Abstract

Literature on urban food policies identifies local scale as the most appropriate one to facilitate interconnections between actors, to integrate policy sectors, to compose different interests in «win-win» policy solutions and horizontal modes of governance. The Collaborative Governance framework highlights these dynamics. The Italian case is particularly interesting given that urban food policies and initiatives are spreading in large and medium cities. The contribution focuses on waste reduction and food donations, the analysis is centered on actors, networks, and facilitating factors of the Collaborative Governance. Interesting elements emerge: the prevalence of private actors and bottom-up initiatives; a different role of public actors, not steering but facilitating; the relevance of horizontal governance mechanisms, flexible partnerships, and information tools