From the Arctic fishing communities and dramatic coastal landscapes of Lofoten to the historic maritime setting of Gdańsk; from Coimbra’s Mediterranean-influenced food traditions and cultural heritage to the agricultural landscapes of Flanders and the distinctive food cultures of the Basque Country; and from these rural and regional contexts to the highly urbanised, multicultural environment of Rotterdam – the six CONVIVIUM locations differ in climate, landscape, history, scale and ways of living with and producing food.

This diversity is one of the project’s greatest strengths. It allows us to explore the relationships between food, living heritage, the environment and local communities across very different European contexts.

At the same time, all these places share common questions: How can we protect and develop local heritage? How can we strengthen the relationships between people, places and their environments? How can traditional knowledge and local practices help us imagine more sustainable futures?

It is precisely this diversity of experiences and the search for common ground that enrich CONVIVIUM, creating space for the exchange of knowledge, inspiration and new ideas.