On 20 June, NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT), through CENSE – Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, organised a participatory engagement session at the AGROBIO Market at Campo Pequeno, in Lisbon, Portugal, as part of the European project BLUMI-
MED, funded by PRIMA. The initiative was developed in collaboration with project partner AGROBIO, during the market’s regular Saturday morning opening hours.
AGROBIO Markets are a network of organic farmers’ markets in Portugal that promote sustainable agriculture and short food supply chains by connecting certified organic producers directly with consumers. These markets provide spaces for local producers to sell their products, while enabling consumers to access fresh, seasonal and sustainably produced food, contributing to more sustainable and resilient local food systems.
The participatory session brought together market vendors, producers and consumers to better understand the motivations, experiences and perspectives of the different actors involved in the market. The activity aimed to explore the role of AGROBIO Markets in supporting sustainable food systems, while identifying the main challenges and opportunities for their continued development.
Through open discussions and engagement activities, participants shared their views on topics related to market organisation, producer–consumer relationships, consumer motivations and the social, environmental and economic dimensions of the market.
The insights gathered during the session will contribute to the next stages of the BLUMI-MED project, supporting the refinement of the Integrated Local Urban Market Sustainability Assessment (IMSA) approach and the development of recommendations to strengthen more sustainable, resilient and inclusive local markets across the Mediterranean region.
