On 27th March, the MUFPP welcomed a delegation of over 40 representatives from different governmental agencies of Singapore. The delegation, headed by Mr. Ngiam Shih Chun, Chief Executive at Energy Market Authority, spent the week in Milan to learn more about the city considering the many areas of common interests. The study visit was a follow up to the fruitful exchange that has seen Milan and Singapore involved over the year thanks to the ICP Programme.

The cooperation started back in February 2022 and saw Milan and Singapore involved on the topic of circular economy for food. The exchange developed among the Centre for Liveable Cities and the MUFPP and Milan Food Policy included also two respective study visits. Colleagues from Singapore learnt about Milan food system infrastructures back in June 2022, while Milan visited Singapore last December. A brief report on the exchange so far can be found here.

The week was opened by an institutional meeting at the City Hall at the presence of the Vice Mayor of Milan, Anna Scavuzzo, who reiterated the successful collaboration developed within the programme and beyond. Indeed, the study visit worked as key outcome of the cooperation within the ICP Programme, giving the opportunity once again to have Milan and Singapore working together to identify innovative solutions to cope with very similar challenges.

Then was time to have an in-dept moment dedicated to the work that Milan is carrying out, both at international and local level, through the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact and Milan Food Policy. An important space was devoted also to centres of excellence like Politecnico University.

During the week the delegation had also the opportunity to learn about urban regeneration, climate adaptation solutions and mobility thanks to the involvement of different departments of the Municipality.

The fourth day was all devoted to food policy issues. First, the delegation had the chance to visit Sammartini kitchen center, one of the most advanced facilities in Italy for the production of school meals and the largest kitchen in Milan. Through its 24 kitchen centers, Milano Ristorazione, the public agency in charge of the service, is able to provide 83,000 meals per day. Sammartini kitchen center, in particular, produces around 12,800 meals per day, benefitting nurseries, primary and secondary schools, elderly.

The delegates had the possibility to visit the kitchen center and find out more about the whole production process and how Milan is having an impact on the nutrition of thousands of children.

Then it was time to visit the fruit and vegetables wholesale market SogeMi.

Milan Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market is the largest in Italy in terms of goods handling (more than 1,000,000 tonnes/year); it is characterised by its high-quality standard and a great range of products available all year round, such that it can satisfy any type of national and foreign customers.

The delegates had a tour of the wholesale market, learning how the facility operates, the ways in which the market is ensuring the recovery of surplus food through the food waste hub created within the market and the renovation works of the market.

The end of the week saw also the celebration of the EU-Asia Final Conference of the ICP Programme. The 2-day conference held in Incheon (South Korea) saw the participation of the six city pairings, discussing about key issues like circular economy, energy transition, air quality and sustainable mobility. 

Throughout the event, the city pairings presented their cooperation actions plan and the incredible outcomes achieved during the 18-month cooperation along with sharing their views and experience on topics of interest. Singapore and Milan took also part to an awarding ceremony for the work carried out.

As part of the programme, expert talks were organised, showcasing different themes of interest. Milan brings its extensive experience on urban food policies with Filippo Gavazzeni, Head of the MUFPP Secretariat, explaining why it is significant for a city to sign the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact and how we can transform the urban food system landscape.