• The Citizen Science Lab, launched by València Innovation Capital, connects citizens, organizations, and researchers to design solutions based on data and real-world experiences that help transform the local food system.

Valencia is moving toward a healthier, more sustainable, and more responsible food system thanks to the active participation of its citizens in the European SPOON project. Through the Citizen Science Lab launched by Valencia Innovation Capital under the slogan “Driving Sustainable Change,” residents, organizations, and researchers are working together to identify everyday challenges related to food and to co-create proposals that can inspire future public policies and promote more sustainable eating habits in the city.

This initiative is taking place in a city with a unique culinary and agricultural heritage linked to the Huerta, the Albufera, and an internationally renowned cuisine, but which also faces challenges related to consumption habits, food waste, and the need to move toward healthier and more sustainable dietary models.

Paula Llobet, Councilwoman for Innovation, Tourism, and Investment Attraction for the City of Valencia, emphasized that “SPOON demonstrates how innovation can become a useful tool for addressing the city’s real challenges. Through this lab, we want citizens to actively participate in defining solutions that improve our diet, reduce our environmental impact, and strengthen the bond between people, the region, and local products.”

During the first two cycles of the workshop, held between December 2025 and July 2026, a total of 27 people participated in working sessions focused on the exchange of food data and on food planning and purchasing habits. Through collaborative activities, they shared everyday experiences, identified barriers to adopting more sustainable practices, and co-created solutions tailored to the city’s reality.

In recognition of their participation, participants will receive a 25-euro voucher redeemable at Valencia’s municipal markets, a measure that also helps support local food businesses and locally sourced products.

A European initiative with a local impact

SPOON is a European project that brings together six pilot regions: Valencia (Spain), Braunschweig (Germany), Thessaloniki (Greece), Turin (Italy), Bruges (Belgium), and the Pomurje region (Slovenia), where labs are being developed to promote more sustainable food systems through citizen participation and the use of data.

The project aims to improve understanding of food environments, facilitate evidence-based decision-making, foster collaboration among different stakeholders, and empower citizens to drive changes in their consumption habits. In Valencia, it focuses particularly on issues such as reducing food waste, promoting locally sourced products, and strengthening local markets.

After the summer, SPOON will launch a third cycle of the Citizen Science Lab focused on food storage, preparation, and consumption. With this new phase, the project will continue to generate collective knowledge and promote positive changes in eating habits, demonstrating how collaboration among citizens, the government, organizations, and researchers can help build a healthier, more sustainable, and more resilient food system for Valencia.

SPOON is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program and uses citizen science methodologies to drive the transition toward more sustainable, participatory, and resilient food systems.