What the project wants to achieve

Uppsala Food Council wants to investigate a new model for part-time farming and it could create an innovative way into small-scale vegetable production in Uppland. The model is based on people with regular jobs taking unpaid leave 1–2 days per week and then working as paid growers on land managed by Uppsala Food Council. In this way, more people can get a practical and economically viable entry into the profession, while the farm gets access to labor and companies can contribute to the health and sustainability goals of their employees.  

The project will be implemented in three stages  

Private individuals – distribution and collection of a survey, with a goal of at least 100 responses about interest, obstacles and conditions.  

Companies – meetings with at least 15 Uppsala companies to explore interest in co-financing growing time for their employees.  

Business model – analyze the collected data and develop a complete model for a farm that accepts part-time growers. The model will include financial calculations and a plan for how the collaboration should be designed. 

The purpose of the project is to  

Reduce the economic and practical barriers that currently prevent people from becoming small-scale farmers.  

Create a model that combines education, work and collaboration between civil society, business and local food production.  

Lay the foundation for a larger pilot project that can contribute to more green jobs, strengthened local food supply and reduced climate impact in Uppsala.