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Edible Cities Network (EdiCitNet)
The Edible Cities Network EdiCitNet) aims to make cities more liveable for everyone by implementing Edible City Solutions (ECS). Borderstep Institute supported the European Commission funded project for about three and a half years, helping initiatives, start-ups and those interested in starting a business to develop viable, sustainable business models for the edible city.
Innovative Business Models for the Edible City
The project looked at the whole urban food production chain. Borderstep supported EdiCitNet with practical expertise from the research area Sustainable Entrepreneurship. The offer included workshops on topics relevant for Edible City start-ups. These ranged from basic topics such as financing or location search to advanced topics such as impact management or staff recruitment and retention.
The Borderstep research team also offered 1:1 consulting sessions for selected organizations and start-ups. The consulting sessions focused on specific topics such as public funding. Another focus was on basic questions on how to develop a sustainable business model or how to use the Sustainable Business Canvas or the Edible City Solution Canvas.
Borderstep supported the development of the Edible Cities Network Platform
Supporting the development of the Edible Cities Network Platform was also an important area of activity. This online service is a global meeting place for sustainable urban food systems. Whether initiative or individual entrepreneur, city official or citizen – everyone is invited to become part of a collaborative network. Community members can become visible for their region with their own profile and find new partners and supporters.
Members can also benefit from the experience of the network. They can use the advisory tool to either seek advice or offer their own expertise and support. The online platform also provides the community with a wide range of free publications, information materials and videos, as well as design, analysis and planning tools.
Watch this video for an introduction to the Edible Cities Network platform and services. Learn more https://youtu.be/4rcGo-Ytk8Q?si=2w-1LjoJKlhm2g_E
As part of the project, Borderstep developed a range of resources and publications and created a variety of content to support the Edible City start-up scene.
- Edible Cities Network Platform: The world’s largest online network for edible city stakeholders. The offer provides a collaborative space for information, networking and joint learning.
More - Growing Jobs in Urban Agriculture Playbook: The GJUA Playbook presents strategies for edible city businesses and demonstrates how to create a successful business model for your own initiative using the Edible City Solution Canvas tool.More
- EdiCitNet Consulting Guidebook: Several successful edible city concepts have already been implemented in cities like Berlin, Oslo, Rotterdam, and Andernach. The guidebook presents these concepts and provides insight into the funding and support available for Edible City entrepreneurs. Additionally, it showcases exciting edible city initiatives and their business models.More
- Video series “Sustainable entrepreneurship for the edible city”: The four-part series is part of the “Sustainable Business” module in the EdiCitNet Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) “Making Cities Edible: Cultivating Sustainable Urban Environments”. The MOOC provides knowledge about urban food production and sustainable urban development. The business module introduces concepts such as sustainable business model development and impact orientation and provides practical tips for starting your own business in the context of edible cities.More
- Consulting Stories: The EdiCitNet project provided advice to edible city initiatives on various topics. The consulting stories offer insight into the 1:1 consultations and demonstrate the current status of the initiatives. A template is also available for community members to document their own consultations, which were conducted using the online platform’s consulting tool, and share them with the community.More
- Workshop “Edible City Initiatives: How to Engage and Retain Employees and Volunteers”: A strong team is essential for the success of an edible city initiative. The workshop provides valuable strategies for recruiting and retaining employees and volunteers, as well as introducing the ‘Employer Value Proposition’ tool for developing a strong value proposition as an employer. The workshop materials, including a video recording and presentation, are available for reference.More
- Workshop “Finding Suitable Space in Urban Areas for your Edible City”: The workshop-input (recording and presentation available) provide insight into identifying and securing suitable areas for developing an edible city initiative. The focus is on garden areas, roof areas, and building-integrated agriculture.More
- Workshop „Founding an Edible City Initiative: First steps to kick-start your entrepreneurial journey”: The workshop-input (recording and presentation available) provide insight into the initial steps for developing innovative business models for edible cities using the Edible City Solution Canvas. The presentation also includes good practice examples.More
- Workshop „Measure and Manage the Impact of Your Edible City Initiative”: The workshop, in collaboration with ImpactNexus, will introduce the basics and concepts of impact measurement and management in the context of urban agriculture. A video recording and presentation of the workshop are available. It will also cover how to define the most important impact goals and a theory of change, as well as how to determine practical indicators.More
- Workshop „Growing Jobs in Urban Agriculture: Maximising Impact in your Urban Agriculture Business“: The Workshop-Input (recording and presentation available) covers the topic of creating and maximizing the impact of an edible city initiative. It was presented as part of the interactive event ‘Growing Jobs in Urban Agriculture’ with a focus on developing economically sustainable organizational and business models for the edible city.More
- Funding Guide: Funding opportunities for start-ups and initiatives in the Edible City of Berlin. The Funding Guide (presentation available) offers an overview of financing options for edible city initiatives and start-ups in the Berlin area.More
- Funding Guide: Funding opportunities for start-ups and initiatives in the Edible City of Koblenz/Andernach. The Funding Guide (presentation available) offers an overview of financing options for edible city initiatives and start-ups in the Koblenz/Andernach area.More
- Guide – Writing a Business Plan: How to Write an Impact-Oriented Business Plan – Guidelines for Edible City Entrepreneurs provides an overview of the key elements and questions to consider when creating an impact-oriented business plan.More
