On December 10, 2025, the University of Turin hosted its KoM of the deliberative process, bringing together a diverse group of territorial stakeholders, including civil society actors, public institutions, and academia to reflect on food solidarity and food poverty in the city.

A shared need emerged clearly: creating a dedicated space to step back from daily operations and collectively re-think practices, challenges, and future trajectories. Participants described the deliberative process as a moment to bring order to existing initiatives, connect fragmented efforts, and build shared awareness of ongoing transformations in the local food system.

Key thematic insights included:

• Food solidarity as a strategic entry point for proximity-based welfare, social activation, and inclusion.
• Neighbourhood markets as crucial territorial hubs for social aggregation and ecological transition.
• The importance of stronger synergies between institutions, academia, and the third sector.
• The challenges of building self-aware and coordinated networks.
• A critical reflection on food surplus recovery, market logics, and systemic food waste.

Turin emerged as a living laboratory for food solidarity, where diverse models of intervention coexist, revealing both a rich ecosystem of innovation and the need for clearer policy and operational directions.

Four strategic directions stand out:

• Institutionalise a stable dialogue between civic action and policy-making.
• Address structural barriers with targeted interventions (e.g. public-private investment plans to resolve the cold chain gap, local incentives for surplus donation).
• Transform food distribution points into spaces of participation and dignity.
• – Promote a transformative vision of food solidarity as a driver of social innovation.

Food solidarity is not only about redistribution, it is about strengthening social ties, empowering communities, and reimagining urban food policies through participation and collective intelligence.

Many thanks to all the participants!