Germany: Greenhouse in middle of urban jungle

Growing urbanisation poses a great challenge to many producers of fruit and vegetables. The firm ECF Farmsystem GmbH has dedicated itself to exactly this theme, and designed a growing system which is perfectly suited for growing fruit and vegetables in the big cities. The ECF Aquaponik Farmsystem combines the breeding of fish and the growing of vegetables.

The ECF team – CEO Nicolas Leschke (right) and Christian Echternacht (third from the right).

Resource efficient cultivation
Nicolas Leschke, founder and CEO of ECF Farmsystem explains: “Our growing of food is extremely resource efficient. For example, the symbiotic circulatory system saves a lot of water. Normally, conventional agriculture and processing of agricultural products uses around 70 percent of the fresh water used by humans.” In aquaponic growing on the other hand, the water which is used in the production of high quality edible fish is routed into the greenhouse, providing the plants with natural fertilizer.

The aquaponic farms can be constructed on rooftops as well as plots in the city, but also in the countryside. Furthermore, existing greenhouses and aquacultures can be converted to ECF farm systems. Nicolas Leschke and his partners will happily advise interested customers, and aid them in the planning and construction of an aquaponic greenhouse.

Production right at the consumers
The close proximity to the customers influences the quality of the products: “ Our greenhouse in Berlin produces right at the consumers,” Nicolas Leschke explains. “Because of this, cooling chains or large transport routes are omitted and the products remain super fresh.”

Beside advising, planning and construction, ECF Farmsystem also sells their own ECF Farmbox. A weekly box of fresh seasonal vegetables and luscious spices. All products contained therein are grown on the ECF farm in Berlin. The weekly subscriptions are limited to 300 pieces.

Nicolas Leschke describes the box: “The vegetables vary depending on the time of year. We currently have cucumbers, egg plants, tomatoes, kohlrabi, lemon grass, mint, several kinds of lettuce, and much more. The demand is good and we are absolutely satisfied.” So far the fresh-boxes are only available through pick-up.

A growing market with a future
Nicolas Leschke and his business partner Christian Echternacht love fresh food products of good quality. Because of this they came up with the idea of an acquaponic farm system. “Fresh food is our passion”, Leschke explains. “When one occupies oneself with the production of food, one quickly finds that not everything goes as one would like. Then one starts thinking.” Their solution: The symbiotic growing of fish and vegetables. “ We think that aquaponic cultivation has a future. It will always remain a niche to be sure. But it is a good step in the right direction. It is a growing market, which will keep growing in the future.”

For more information:
Nicolas Leschke
ECF Farmsystems GmbH
Tel: +49 30 7551 4840
Email: info@ecf-farmsystems.com
www.ecf-farmsystems.com