Pratiche agrourbane di prossimità per la costruzione del sistema agroalimentare locale nel contesto del territorio di Prato : una nuova domanda di innovazione delle politiche

This chapter presents the first results generated by observation of various activities and stakeholders engaged in urban and peri-urban agriculture in Prato territory The main purpose of the work is to identify key subjects of in the agro-urban system in observed sample and to create the first conceptual framework for construction of local agro-urban food system based on identification various forms of activities, geographical and spatial characteristics and intentions, including explaining their dynamics and revealing some innova- tive features. Second aim is to examine the ways in which these practices, especially food production and direct marketing, meet the public policies, expressing the question of innovation that in general does not find response in new instruments, procedures and actions promoted/promised by public. Finally, the indication of the intersection between obser- ved practices domain and the current policies including its criticity enable us to individualise the main criteria for specifying the strategies, public policies and governance instruments enabling sectoral integration and support of “bottom up” local actors initiatives.