Implementing sustainable food forests: Extracting success factors through a cross-case comparison

Abstract

Food forests are multistrata ecosystems that pro­vide healthy food, livelihood opportunities, as well as social-cultural and environmental services. With these features, food forests address several prob­lems industrial food systems cause. While the overall number of food forests is continuously increasing worldwide, the rate of uptake is still low. This study reconstructs in detail how different types of food forests (n=7) were realized, mostly in Europe, with a focus on organization and manage­ment. Findings confirm and add to previous studies indicating that the successful implementa­tion of food forests depends on long-term land access, sufficient start-up funds, and adequate farming and entrepreneurial know-how, among other factors. While these are not unique factors compared to other farm and food businesses, sustainable food forests face particular obstacles to secure them. This study offers guidance to food entrepreneurs, public officials, and activists on how to successfully implement food forests to realize their full sustainability potential.

Almost there: On the importance of a comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem for developing sustainable urban food forest enterprises

“…First, the project confirms the importance of most of the success factors as well as their interdependence as outlined in Albrecht & Wiek (2021b). Recruitment of motivated start‐up entrepreneurs, accessing suitable land, securing sufficient start‐up funds, and professional planning and site design were and continue to be critical factors in this project, and the other factors are expected to become relevant over the course of the start‐up phase.…”

“…Over the duration of the project, we conducted an accompanying case study to evaluate the main project phases and their outputs (Table 2). Success factors for developing sustainable food forests, such as recruiting motivated entrepreneurs and accessing suitable land, served as evaluative criteria (Albrecht & Wiek, 2021b). We focus on those factors most relevant in the initiation and planning stage (Factors 1-4; Table 2).…”

“…Also, the sequence of phases is structured in a circle to indicate various iterations as well as the intention of the project to become a source of inspiration for other food forest enterprise start‐ups in Arizona (and beyond). Compared with other food forests (Albrecht & Wiek, 2021b), the development of the food forest in Phoenix included a comprehensive planning phase. Finally, the project is still ongoing, and thus, not all phases have been completed at the time of this writing (Phases 7 and 8).…”

“…Research has recently begun to investigate structure and services of individual food forests (e.g., Riolo, 2019) and larger samples of food forests (Albrecht & Wiek, 2021b). Most research addresses the sociocultural and environmental effects of food forests (e.g., Park & Higgs, 2018; Wartman et al., 2018).…”

“…Overview of the transdisciplinary project phases and respective outputsPhase Outputs Project initiationProject coalition among representatives from Spaces of Opportunity, researchers from Arizona State University, and a few interested entrepreneurs Scope-of-work document mapping out project goals and the procedure to achieve them, document vetted by urban policy makers and agroforestry experts Memorandum of Understanding, based on scope-of-work document, signed by all partners In-kind planning contributions ranging from expert inputs to event volunteering during the planning phase of the project. One lead researcher (S.A.) with a 3-yr research stipend Team also developed their collaborative capacities, recognizing interdependence and mutual interests, as well as building trust and confidence in each other Visioning & strategy building Shared vision of the sustainable food forest enterprise at Spaces of Opportunity outlining management, products, services, land tenure, and other features for the year 2030 Strategy/action plan, consisting of 54 action items and 13 milestones, structured into action domains, including fundraising, recruitment, business development, earthwork, planting, initial processing, and documentation throughout Fundraising & piloting Business start-up fund (secured after 10 unsuccessful grant applications; based on sustainable business plan draft(Wiek & Albrecht, 2021), a site visit at Spaces of Opportunity and a project presentation from the entire team, a private donor decided to fund the project to the full extent ($100,000)) Additional business concepts prepared through a cooperative business development program for a beverage company(Khalife et al, 2021), a feasibility study on developing Spaces of Opportunity into a land trust(Mercer et al, 2020), and community conversations on preferred plants and food products Correspondence between the success factors for developing sustainable food forest enterprises(Albrecht & Wiek, 2021b) and relevant components of a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem(Cohen, 2006) supporting such enterprises…”