University of Coimbra leads innovative international project for greener and fairer lifestyles

The University of Coimbra is coordinating the European project CONVIVIUM, which aims to promote actions that preserve food heritage, aligning with the values of the New European Bauhaus Programme: sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics. The consortium views food cultures as "living heritage," reflecting societal changes and contributing to local well-being with far-reaching impacts.

CONVIVIUM seeks to tackle pressing challenges, including climate change, the agricultural sector crisis, and the need for enhanced food literacy. The project proposes practical solutions such as requalifying cultural landscapes, revitalising community gardens, and promoting cultural events to foster social engagement and interaction.

With over €3.5 million in funding, CONVIVIUM was one of four projects selected from a pool of 58 applications. Carmen Soares, Full Professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Coimbra, leads the consortium of 15 institutions from six European countries (Portugal, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain) and five associated partners (from Norway, Portugal, and Belgium). Carmen Soares believes that “this project confirms the prestige and technical expertise of the University of Coimbra and is something both the UC and Portugal can take pride in.”

The project brings together several Portuguese organisations, including Atelier Sérgio Rebelo, the Municipality of Coimbra, and the local development association Coimbra Mais Futuro. It also involves international institutions such as the University of Paris | Panthéon-Sorbonne, the University of Utrecht, and the University of Gdańsk, among others.

These institutions will carry out cross-cutting work to integrate the cultural dimension into the European Green Deal, promoting food heritage through innovative solutions for a more sustainable and equitable lifestyle that embraces art, culture, architecture, and design.

With 19 national organisations participating in 85 projects approved under the European Commission's Cluster 2 - Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, the University of Coimbra stands out as one of only two institutions coordinating funded consortia, demonstrating its strong commitment to research and innovation in culture and sustainability. Through this initiative, it aims to make a positive impact on communities and ecosystems.

The project will run for 36 months, from 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2027.

^{Translation: Diana Taborda}