Impactful Buying Methods and Nutritious Fare: Insights from CityChanger Betina Bergmann Madsen
Title: Copenhagen Leads the Way: Driving Food Sustainability through Procurement
In the realm of urban sustainability, Copenhagen stands out, consistently ranking high in indices like the Sustainable Cities Index. Known for its progressive environmental policies and cycling infrastructure, it's now making waves in the world of food.
Facing declining water quality due to pesticides from industrial agriculture, the city took a bold step in 2001, setting an ambitious 90% organic target for all ingredients used across its public kitchens. This strategy was twofold: training public kitchen staff to prepare healthy meals using sustainable, organic ingredients, and restructuring the city's procurement practices within budget limits.
Fast forward to 2023, and the city of Copenhagen achieved a 25% carbon reduction in its food procurement more than a year ahead of targets laid out in the 2019 food strategy. A significant portion of the credit for this strategy goes to Betina Bergmann Madsen, a chief procurement consultant in the children and youth department.
Breaking into ProcurementOriginally aiming for a career in real estate or at the stock exchange, Betina wasn't initially interested in procurement. However, when she stumbled upon a job posting that combined her love for food, law, and children, she felt an instant connection. Her role coincided with the city's decision to extend the organic conversion strategy to childcare centres in 2009.
As a first-timer in the field, Betina faced challenges, such as procuring halal slaughtered meat to cater to Copenhagen's diverse population. But her talent for listening and her ability to work collaboratively with suppliers and other stakeholders enabled her to overcome these obstacles.
Empowering SuppliersBetina believes in a gentle, supportive approach. She sees her role as helping suppliers be the best versions of themselves, striking a delicate balance between the carrot and the stick. To achieve this, she encourages open communication with officials from other departments, kitchen staff, conversion agents, and suppliers to anticipate any issues or conflicts that might arise.
Copenhagen: A Good Food CityDespite achieving its organic conversion, Copenhagen isn't resting on its laurels. The city has a new goal: to be even more sustainable, reduce CO2 emissions, and eat greener. It's one of 14 signatories to the 2019 Good Food Cities Declaration, committing cities around the world to leveraging municipal resources to change the food they purchase.
Copenhagen's efforts are far-reaching, from introducing policies that make healthy food affordable and accessible to considering planetary health diet guidelines, plastic packaging, and environmental impact in procurement decisions. As these decisions uncover more intricate complexities, Betina acknowledges that it can be overwhelming but emphasizes that inaction is worse.
Looking AheadBetina's work procuring organic ingredients lays a strong foundation for implementing the city's new goals. She enjoys working closely with the kitchens, conversion agents, and political goals in procurement. As cities like Copenhagen continue to champion sustainable food procurement, it's clear that the role of a good procurement officer doesn't end with the signing of a contract; it's an ongoing process of continuous improvement.
Even without explicit political targets for food, every city can take steps towards sustainability. Betina encourages cities to consider diversity in their procurement and to regularly reassess their strategies to make them more sustainable. As we face global challenges like food security and the climate crisis, collaboration between cities, countries, and international bodies is vital to shaping a sustainable future.
Additional insights into sustainable food procurement in cities like Copenhagen include the integration of sustainability criteria, the benefits of supporting local producers, and the challenges of higher costs, complex supply chains, and resistance to change.
Science plays a crucial role in Copenhagen's sustainable food procurement, as the city regularly reassesses its strategies to align with the latest research on diets, carbon footprints, and environmental impact.
Adopting a health-and-wellness approach, Copenhagen is committed to making healthy food affordable and accessible for its diverse population, considering the planetary health diet guidelines in its procurement decisions.
In the realm of lifestyle and home-and-garden, Copenhagen encourages sustainable living by supporting local producers and prioritizing organic ingredients in its food-and-drink procurement, promoting a more sustainable and eco-friendly urban community.
