Living Lab
Flevoland as a testing ground for food issues
Flevoland is unique in Europe: land reclaimed from the sea, where urban development and agriculture converge. This combination makes it an ideal starting point for research into urban agriculture, food democracy , and food innovation . Food Pioneers operates from Almere as a living lab: science, practice, and policy converge here to experiment and learn in a real-life environment. This approach aligns closely with the research projects within our Food Labs .
Change begins where theory becomes practice
What is a living lab?
A living lab is a research environment in the real world. No simulated situations, but real people, streets, and issues. In Almere, innovative ideas are tested with residents, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and researchers in a continuous process of learning and improvement. This aligns with the European living lab approach: open, user-focused, and co-creative. Want to know more about who's participating? Visit our For Whom page.
Why Flevoland & Almere?
Flevoland is young, spacious, and experimental. The short lines of communication between government, education, and local initiatives allow us to adapt quickly – exactly what a living lab needs. In Almere, we work with a variety of practices: from school and community gardens to food forests, CSA farms, and Oosterwold, where urban farming is part of daily life. The Food Campus also plays a key role in knowledge sharing and education.
This is how we work
Mapping : Identifying urban food initiatives and opportunities.
Co-creation : sessions with residents, entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers.
Measure & learn : assess impact with clear indicators (environmental, social, economic).
Scaling up : connecting successful solutions back to policy and practice. This aligns directly with the initiatives within our Food Programs .
Examples from the Living Lab
FOODCITYBOOST (European project)
We are a living-lab partner in FOODCITYBOOST . This project is developing a decision-making tool with evidence-based indicators for the environmental, social, and economic impact of urban agriculture, as well as policy guidelines to grow urban food production responsibly.
What are we doing in Almere?
Mapping and assessing urban food initiatives for impact and feasibility.
Organizing co-creation sessions to connect knowledge and practice.
Feeding insights back into policy and implementation, so that effective solutions can be scaled up.
Urban Agriculture Lab (Almere & region)
In and around Almere, a network is growing where residents are growing and processing their own food. Take the Oosterwold neighborhood, for example, where residents grow and process vegetables through their own food cooperative. Or the Burgerboerderij (Citizen Farm), where community farming and new local entrepreneurship are being experimented with. Food Pioneers supports this movement with its Urban Agriculture Lab: a platform where entrepreneurs connect, share knowledge, and collectively build a strong, local food infrastructure.
What is the Urban Agriculture Lab?
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Network & knowledge sharing : residents, farmers, researchers and policymakers work together.
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Learning by doing : experimenting with cultivation methods, business models and cooperatives.
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From neighborhood to policy : insights from the neighborhood feed municipal and regional policy.
Want to participate or find out more?
View our current program or contact us using the form. Together, we're building healthy, local, and sustainable food in the city.