Innovation Award for Rijnvliet

Rijnvliet, Edible Neighborhood in Utrecht has won a special international prize; the Innovation in Politics Award 2021. A public jury of European citizens praised the cooperation between the neighborhood and the municipality and awarded the first prize in the category 'ecology' to the municipality of Utrecht. There were 413 projects from 25 European countries. “Rijnvliet, Edible Neighborhood, has broken new ground in urban planning working from the grassroot level up. The ecological project should be held up as an example of how to create new neighbourhoods for people, and for biodiversity. It is clear that this has not only created a sustainable future but an excellent quality of life and sense of community.” -  Edward Strasser (CEO Innovation in Politics Institute) Animation of Rijnvliet Ecology Award Rijnvliet, Edible NeighborhoodResidents of Rijksstraatweg and Metaalkathedraal came up with the idea of turning the new residential area of Rijnvliet into an edible residential neighborhood. Together with the municipality, a special concept for the public space has been developed: all the greenery is edible for humans, or animals, and there will be a central food forest. Online ceremonyThe winning project was announced on Monday in Paris. Alderman Klaas Verschuure (Leidsche Rijn) received the prize (virtually) on behalf of Utrecht from Élisabeth Moreno, France's delegated minister for Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities. 'This is a wonderful boost for the residents of Rijnvliet and actually for all of Utrecht! What makes this project so special is that the plan for the edible residential area was really put forward by residents themselves. The fact that other European citizens appreciate our project so much is really the icing on the cake!' - Klaas Verschuure (alderman Leidsche Rijn) The plan for the layout of Rijnvliet, Edible Neighborhood was elaborated by  Æ Food Forestry Development, Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners and De Zwarte Hond.