Food
Oslo is far ahead when it comes to urbanization especially for food sourcing. Organic agriculture is being carried out a lot in the city and in the district as well.
Food Sourcing: Growing
School gardens is one of the tradition in Oslo, they are set up in order for students to experience the joy of nature and it also focus on the education of developing students' ability, responsibility, respect and understanding of animal, plant and farming and also to engage in conservation and environmental issues. The gardens have also become one of the educational centre for schools.
The gardening space and land provided for farming in Oslo is always being ahead.
In 2012, Oslo has 20 allotment garden areas in total approximately with the range from 5 to 250 square meters. Also, there are about 1000 allotments gardens where plants and food are grown by private individuals.
The Agency for Urban Environment has established a partnership with the MAJOBO project - Food and land where you live. It is a project of grassroots movement for the establishment of local and organic consumption and growing of food, the land of the project has been made available. The programme has contributed to the creation of "The Glory" - new allotment garden in Bjørvika. The project is also a part of the Cities of the future project, which is an establish of a knowledge centre for organic food growing on roof areas on Sagene community building.
Examples of gardens reaching sustainable quality of organic and educating -
1. Geitmyra school garden: second oldest existing school garden in Norway. It is made an oasis in the central part of Oslo as a professional and educational learning environment provided for schools. Unique collections of trees and plants consist as well.
2. MAJOBOs roof garden at Alna Shopping Centre: shopping centre with the construction of a green roof, showing a piece of nature. The design conceived to turn Alna green roof into a multicultural food garden.
3. Sogn garden colony: every permanent residence in Oslo has the right to apply for a garden in a garden colony. The garden colonies are made to be open parks for the city's population. It reaches an useful area spaces.
Delivering
Norwegians typically buy food from supermarkets. There is a ongoing focus plan on the health aspect of local and organic food in the supermarket industry. These have to do with labelling of locally product, cutting the taxes and VAT and even prices on organic food items so that people are encouraged to buy healthier food. For example, "The Green Keyhole" is a well-setablished Nordic labelling system for healthy food products. The government of Norway is particularly supporting the actions and manufactures.
In Oslo, there are several box-scheme companies offering food delivered to the door. Most of them focus on organic and dinner items. Another valuable item is the "immagrant shops", which are small independent grocery shops run by the immigrants with vast selection of fruits, vegetables and exotic food items. The benefit on it is the low cost and the emphasis on organic food and local specialities.
Significant marketplaces and food courts are set. The Oslo Food Court is an indoor food market for the selling of different types of food with excellent deliveries, also it acts as marketplace. The Farmer Market takes place on a regular basis in fixed marketplaces. there are market set in spring and mid-August and Christmas. In every September - October, a huge farmers' market - like food festival take place in Oslo on the city hall plaza, there are more than 100 stalls. The festival attracts local food specialities and the suppliers from all parts of the country.
Planning
Oslo has just finished setting up an extended recycling scheme for food waste and plastic. We have also been sorting paper, glass and metal, and has a logical system for bottle return for decades. In 2013, Oslo has been building a food waste treatment factory, in which the food waste will be converted into bio gas and bio fertiliser, these can be turned into bio fuel and is being used for the transportations (e.g. buses, garbage trucks...) in Oslo. Farmers will be offered the produced bio fertiliser.