Woman taking care of urban vegetable garden
Gabriel Codarcea from Getty Images

CoFarm4Cities

Project overview

CoFarm4Cities: Creating a sustainable model for urban fringe farming in Central Europe as an effective tool to prevent urban sprawl and to transition to a more sustainable food system and society

The rapid expansion of cities increasingly causes land use conflicts. Green areas are declining while citizens demand more community gardens and cultivable spaces. This calls for a new approach on urban land use, which the CoFarm4Cities project delivers. The partnership develops climate-friendly, nature-based solutions that increase urban resilience to climate change. They design and pilot a replicable model for profitable urban farming with key stakeholders in five cities.

2,24m €

Project Budget

80%

of the Budget is funded by ERDF

Layer 1

5

Countries

5

Regions

9

Partners

5

Pilots

Duration

Start date

End date

Project progress

58%

Project partnership

Project partners

Magyarország (HU)

Lead partner

Budapest III. District Óbuda-Békásmegyer Municipality

Address
Fő tér 3
1033 Budapest
Country
Hungary (HU)
Web
https://obuda.hu/

Project partner

Department for preparation and implementation international and regional projects
Address
Park Stara Trešnjevka 1
10 000 Zagreb
Country
Croatia (HR)
Web
https://www.zagreb.hr/
Total partner budget
326,280 €
Innovation and EU funds department
Address
Piazza Palazzo di Citta 1
10122 Turin
Country
Italy (IT)
Web
http://www.comune.torino.it/
Total partner budget
216,898 €
International Relations
Address
Via Lulli 8/7
10148 Turin
Country
Italy (IT)
Web
https://consorziokairos.it/
Total partner budget
158,879 €
Municipal Greenspace Authority
Address
Reymonta 20
30-059 Krakow
Country
Poland (PL)
Web
https://zzm.krakow.pl/ www.krakow.pl
Total partner budget
282,812 €
Department for Environmental Protection – Section for Rural Development
Address
Zarnikova ulica 3
1000 Ljubljana
Country
Slovenia (SI)
Web
www.ljubljana.si
Total partner budget
356,553 €
Address
Gospodska ulica 32
10000 Zagreb
Country
Croatia (HR)
Web
https://bit.ly/3h8tr0F
Total partner budget
148,412 €
Environmental Engineering and Natural Sciences Institute of the Rejtő Sándor Faculty of Light Industry and Environmental Engineering
Address
Bécsi út 96/B
1034 Budapest
Country
Hungary (HU)
Web
https://uni-obuda.hu
Total partner budget
170,830 €
Address
Cesta solinarjev 4
6321 Portorož
Country
Slovenia (SI)
Web
www.doves.si www.ekosola.si
Total partner budget
128,121 €

Roadmap

1

Challange

Obraz Linh Lưu z Pixabay

Urbanization and climate change threaten cities' food sovereignty and biodiversity

2

Specific problem

Obraz autorstwa Freepik

How to increase cities’ resilience, counteract urban sprawl, regenerate degraded peri-urban areas, preserve biodiversity and strengthen local food systems in a sustainable way? Moreover, agricultural and gardening skills of people living in the peri-urban areas are lacking and need to be improved.

3

Idea

To provide local healthy food by enhancing food-production in peri-urban areas and making urban farming accessible for more residents, all while taking into account management, business, environmental and social aspects that encompasses urban farming.

4

Solution

We are developing a replicable model for transforming the degraded peri-urban areas into managed land for urban farming by establishing and testing urban farming models in 5 pilot cities. Based on it, an action plan will be developed setting steps and actions for the establishment of urban fringe farming.

News

Pilot actions

Outputs

Plans for PP cities

In each city, the seeds of change are taking root. Inspired by the general UFSLU model, city councils will be endorsing their own Action Plans—tailored roadmaps that reflect their unique landscapes and communities. These plans will be more than just documents; they will be commitments to a new way of living, where urban fringe farming is not only introduced but also nurtured and regulated for the future. With these Action Plans in hand, cities will be setting the stage for the next steps in their journey. Each plan will outline the actions needed to bring sustainable urban farming to life on the city’s edges, ensuring that these green spaces become permanent fixtures in the urban fabric. As these plans are put into motion, a new era of community-driven, environmentally conscious urban farming will begin to flourish.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development
Obraz autorstwa Freepik

Jointly developed strategy for adaptation of UFSLU model

In the heart of Central Europe, a group of visionary cities, united under the CoFarm4Cities partnership, embarked on a mission to transform urban life. Their goal? To bring farming back to the fringes of their cities, creating green spaces that could feed their communities and strengthen their connection to the land. Together, these cities will develop the UFSLU model—a comprehensive blueprint for seamlessly integrating urban fringe farming into city landscapes. But their work will not stop with just creating a plan. They will aspire to spread this model far and wide, helping other cities across the region adopt this innovative approach to urban living. To make this vision a reality, they will devise a joint strategy, a detailed roadmap designed to guide any city eager to embrace urban fringe farming. Alongside this strategy, they will create a toolkit filled with resources and guidelines for engaging communities and stakeholders, ensuring that the model can be successfully replicated wherever it takes root. As the project draws to a close, the cities that have developed the strategy will stand ready to implement it. They will prepare to adopt this new approach either in the final months of their collaboration or shortly after the project’s completion. With this strategy in hand, they will lead the way, demonstrating how urban fringe farming can thrive in the modern world. Their pioneering efforts will pave the way for a movement that will soon spread far beyond their own city limits.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development

CoFarm4Cities

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Project on social media

Project Contacts

Project Manager

Andras Guti
Phone: +36704501467

Finance Manager

Anna Szentes
Phone: +36705623708

Communication Manager

Angelika Książek
Phone: +48 12 20 10 260