Urban Farmer Pilot in Summer 2025 in Viikki

A team of five skilled students gained experience in plant cultivation, teamwork and entrepreneurship in the heart of the Viikki Campus in a pilot in collaboration with Blokgarden, Ylva and Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. The purpose of the pilot was to test micro-entrepreneurship in the context of urban farming. Products were available, e.g., from Helsinki area REKO and Unicafe Viikuna.
Urban Farmer Pilot – Urban Farming in Action on Viikki Campus!

The Urban Farmer Pilot organized by Viikki Food Design Factory, in collaboration with Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Blokgarden and Ylva, the project brought sustainable urban food production closer to students and the local community – in practice.

What was going on in the pilot?

Students were operating small-scale vertical farming units by Blokgarden, growing lettuce, coriander, rocket, basil, chives, cucumbers and edible flowers, such as marigolds and violets. The produce was sold directly to local households and restaurants such as Unicafe Viikuna. The pilot offered hands-on experience in micro-entrepreneurship, simulating a new business model for local, sustainable plant production.

Project Phases:  

  • Construction & Kick-off (April–May 2025): Students built the farming units, started growing, and created a project plan.
  • Cultivation & Sales (May–September 2025): Weekly tasks included plant care, harvesting, and direct sales – all supported by expert guidance. Students keep a learning diary throughout.
  • Final Reporting (September 2025): Outcomes, learnings, and the business model’s potential for scale-up were evaluated and documented.

Why was this project special?

It combined practical learning, entrepreneurship, and sustainability – right on campus. Students earned study credits (5–15 ECTS via AGRI-295), develop real-world skills, and contribute to building future models for urban food production.

Read more about the students experiences from this news story: .

Follow the students' journey and progress via the Viikki Urban Farmers Instagram account and Viikki Food Design Factory's Instagram account and newsletter.
Events

The Viikki Urban Farmers produce was also sold at the following events:
Contact info

In case you have any questions, contact:

Isa Stucki 
Pilot Project Manager 
Viikki Food Design Factory, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry 
 

Viikki Urban Farmers
 

This pilot is enable by the , co-funded by the European Union.