Farm to office - The Kajodlingen model for sustainable urban food production

Purpose and goal

The goal with this project was to develop growing techniques based on recycled organic matter within the city and to test a new sales model called “From soil to desk”. The aim was to investigate and hopefully strengthen the possibilities for urban farmers to run profitable businesses with vegetable production based on the circular flows of city resources.

Expected results and effects

After selling vegetables to 40 customers at 8 nearby workplaces, we’ve seen that there is potential in this sales model. It is an effective way of strengthening the relationship between the customer and producer and to take advantage of the urban farmers way of producing in all aspects, not least by making the (sustainable) production more visible. To develop a more closed loop production model, in our view, needs more resources to map out how high quality compost/soil can be produced within cities.

Planned approach and implementation

Presenting the concept “From soil to desk” to employees at their office, gives you time for storytelling and create interest for the product. Logistically, having your customers at the same places was optimal. With private customers you find the best margins. We should have had a better strategy regarding customer service to faster be able to compensate unsatisfied customers and to increase our flexibility. Urban farmers should also reserve time for events/garden tours parallell with production. There are huge potential in the city’s resource management paired with urban farming.