginal areas. Furthermore, peripheral areas can exploit their unique assets and capabilities to transform themselves as engines of a regenerative food system through an approach based on bioeconomy and circular economy principles.

As a result, the main aim of this Special Issue is to explore various dimensions of territorial revitalization strategies to overcome marginalization, including those based on the revalorization of sustainable food systems and innovating bioeconomy models in marginal areas. Different research perspectives and scientific approaches will be considered in order to identify challenges of environmental and socio-economic benefits as well as scrutinize how sustainable food systems, bioeconomy models and innovative territorial revitalization strategies can provide opportunities to develop and enhance the spatial quality of environment in marginal territories.

Dr. Teresa Graziano
Prof. Dr. Gabriella Vindigni
Guest Editors

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• marginal areas
• peripheral regions
• territorial revitalization
• food systems and SDGs
• sustainable agro-food chains and food security
• circular economy and bioeconomy
• evaluation of ecosystem services in marginal contexts
• alternative food networks and short food chains
• territorial food strategies, policies, governance
• peripheral areas for innovation in bioeconomy
• food justice and the right to healthy food vs. food deserts
• foodscapes in urban context.