Legacy of the Soil: Exploring Sustainable Food Systems and Environmental Responsibility

Between 28 April and 5 May 2025, 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 held in Gijón, Spain, with the partnership of Stowarzyszenia Polish Healthy Life Association. Bringing together youth workers from Turkey, Spain, Hungary, Poland, and Iceland, the project focused on sustainable agriculture, food security, environmental protection, and responsible consumption. Through a variety of non-formal learning activities, participants explored the relationship between food systems, climate change, and sustainability while developing practical and intercultural competencies.

One of the most creative activities of the programme was Coloring Our Vision: Promoting Sustainable Food. Participants worked in groups to recreate a colorful nature image using only black crayons, creating a powerful visual metaphor for the environmental destruction caused by human activities. Through teamwork, reflective thinking, and artistic expression, participants reflected on the consequences of environmental degradation and discussed the importance of protecting natural ecosystems. The activity encouraged critical thinking while strengthening cooperation, creativity, and visual learning skills.

Environmental awareness was further reinforced through the Navigating Sustainability: Cycling Workshop, where participants engaged in daily cycling activities designed to promote healthy lifestyles and sustainable transportation. By improving their cycling skills and learning about the environmental benefits of reducing vehicle use, participants gained practical knowledge about lowering carbon emissions and supporting climate-friendly mobility solutions. The workshop also contributed to personal well-being, self-confidence, and physical fitness while highlighting the connection between everyday choices and environmental sustainability.

The educational sessions Food for Thought: Addressing Waste and Recycling focused on sustainable food systems, food waste reduction, and recycling practices. Through presentations, discussions, and question-and-answer sessions, participants examined the growing pressure on natural resources caused by population growth, climate change, and unsustainable consumption habits. They explored how reducing food waste, encouraging recycling, and promoting responsible food production can contribute to food security and environmental protection. These activities increased participants’ awareness of global sustainability challenges and encouraged them to become active advocates for responsible resource management.

The programme also included the interactive activity Nutrition Know-How: Exploring Food Cards, where participants analyzed the environmental impact of food production, transportation, packaging, and consumption through a gamified card-based learning experience. By comparing different food products and their ecological footprints, participants gained a better understanding of sustainable consumption and informed food choices. Daily reflection sessions using the fishbone evaluation method helped participants assess their learning progress and identify key takeaways from the project.

The day concluded with Cultural Immersion: Exploring Diverse Traditions, where participants shared their countries’ agricultural practices, local foods, climate realities, and cultural traditions, fostering intercultural dialogue and reinforcing a shared commitment to sustainable agriculture and safe food systems.