FOCUS on the RECETAS project : nature to heal and fight against isolation in the city

Taking a walk in a park, growing tomatoes ... what if these activities could be used to combat isolation, as part of therapeutic paths, or even globally to improve the quality of life of citizens? This is what we call nature-based social prescriptions.

Some figures: in Europe, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 75 million adults reported meeting with family or friends only once a month. 30 million felt frequently lonely. And if loneliness is as dangerous to health as smoking or being overweight, then it is not a good thing.

Designed to explore these issues, the European RECETAS project brings together 13 organisations from 9 countries and is coordinated by the Institute for Global Health in Barcelona (ISGlobal). It is supported by the Agency for Sustainable Mediterranean Cities and Territories (AVITEM) and the University Hospitals of Marseille (AP-HM) in France. Starting in spring 2021 for a period of 5 years, this research and innovation project is co-financed by a €5 million grant from the European Union as part of its Horizon 2020 programme.

The challenge of RECETAS is to analyse and evaluate how nature in the city can foster social interaction and contribute to the fight against isolation by enhancing nature-based solutions and green infrastructure.

To achieve its objectives, three observational studies and three clinical trials in six cities will be conducted: Marseille, Barcelona, Prague, Helsinki, Cuenca (Ecuador) and Melbourne.

CONTACT :

Alice Cucchiaro, AVITEM - a.cucchiaro@avitem.org - 07 76 57 52 02

Stéphanie Gentile, AP-HM - stephaniemarie.gentile@ap-hm.fr