Event

On 11 November 2025, the SWITCH Marathon reached the Berlin hub, bringing together a diverse group of local food system actors from Berlin-Brandenburg for a work session at the Baumhaus. The gathering created a space for focused discussion on how community kitchens (kufas) can be more systematically linked with alternative procurement networks such as foodsharing initiatives, solidarity-based agriculture (Solawi) and other local supply structures.

Participants from the Berlin food hub network, research, civil society, community food initiatives  and a local chef shared experiences and perspectives on local sourcing, food appreciation and the practical realities of working with alternative food networks. The exchange was hands-on and solution-oriented: challenges around logistics, coordination, and continuity were openly discussed, while ideas for cooperation and longer-term collaboration were developed collectively.

A central element of the day was a shared lunch featuring one of the SWITCH dishes developed in the Berlin hub, rich in legumes and seasonal local vegetables. The meal offered a concrete example of how easily healthy, sustainable, and inclusive food choices can be embedded in everyday practice and community-based kitchens.

The Berlin SWITCH Marathon underlined the importance of connecting grassroots initiatives with research and practice. By strengthening ties between community cooking activities and alternative procurement networks, the event contributed to shaping future cooperation and clarifying the role of kufas within Berlin’s food hub network in 2026 and beyond.