Cultivating City Bazaars. Climatesafe and job creating farming systems in industrial districts
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | INVEST STOCKHOLM BUSINESS REGION AB - Invest Stockholm Business Region |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 4 578 000 |
| Project duration | June 2017 - December 2018 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Challenge-driven innovation - Phase 2 Collaboration |
Purpose and goal
The project aimed at establishing socially driven, climate-protected agriculture for the employment of long-term unemployed and support for young technology companies. A private-public consortium with 18 partners has set-up urban agriculture installations and together with innovation companies in foodtech and cleantech hired staff and successfully pushed the idea of urban circular food systems. The project´s sustainability results, business and collaboration models contribute to renewal, increased sustainability and integration into older parts of the city.
Expected results and effects
In Stockholm and Helsingborg two pilots, small-scale hydroponic and aquaponic systems, were run. Several marketplaces and test beds were linked as well as approximately 30 young innovation companies. The project has employed 10 people and demonstrated high sustainability. Project events have been visited by 2,500 people, contributed to new collaborations and gained international awareness. The results - positive climate effects, capacity to employ and synergies for participating partners - provides a strong platform for scale-up activities.
Planned approach and implementation
The consortium´s 18 members jointly conducted actions grouped into nine work packages, including pilots for installation and operation of urban agriculture systems, a number of technology test beds for young cleantech and foodtech companies and a dozen public market events involving more than 2,500 participants. We have designed and tested a sustainable concept for how vacant property area in older parts of the city can be developed and used for climate-positive, socially driven food production and how this can contribute to new workplaces, better integration and sustainability.