Circular Urban Farms Training

This 2025 edition starts in February and is free of charge thanks to Interreg NWE funds.​

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Grow the City training program, developed as part of the CUF Training project, is an initiative aimed at promoting the transition to a circular and resource-efficient economy in North-West Europe.​​​

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What is Grow the City training? 

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Grow the city is dedicated to empowering urban development stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and skills to embrace circular urban agriculture through:

• Online and on site training modules

• ​​Learning from experts and professionals

• Networking with peers

​This combination ensures that you receive a well-rounded education that encompasses both theoretical knowledge and practical experience !

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The goal of this training is to equip you with the skills to design, build, and manage your own circular urban farm, ready to thrive in the real world.

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Who should attend ?

This training is open to anyone concerned about the design, the construction or the management of urban farms, as urban developpers, real estate, public authorities, municipalities, architects, engineers, constructors, urban farmers.

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How?

• 30 to 60 hours depending on your profile and needs. Once registered, a specific program will be recommended to you with suitable courses. However, you are welcome to follow more courses !

• Self-guided modules ("mooc") and quizzes on each chapter

• 4 online interactives sessions, for Q&A and discussions.

• On site sessions to put in practice. Minimum 1 session to choose between 4 rooftop urban farms : Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Paris (France), Gembloux (Belgium) and Damendorf (Germany),

• Certification assessments (not mandatory)

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When?​

Kick-off online session on the 7th or 13th of February 2025 (you can choose the date that suits you the most).

End of the training and evaluation on the 25th of April 2025. You should finished the self-guided modules before-hand.

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Our topics :​​​

Every courses and themes incorporate circular economy principles, with the aim of giving you the keys to implement sustainable farms practices.

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• Business models: learn about business models, discover strategies that balance profitability with social and ecological targets, and learn from failures stories.

• Eco-friendly construction: get an insight about the construction and the integration of greenhouses in urban buildings using recyclable and reusable materials following the cradle-to-cradle approach, and learn how to use the city to maximize agriculture: rainwater from rooftops, waste energy, etc.

• Innovative growing systems: learn about the needs and the fundamentals of farming, and explore new systems as hydroponics, aquaponics and bioponics,that emphasize productivity and low environmental impact.

• Energy management: learn the basics of efficient energy in the context of urban farming, and get insights on renewables energies

• Water management: learn about the use of water resource in a circular and urban context

• Waste management: explore the possible use of waste as a resource for urban farms.

The trainers will teach in their own language : french, english or german. English subtitles available.​

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Our hands-on session:

• 27/3/25 - Saint-Denis (Paris, France): business model and social effects

• 03/04/25 - Bettembourg (Luxembourg): construction and energy

• 10/4/25 - Damendorf (Germany): renewable energy and eco-circular construction

• 17/4/25 - Gembloux (Belgium): growing systems

All the hands-on sessions will be teached in English.

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Our objectives :

Our project aims to achieve several key objectives:​​​