CLYMACT, first working day in Unione Reno Galliera. Tomorrow the delegations head to Bologna

Co-funded by EU _ logo

On Tuesday, 21 October 2025, as part of the European project CLYMACT – Youth and Local Authorities for Climate Action, Unione Reno Galliera hosted a full day of meetings, exchanges, and activities focused on the topic of food poverty.

The day began at Villa Smeraldi with official greetings from Elisabetta Fini, President of the Council of Unione Reno Galliera and of the Museum of Civiltà Contadina – Villa Smeraldi Institution, and from Stefano Zanni, President of Unione Reno Galliera.

Zanni highlighted the value of the project and gave special thanks to the young participants, calling them “the true backbone” of this journey. He also reiterated the importance of involving international partners to strengthen local policies, particularly those related to food security.

Luca Vignoli, Mayor of Castel Maggiore and Unione delegate for youth policies, also spoke about the need to fully involve younger generations in local decision-making processes.

Finally, Giulio Boselli, ambassador for Unione Reno Galliera, introduced three key words in addressing food poverty: stigma, access, visibility.

Next, the floor was given to the partner country delegations, which include:

Dimos Agion Anargiron-Kamaterou (Greece)
GAP España – Plan de Acción Global para la Tierra (Spain)
Zugló – Budapest (Hungary)
Mislata (Spain)
Podstrana (Croatia)

Each delegation introduced its members and shared reflections on the meaning and urgency of addressing food poverty in their respective communities.

After a short break, the youth groups began working together, exchanging ideas and discussing possible shared actions. The dialogue continued over lunch, hosted by Cooperativa Anima at Locanda Smeraldi.

In the afternoon, activities moved to Pieve di Cento, with a visit to the Emporio Solidale, a local project that facilitates food access for families in need, supported by local volunteer organisations. Later, at the “Le Scuole” Cultural Centre, the participants took part in a role-playing activity focused on the global food market—an opportunity to reflect on the inequalities between different actors in the food supply chain.

The day concluded with moments of sharing and relaxation, first in Pieve di Cento and then over a pizza dinner together in Castello d’Argile.