Climate-KIC: Successful launch of Europe’s biggest city farm for fish and vegetables in Berlin

This month, Climate-KIC start-up ECF Farmsystems launched their first city farm for fish and vegetables in Berlin. The opening event for the biggest aquaponic city farm in Europe attracted about 1,000 visitors and international journalists.

The aquaponic-system used by ECF is very resource- and climate-friendly, because it combines the breeding of fish with the cultivation of vegetables.

Due to a closed water and nutrition cycle the farm saves 90% of water compared to conventional fish and vegetable production.

Furthermore, it needs 70% less cultivation area than conventional farms. CO2 emissions are very low, because the farm produces and sells its products close to the customers so that transport routes and cold chains are reduced.

On an area of 1,800m² ECF City Farm produces about 25 t of fish and 30 t of vegetables. From May onwards the greens will be available in form of weekly vegetable boxes for a total of 300 customers – reservations can already be made. The sale of perches will start in October.

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Q&A with ECF Farmsystems

After the successful launch, Climate-KIC hostet a Q&A session with ECF Farmsystems.

Here is what the Farmerboys said about their present achievements and future plans:

What is your business concept and your vision?

ECF Farmsystems plans and constructs turnkey aquaponic farm systems. Our vision is to grant access to sustainably produced food. We intend to build up an international franchise of city farms.

How did you come up with the idea about ECF Farmsystems and since when are you working on it?

We are passionate about good food. When we realized that in the production process of food there is vast amount of resources wasted, we started the thinking process of what we can do better. We wanted to produce food of highest quality in the most resource efficient way. 

We have been working on ECF for the past 4 years.

You have just inaugurated the biggest inner-city aquaponic-farm in Europe. How did you get so far?

Persistence mainly!

And of course having access to great networks and finding the right partners and investors.

What are your further plans for the future?

Start the franchise process!

Climate-KIC Accelerator

The Climate-KIC Accelerator has locations in 12 areas across Europe and organises multiple intake rounds per year where entrepreneurs pitch their start-up before a jury.

The most promising start-ups are accepted into the Climate-KIC Accelerator. Start-ups can apply online at any time during the year. If you are interested in becoming a Climate-KIC start-up, click here for more information.