The ongoing urbanization and globalization of food products is challenging food and nutrition security for urban and rural areas. Dependence on the global food supply chain also increases vulnerability and implies risks for cities and their wider regions. An important way to address these challenges is by examining the relationship between cities and their surroundings through a focus on food. Embracing theses insights, Urban Rural Gothenburg is an EU-sponsored project that tests low-carbon approaches and links them to food production, logistics, tourism, and new business models. Through promoting cooperation between the city, the business sector, residents, civil society and academia, Urban Rural Gothenburg aims to contribute to the fulfilment of the city’s wider sustainability goals, as set in 2017. These span the holistic frame of sustainability to involve, for example, combining innovations for social improvement with reduction of the city’s environmental and climate impact, promoting a sustainable Gothenburg with global and locally equitable emissions. Research Forum Urban Rural Gothenburg (RFURG) constitutes the academic component of the ‘Urban Rural Gothenburg’. Departing from co-creative methodology (the so-called penta-helix model), RFURG provides the research community with advice, support, consultancy, networks and a communication platform with the purpose to initiate and implement research endeavours related to the project’s objectives. Another important task is to ascertain that the activities within the project are scientifically sound through constant monitoring of national and international calls that may be of interest for the project. Compilation and dissemination of results through recurring conferences, seminars, workshops and special issues in scientific journals form indispensable steps towards that goal. And while Urban Rural Gothenburg is only one amongst a flurry of intrepid projects globally trying to think outside the box, it manages to capture and epitomise the character of several recurring problems haunting our society today and, arguably, progress within it.