Partner Meeting in Södertälje September 2025

How much does a kilo of plate waste cost? 🍽️ This and many other questions about building more sustainable food systems were on the table as the KISMET consortium met in Södertälje, Sweden, for its latest Partner Meeting from 16–17 September 2025.

Hosted by Södertälje kommun, the meeting brought together our partners from across the Baltic Sea region to share experiences, discuss results and plan the next steps for collaboration within the Friendship Cities network as our Interreg Europe project approaches its conclusion in 2025.

From Friendship Cities to Future Cooperation
Following a warm welcome dinner at KulturMat Restaurant in Ytterjärna, partners began Tuesday morning with a guided walk in the surrounding countryside before diving into key updates on the Friendship Cities network. Presentations by Simonas Suprinavičius (Lithuanian Innovation Center), Lars Schieber (REM Consult), and My Berensson & David Haag (Ekerö Municipality) set the tone for an engaging discussion on lessons learned and how to keep cross-border partnerships alive beyond the project’s end.

The conversation continued with a session on strategic goals for Local Innovation Partnerships, where Veera Riikonen and Pellervo Kokkonen (Savonlinna Development Services) presented the SMEOrigin project, followed by Sofi Gerber (BERAS International) introducing the Bio-District Sörmland initiative — both providing valuable insights into fostering innovation and local collaboration in food systems.

Exploring Sustainability in the Swedish Countryside
After a morning of exchange and reflection, the group embarked on a guided bus tour through the Södertälje region. The trip included a lunch and guided visit at Långbro Gård, a coffee break at Norrbyvälle, and a stop at Saltå Mill’s shop and Järna Dairy, offering participants a taste of sustainable agriculture and local production in practice. The day concluded with a dinner in the city, rounding off a perfect balance of learning and local flavour.

From Plans to Practice: a Taste of the Future
On Wednesday, partners gathered at MatLust’s offices to discuss the Durability Master Plan for the Enabling Programme, focusing on how to ensure that KISMET’s results continue to create impact after 2025. Attention also turned to the upcoming Closing Conference in Savonlinna, Finland, set to take place in November, which will mark the culmination of KISMET’s collaborative journey.

The meeting wrapped up with a study visit to a Södertälje municipality school, where participants observed a school lunch “in action” prepared according to the Diet for a Green Planet principles — an inspiring example of how policy, procurement and sustainability come together on the plate.

A heartfelt thank you to Södertälje kommun for hosting such an inspiring and insightful meeting. The KISMET team returns home energized, full of new ideas and ready to keep building resilient and sustainable food systems across the Baltic Sea region.

Programme Manual Online

Choose