Together for the edible city
Together for the Edible City: How can food be grown in the city and what opportunities does this offer for start-ups and initiatives? This was the focus of the Edible Cities Network EdiCitNet project. The project was funded by the European Commission. It has been bringing cities together since 2018 to jointly implement Edible City Solutions (ECS).
Borderstep supported EdiCitNet with practical expertise from the Sustainable Entrepreneurship research area. The offer included, for example, workshops on topics relevant to start-ups for the Edible City. The spectrum ranged from basics such as financing or location search to advanced topics such as impact management or staff recruitment and retention.
Consulting for selected organizations and start-ups
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 financing from the public sector. Another focus was on basic questions about sustainable business model development or the use of the Sustainable Business Canvas or Edible City Solution Canvas.
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.
- Growing Jobs in Urban Agriculture Playbook: The GJUA Playbook presents edible city business strategies and shows how to develop a viable business model for your own initiative using the Edible City Solution Canvas tool.
More - EdiCitNet Consulting Guidebook: Many edible city concepts have already been successfully implemented in cities such as Berlin, Oslo, Rotterdam and Andernach. The guidebook presents these and provides an insight into the funding and support available for Edible City entrepreneurs. It also presents 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 of the EdiCitNet Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) “Making Cities Edible: Cultivating Sustainable Urban Environments”. The MOOC provides interested parties with 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. Instructions for online registration for the MOOC will be provided. More
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. The online service sees itself as a global meeting place for sustainable urban food systems. Whether initiative or individual entrepreneur, city official or citizen – we invite everyone to become part of a collaborative network. Community members can become visible with their own profile for their region and find new partners and supporters.
Members can also benefit from the network’s experience. They can use the consulting tool to either seek advice or provide their own expertise and support. The online platform also provides the community with numerous publications, information material and videos as well as tools for design, analysis and planning free of charge.
A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) “Making Cities Edible: Cultivating Sustainable Urban Environments” has also been developed. It offers interested parties the opportunity to delve deeper into the topic of edible cities.