The food forest is an ancient model of food production that simulates the natural system of a forest by creating a multi-layered, resilient and incredibly productive edible space for city dwellers. We discovered this system in Taiwan and observed what it could offer the community of Hsinchu.

Having discovered that it can be adapted to any climate, we designed a system for a pilot project in Cologne, supported by a platform for organising tasks, events and a plant database. "Kölner Speisewalder" (Cologne Edible Forests) is a solution to shake up the consumption habits of citizens: it embodies a new economic model based on self-sufficiency, against the dependence on imports, the loss of agricultural land, the over-consumption and waste of the linear economy. This initiative copes with today’s cities challenges caused by urbanization : environmental issues such as habitat and native species loss, unstable weather patterns, soil degradation and water runoff. But also social issues like individual segregation, loss of the sense of belongingness, generation gap, food insecurity, imbalanced education and the decline of human physical and mental health conditions. The project is currently supported by the Department of Green Spaces in Cologne and is awaiting funding.