Rewild Farming is an organization that creates possibilities for regenerative agriculture and community-driven ecosystem restoration by repurposing shipping containers into comprehensive starter kits for small-scale regenerative projects.
Define the problem/need you are solving or addressing with your project. How does it address the Open Call criteria, such as environmental impact, social engagement, circularity, user experience, resource efficiency, and community-driven solutions?
Rewild Farming addresses the urgent need for sustainable and resilient food systems through regenerative agriculture. By transforming shipping containers into practical starter kits, we enable small-scale farming projects that diversify the agricultural sector and positively impact food systems and the environment. Our initiative empowers communities to kickstart hands-on projects without initial barriers, promoting social engagement and community-driven solutions. Circularity and resource efficiency are central to our approach as we repurpose shipping containers, which are returned through a deposit system, encouraging users to build context-specific infrastructure once they have established themselves on-site. Eco-productive and restorative land management is pivotal to our project. We aim to create a knowledge-sharing network to enhance community engagement and collective learning via digital tools, reaching a wider audience and supporting project initiators in becoming part of the regenerative agriculture movement.
Please describe your project, reflecting on the concept, inspiration, materials, technical aspects, methods and process(es).
Rewild Farming offers entry points for beginners in agricultural practices through a dual approach. Firstly, we provide a digital service: a platform and database for exchanging topic-specific knowledge and creating community connections. Secondly, we offer a product—repurposed shipping containers serving as comprehensive starter kits for regenerative agriculture, providing modular workspace infrastructure. Key features include the installation of wooden beams with integrated electrical components and versatile attachments that allow for workspace customization. All elements are disassemblable, enabling users to tailor their workspace to specific contexts. Once established, users can return the container through a deposit system, emphasizing adaptability. Our goal is to offer new entrants a quick and profound dive into farming practices, maximizing flexibility while focusing on long-term visions. Therefore, users can grow and transform their projects with ease.
What do you think makes your project innovative compared to the existing efforts and ideas in the field it addresses?
Rewild Farming introduces accessibility to sustainable farming by providing comprehensive solutions for practitioners in regenerative agriculture, emphasizing collaboration and the initial phases of project development. We identified a common need for essential infrastructure components—such as space, storage, and utilities—during initial implementation. Our starter kits are designed to be adaptable across various geographical and cultural contexts, while our digital service fosters a global perspective and interconnectedness among projects. The combination of physical infrastructure in our starter kits and a robust knowledge-sharing network allows land-based projects to flourish, focusing on groundwork rather than limited infrastructural capabilities. Our digital platform facilitates connections between established operations and emerging initiatives, enhancing knowledge exchange within the agricultural community. The innovative aspect lies in the inter-project community connection that broadens engagement and creates collaboration beyond individual capacity while maintaining local relevance.
Does it impact or reflect young people need(s) and how?
Rewild Farming empowers young people by removing barriers to regenerative agriculture, offering hands-on opportunities to start farming. As many young individuals are leaving rural areas in Europe due to a lack of options, our initiatives highlight new perspectives on community-driven farming. The project offers diverse applications while reinforcing local connections. Urban youth, collectives, groups of friends, or young families can collaboratively engage in land-based projects, accessing flexible workspace and participating in food systems without sacrificing their urban lifestyles. In addition to practical engagement, we create online opportunities for young people to connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to an evolving knowledge base in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration. This serves to incorporate them into a larger movement, promoting active participation and a sense of community in the transition to sustainable practices.
