One of the most ambitious objectives of the MED EMPORION project is the undertaking of a global study to increase our knowledge of the markets, their current situation and the challenges of the future.

Various cities will be involved from the majority of Mediterranean countries, on both the north and south shores, chosen for their symbolic and historic features and for their present-day importance.

The Research starts from the premise that markets are among the essential features of the Mediterranean and form historic links between our cities and peoples. We believe that markets embody the living history of the region and are places which bring together many cultural symbols (gastronomic, social and economic) and shared traditions. At the same time, they form a historic and cultural legacy which we must protect and which we must care for in the future, as important symbols of our identity.
 

The principal objective of the project is to study the role of markets as a motor for urban development, the promotion of local produce and social cohesion, through a technical analysis of their economics, social integration and tourist promotion. As a result we should obtain better knowledge of the risks, opportunities and future challenges facing our markets.

Research Starting up.

During the spring of 2010 has been established the follow-up Committee and the methodological basis of the Research. Both will help to successfully conduct the prospection, define its objectives and provide a continuous assessment:

1. Setting up of a coordination monitoring Committee:

The Monitoring Committee of the Research is in Barcelona, composed by a team of area managers of the Barcelona's Institute of markets (IMMB) from the following areas: Markets Studies Development Area (Òscar Martín), Market rehabilitation section (Genís Arnàs), Communication Department (Núria Costa), Boqueria's Market Director (Agustí Herrero) and Manager of the Boqueria's Market Operators (Òscar Ubide).

Together with them, a Research team of the University of Barcelona's Antropology and Sociology faculty, leaded by Jesús Contreras and working with Joan Ribas, Marco Batignani and Ursula Perez has been entrusted with the analysis and testing of the results obtained during the Research.

2. Setting up of an international expert's Network.

It has also been established a first international experts Network on markets that will assess in specific areas thorough the Research, as well as contribute to the drafting of specific chapters. This listing will of course be enlarged with the new contacts and sector professionals that as a result of the Research the project will get in contact with.

Even if this is the Research section that is being coordinated from Barcelona, we keep a close cooperation with the project partner and coordinator of the other Research Section (who is studying the links between the local food production and the Markets), the Conservatoria delle Cucine Mediterranee del Piemonte, leaded by Alessandro Portinaro in Torino.

The cities of Genoa and Marseille are also actively collaborating in this Research, analyzing the Farmers market (Marseille) and how markets undergo the tourism impact (Genoa).

3. Agreement on the methodology and project objectives.

Once the teams where established, we better defined the objectives of the Research and set up a methodological basis to evaluate the reality of the markets.

First it was elaborated a listing of  different key concepts comprising a Market, ranging from  Markets Management, Logistics, Sanitary regulation, Commercial activity situation, Markets Commercial Mix, Social Function, Budget and Financing, Consumers opinion... among many others.

Every key sector, was then break down among several indicators to facilitate its evaluation. These indicators where finally translated into a set of questionnaires to be filled by the Research team visiting each Market as well as by the experts and market operators of every chosen market. These questionnaires, translated into English, French, Italian and Catalan, have been designed to obtain the maximum information and simplified as far as possible.

The set of questionnaires you will find together with this new, are the following:

1. GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE CITY. The questions refer to all the markets in the city, considered as a whole.


2. SPECIFIC QUESTIONNAIRE. This one should be filled in for every market in a specific city which has more than 50 stands, whether selling food or not. This questionnaire has been designed for the most outstanding markets in the city. If there are not more than 5 markets in the city with more than 50 stands, the cities are required to fill in for the most important.


3. SCHEDULE. This is intended to be filled in by consumers. The Schedule will be considered if it contains at least 100 sets of answers per market.

To carry out this ambitious study, we are closely working with the Officials in charge of managing the markets in each city, market operators, consumer's associations as well as other agents.

4. Approving a prospection plan and study visits.

Finally, the Monitoring Committee and University Research Team, elaborated a listing of the markets to be considered in this Research, taking into account their representativeness in their Region, their social and economical impact, their historical or present-day importance among other criteria, being also assessed by the Consulates of all the Mediterranean countries in Barcelona.

Some of these markets will also be visited and studied by an expert's delegation, organizing meetings with managers and the Region main operators.

5. Next steps.

The Research is currently undergoing the Study visits and collecting data from the markets region. If you want to collaborate with this Research or would like to receive more information, please contact to: gnavarro@dsae.cat

This part of the MED EMPORION project is especially addressed to the market authorities and management bodies as well as to the traders, and is designed for the benefit of the cities as well as the consumers. The project is as well intended to enquire deeply into mutual relationships and knowledge among Mediterranean food markets.

Because of that, and besides the Research results itself, this initiative is also looking to create a framework for relationships of cooperation between the markets for a useful exchange of good practices and experiences, both in the trading aspect and in management, to encourage their dynamic development and the undertaking of shared projects in the future.

If you are also interested in being listed in the Mediterranean Markets Experts Network, contact as well please.