What is "Grow the City" exactly ?
The origins of the training
Some of you may be familiar with the GROOF project, which focused on designing rooftop greenhouses to reduce CO2 emissions. Our new european project, CUF Training, funded by the Interreg NWE program, comes straight from the GROOF project, but with a broader scope. It aims to transfer knowledge in circular urban agriculture. The training program developed as part of CUF Training is called "Grow the City".
Focus on the training :
The Grow the City training program combins online modules and hands-on sessions in four partner countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Germany. The program is flexible, ranging from 40 to 70 hours based on participants' needs, with self-paced online modules, interactive sessions, and on-site visits to rooftop farms. Trainers deliver sessions in French, English, or German, with subtitles available.
Who should join ?
The training is specially designed for urban developers, real estate, public authorities, municipalities, architects, engineers, constructors and urban farmers, who want to learn more about circular urban farming and develop their skills with news techniques.
Topics of the training
- 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 integration of greenhouses or other production infrastructures 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: explore new systems as hydroponics, aquaponics, soil-based systems and Integrated Food and Energy Systems (IFES), that emphasize productivity and low environmental impact.
- Circular principles: learn how to minimize waste, reduce energy inputs, and implement sustainable farming practices.
- Energy & water management: learn the basics of efficient energy and water use and the underlying rules and principals of resource and food system design to enhance the farm's sustainability
The first session starts in February 2025 and is free of charge thanks to Interreg NWE funds.
Practical information :
- Up to 60 hours courses depending on your profile and needs
- Self-guided modules ("mooc") and quizzes on each chapter
- 4 online interactives sessions, for Q&A and discussions.
- On site sessions in a rooftop farm to put in practice : in Luxembourg, France, Belgium or Germany
- Certification assessments (not mandatory)
Kick-off sessions
Two online kick-off sessions are available:
- Friday 7/02/25, 10.00
- Thursday 13/02/25, 10.00
The goal of the kick-off session is to give you all the important informations to start the training, and to validate your programme depending on your needs.