The Mediterranean Diet is considered one of the healthiest and most sustainable eating patterns in the world.
However, in many countries of the Mediterranean region, including Portugal, several changes in eating habits and consumption trends have been observed, with a noteworthy increase in the intake of animal and processed products. Making it matter of urgency to find models to help reverse this nutritional shift. At the same time, it’s pivotal to find strategies to reduce food waste by increasing the consumption of fresh, seasonal, and local vegetables and fruits through family farming. This agricultural system plays a fundamental role in self-sufficiency and food security, as it promotes sustainable nutrition, supports territorial development through social innovation, and establishes food systems that preserve biodiversity, the environment, and culture.
So, to promote the Mediterranean Diet in Portugal, and ensure a sustainable diet, the present proposal aims to enhance and differentiate family garden products in both rural and urban environments. This project will develop agroecological activities in family gardens of different regions of the countryside, and also in urban and peri-urban gardens in Lisbon, Viseu, and Bragança, to enhance the use of sustainable practices in family farming across the entire chain of value, from the production side to the consumers end.