Husqvarna’s Living City summit brought 200 experts to Barcelona to explore nature-based solutions, tech innovation and sustainable green space management — showcasing new robotics, real-world case studies and a call for action on urban resilience.
Barcelona played host to Husqvarna’s 11th Living City summit in October, welcoming 200 participants from 22 countries to explore how nature-based solutions are being put into practice and how technology can accelerate their impact. Over two days, the programme blended inspiration, strategic insight and hands-on demonstrations, reaffirming Husqvarna’s role as a global leader in sustainable green space management.
A platform for change
Since its inception in 2015, Living City has served as Husqvarna’s European platform for advancing sustainable green space maintenance. Previous editions in Antwerp, Stockholm, Hamburg, Gothenburg, Edinburgh, London and Paris have addressed themes such as fossil fuel phase-out, biodiversity and the circular economy. This year’s focus on nature-based solutions emphasised actions that protect, restore and sustainably manage ecosystems — bridging the gap between research, policy and day-to-day operations.
“Real change happens when theory becomes action. That’s why we host Husqvarna Living City — to bring the industry together and accelerate sustainable green space maintenance,” said Yvette Henshall-Bell, president of Husqvarna Europe. “Barcelona is a role model in implementing nature-based solutions, and we are grateful for their participation as well as for the valuable contributions shared by experts from across Europe.”
Science meets practice
The summit highlighted how scientific concepts can be applied in real-world contexts. Contributions came from leading practitioners in park maintenance (City of Barcelona), football (Liverpool FC, Swedish Football Association, SV Fridingen) and golf (GEO Foundation, Hirsala Golf). Demonstrations in Parc de la Ciutadella and at the Real Club de Golf El Prat showcased Husqvarna’s latest innovations in action.
Day one featured a roster of distinguished speakers, including Thomas Elmqvist (Stockholm University), Marc Montlleó (Barcelona Regional) and Rishi Jain (Liverpool FC), alongside Husqvarna’s senior leadership. Their sessions underscored the importance of collaboration across academia, municipalities and industry to drive resilience and biodiversity.
Innovation on display
The summit also marked the unveiling of new products for professional green space maintenance. Among them was the Husqvarna Automower® 540 EPOS®, a next-generation robotic mower designed for smaller commercial areas. Built for reliability and consistent results, the mower is equipped with wire-free EPOS navigation, slope handling up to 50 percent, and integration with Husqvarna’s Fleet Management System.
Crucially, the Automower 540 EPOS is ready for AI Vision technology, an accessory that introduces intelligent object identification, camera-led navigation and night-time operation.
“We designed Automower 540 EPOS to support professionals in delivering consistent results with less disruption and downtime,” explained Oscar Holmberg, product manager at Husqvarna. “It’s built to grow with innovations like vision technology-based object avoidance.”
Golf as a green laboratory
Day two turned the spotlight on golf, positioning courses as urban nature-based solutions. Delegates gathered at the prestigious Real Club de Golf El Prat, a venue with 45 Greg Norman-designed holes and a rich history of hosting the Spanish Open. Here, Husqvarna showcased product developments for golf course maintenance, including robotic fleet upgrades and alternative approaches to turf care.
A highlight was the keynote from Jonathan Smith, founder and executive director of the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf. Recognised as a pioneer in sport and sustainability, Smith has spent nearly two decades helping golf clubs and governing bodies rethink turf management, water use, energy efficiency and community engagement. His presence underscored the role of golf in advancing biodiversity and climate resilience.
Beyond ideas: A call to action
Living City Barcelona was more than a thought leadership forum — it was a movement to reimagine how we care for shared green spaces. By focusing on fossil independence, urban biodiversity and circularity, Husqvarna is not only serving citizens and staff but also safeguarding the environment for generations to come.
The Nature Restoration Law provides a timely framework to accelerate this transformation, challenging cities and industries to innovate and adopt sustainable practices. Husqvarna embraces this opportunity, evolving from a product supplier into a solution provider—empowering municipalities, businesses and institutions with tangible, nature-based solutions that drive sustainability.
As the summit concluded, one message resonated: Living City is not just about ideas — it is about action, partnership and a shared commitment to restoring nature and creating sustainable urban environments.