Katarína Melichová (p), Michal Hrivnák, Peter Moritz

Catalina Cruz-piedrahita

The paper delves into the essence of community-driven eco-social innovation (ESI) through the lens of Hidepark in Nitra, Slovakia. As an emergent grassroots initiative, Hidepark has transcended its beginnings as a former illegal landfill to become the largest open-air community and cultural centre in the city, encapsulating the ethos of co-creation and co-management. This study aims to trace Hidepark's evolution and gauge its multifaceted impact on local development. Drawing on data from the IN-HABIT (H2020) project, the research employs a mix of in-depth interviews, online surveys, and social network analysis to map the innovation pathways and collaborations underpinning Hidepark's success. The findings reflect Hidepark's transformation from an informal gathering space to a robust institution, catalysing a variety of social and eco-social innovations. The visitor survey highlights Hidepark's appeal across diverse demographics. The centre's programme spans cultural activities, community events, and environmental engagements, drawing visitors not only from Nitra but also from other Slovak regions and abroad. Such diversity underscores Hidepark's role as an inclusive space, accessible to locals and non-locals alike. Significantly, about half of the survey respondents reported visiting Hidepark at least monthly, with cultural offerings being the primary attraction. Although a smaller number of visitors engage in more active participation, such as renting community garden plots or volunteering, their contributions are vital to the centre's growth and co-management of the social and eco-social innovations incrementally expanding the offer at the location. Interestingly, while Hidepark's positive impact is widely acknowledged, a subset of respondents reported no, neutral, or negative experiences, often correlating with their visitor status (non-visitors). Yet, those who engage with Hidepark paint a picture of a dynamic hub that not only enhances personal well-being but also fosters professional growth, with some individuals crediting it as a pivotal influence in their career paths. In conclusion, Hidepark exemplifies the transformative potential of grassroots initiatives in fostering sustainable local development, enhancing cultural vitality, and nurturing eco-social innovation within the community.

Eliska Hudcova (p)

Katarína Melichová

This article presents the theory of environmental justice and environmental/green/ecological social work, discusses these concepts through the lens of social farms, and explains how social farm participants contribute to ecological social work. In addition to presenting and discussing the theories, mixed research methods such as focus groups, in-depth interviews and questionnaires are used to analyse the perspective of understanding the concept of ecological social work on social farms. It seems that the important and often mentioned perspective of the social farm workers is that the participants with difficult living conditions are enabled to feel that the importance of keeping the environment healthy is the core value of human existence and that by working on a social farm they fully participate in these safeguarding actions. Social farms become neighbourhoods and communities responsible for nature and future generations. Apart from the economic impact of the social farm on the interconnectedness of local ties and needs, which multiplies the locally generated profit, this research shows, above all, positive environmental and social impacts at several levels, both at the general level of the underlying assumptions and at the level of the social farm participants themselves. It reverses their role in relation to society, in which they become active agents of sustainable ecological change that positively impacts local communities and regions.

Leonardo Catena (p), Francesco Paolo Di Iacovo, Roberta Moruzzo, Angela Genova (p), Giulia Granai

Eliska Hudcova

The crisis of the welfare systems of European countries has prompted reform processes to face new social challenges. In a context marked by the contraction of financial resources, innovative practices of involving non-public actors in the policy-making process have been initiated at the territorial level, following the new principles of new public governance. This paper aims to investigate governance practices in social innovation processes in the field of Social Farming policies in two Italian regions, Tuscany and Marche. These are two regional contexts that have experienced a significant increase in Social Farming projects in recent years, albeit with different timing and modalities. The objective is to question social innovations processes in the social farming policy area, highlighting the characteristics of the different governance processes and their challenges.

Lucia Laginová (p), Jana Jarábková, Lukáš Varecha

Leonardo Catena

In recent years, institutions and researchers have paid attention to alternative food networks, emphasizing localized and geographically proximate chains of producers, processors, distributors, and consumers. Utilizing regionally focused approach, short food supply chains aim to enhance sustainability, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen the connection between local producers and consumers. In these regionalized systems, foodservice sector can serve as a pivotal intersection, as it is able to generate increased interest in local food among customers, as well as farmers and potential distributors. In the context of Slovakia, this pertains to an unexplored subject. Only sporadic and undocumented instances of alternative food networks are available, lacking in-depth exploration, and there is a notable absence of knowledge regarding the involvement of foodservice sector in these networks. This article investigates the dynamics and implications of regionaliezd food supply chains within the context of foodservice establishments in Slovakia. The aim of the paper is to unveil the extent and manner in which foodservice establishments are engaged in regional food systems in Slovakia, the structure of the food networks they are part of, and what motivates their involvement in these networks, with emphasis on perceived social, economic and environmental benefits. Appliyng quantitative and qualitative methodology, we utilize data data acquired through a questionnaire survey distributed to the foodservice facilities in Slovakia, specifically targeting 3,876 establishments. The research provides insights into the unique characteristics of short supply chain within the Slovakian conetext and by proposing recommendations for policymakers, businesses and other stakeholders, mainly for improving these structures and reaching more consumers.

Catalina Cruz-piedrahita (p), Maria Mar Delgado-Serrano, Javier Martinez-Carranza

Lucia Laginová

The IN-HABIT project in Córdoba has emerged as a pioneering initiative in fostering social innovation, based on NBs for sustainable and inclusive neighborhoods in small and medium size cities in Europe. This project, by focusing on civic engagement and participatory approaches, has significantly contributed to transforming the Las Palmeras neighborhood. An area in the city of Córdoba in Spain, famous for the levels of violence, social exclusion, drug and alcohol abuse, and poverty. This abstract outlines the remarkable outcomes of civic engagement within the IN-HABIT project, highlighting its impact on social cohesion, neighborhood image, and inclusivity.

Civic engagement has been a cornerstone of the IN-HABIT project, with participation in events witnessing an exponential increase, multiplying by more than tenfold. From an initial event that attracted less than 50 participants, recent activities have seen participation surge to over 300 individuals, reflecting a growing interest and commitment among the residents towards their community's revitalization. Notably, male participation from the Las Palmeras neighborhood has seen a significant uptick, with men representing 35% of local participants in the latest event, marking a substantial shift in community involvement dynamics.

The project's influence extends beyond participation numbers, having a profound effect on the neighborhood's image and perception. The concerted efforts of the residents, facilitated by the IN-HABIT project, have led to a 23% average increase in positive perceptions regarding security, cleanliness, and aesthetics within the neighborhood. Concurrently, the negative image of Las Palmeras has decreased by 15%, illustrating the tangible impact of civic engagement on altering public perceptions and enhancing community pride. A noteworthy aspect of the IN-HABIT project has been the sustained engagement of a core group of female neighbors, whose involvement has remained robust over the three years of the project. This consistent participation underscores the role of women in driving community transformation and highlights the project's success in maintaining long-term engagement among key community members.

The IN-HABIT project's outcomes in Córdoba offer compelling evidence of how civic engagement, facilitated through participatory and inclusive approaches, can lead to substantial improvements in community cohesion, neighborhood image, and overall quality of life. These achievements underscore the potential of social innovation as a catalyst for creating sustainable and inclusive urban environments, where every community member has a role in shaping their neighborhood's future.