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Descriptive Summary

Salus Space, in the suburbs of Bologna, is a vibrant example of redeveloped multifunctional urban space, with the aim to favor social integration and local food production. The space includes a blended housing for elderly, migrants, refugees and young families, as well as a Syrian restaurant, a library, a vegetable garden and common areas for workshops, art and a weekly local market. Salus Space also hosts an innovative indoor hydroponic system developed within two shipping containers and used for the production of mushrooms, lettuce, kale, microgreens and much more, which represents the first demonstration case of UNIBO within FrontAg NEXUS project.

Background

The demonstration case was developed from a collaboration between the Municipality of Bologna and the University of Bologna, in the framework of a previous Horizon project. It aims to favor the development of urban agriculture businesses.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Aims and Goals

The simplified hydroponic system in Salus Space aims to serve as a model for sustainable urban production and development, advocating for an optimized use of cultivation resources (e.g., water, land, fertilizers), a reduced ecological footprint, and positive impacts on social inclusion. Furthermore, Salus Space center endeavors to develop and demonstrate innovative approaches to urban agriculture and sustainable construction, serving as inspiration and a model for other cities.

Through the collaboration with the University of Bologna, the simplified hydronic system in Salus Space provides opportunities for research, education, and hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture and urban development. 

Actions taken

One capacity building was already developed. It particular it consisted in a workshop involving 40 students on grafting of horticultural crops (tamato, cocumber) with a specific focus on application in hydroponic systems.                                                                                                         

Main Achievement to date

By transforming modular shipping containers into innovative spaces for living, dining, and indoor agriculture, Salus Space demonstrates a holistic approach to urban development that prioritizes sustainability, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. Additionally, Salus Space's collaboration with the Municipality and University of Bologna showcases effective partnerships between local government, academia, and private initiatives to address urban challenges and promote positive change. Overall, the main achievement of Salus Space is to serve as a tangible example of how urban areas can be reimagined to harmoniously coexist with sustainable agriculture while enhancing the quality of life for residents. The demonstration case already served as a show case during capacity building activity.

Baseline data for WEFE Nexus and livelihood impact analysis has been collected.  

Lessons, replicability and scalability potential

The system is a great example of how agriculture can be integrated into urban fabric thanks to the application of innovative technologies. Until now, the demo of Salus Space demonstrated that there is an economic feasibility of indoor mushroom production in an urban context, and therefore a replicablity of the productive module. This means that this indoor system could favor the development of small incomes and social inclusion by creating new job offers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

City
Bologna
Country
Start year
End year
Total funding
100 - 500k €
Acknowledgement of funding source
PRIMA, Horizon2020
Focal Point
Name
Elisa Appolloni
E-mail address
elisa.appolloni3@unibo.it
Affiliation
Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna DISTAL – Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences Bologna
Nexus Dimensions



  
                    Ecosystems



  
                    Energy



  
                    Food



  
                    Water
Scores
Environmental
Social
Technological
Financial
Institutional
SDGs
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SDG 1 No poverty
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being
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SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production