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How has the food issue evolved in Portugal and what are the potentialities and challenges for the construction of fairer, healthier and more sustainable food systems? This article addresses these questions by analysing the convergences and divergences between (i) government discourses and public policies around food, (ii) the alternative food networks developed by civil society and local power, and (iii) the proposals and initiatives of the organized family farming sector. It concludes that there is broad interest in the country for the issue of food transition, but that the social and environmental justice dimension is still largely missing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brownfield restoration has grown in importance in Europe. On the one hand, there are areas with environmental problems, aggravated or not by economic and social problems in the adjacent communities. On the other hand, these areas appear to be an opportunity for local (re)development. This article describes the public participation process implemented during the rehmine project which, among other things, intended to contribute to the strategic planning of the redevelopment of the São Domingos Mine. Strategic spatial planning is understood as a social learning process - both concepts that are useful in the critical analysis of the methodological choices applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parliament and the government may pass many environmental laws, but if those laws are not effectively implemented by Public Administration, they will not bring about the desired changes, i. e. there is an implementation gap. This paper presents a case study on the implementation of the statute that regulates water quality for human consumption in Portugal. We find that when the implementation is successful, the main factors are the clarity and visibility of the procedures used vis-à-vis those affected, and when it fails, the main obstacle is the insufficient connection between the regulation of water quality for human consumption and the environmental protection of the water source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]