Reimagining Food Systems Through Creativity and Sustainability

The Erasmus+ Mobility of Youth Workers project “Legacy of the Soil: Sustainable Agriculture and Safe Food” (Project No. 2024-3-ES02-KA153-YOU-000260774) was implemented by Green Behavior Youth Organization and hosted by Generaciones Saludables España in Gijón, Spain, from 28 April to 5 May 2025. Bringing together participants from Turkey, Spain, Hungary, Poland, and Iceland, the project provided a dynamic framework for youth workers to explore sustainable agriculture, food safety, and responsible consumption through innovative non-formal learning methods.

Creative and collaborative activities encouraged participants to reflect on humanity’s relationship with nature and food systems. By recreating vibrant natural scenes using only black tones, they experienced a powerful visual metaphor for environmental degradation while enhancing teamwork, observation, and reflective thinking skills. The exercise fostered a deeper appreciation for biodiversity and the urgent need to protect ecosystems that sustain food production.

Practical cycling workshops complemented these reflections by promoting healthy lifestyles and sustainable mobility. Participants strengthened their cycling abilities, self-confidence, and sense of environmental responsibility, recognizing that everyday transportation choices can contribute significantly to climate action and the reduction of pollution.

Thematic sessions on sustainable food, food waste, and recycling broadened participants’ understanding of global challenges affecting food security. Interactive discussions and gamified learning activities enabled them to examine the environmental footprint of food production, packaging, and trade, while inspiring concrete strategies to minimize waste and support more resilient food systems.

Intercultural exchange and critical evaluation enriched the learning process further. Through the sharing of agricultural traditions, local foods, dances, and stories, participants celebrated cultural diversity and discovered common aspirations for a sustainable future. Reflective evaluation activities consolidated these insights, empowering youth workers to translate their new knowledge into meaningful action within their communities.