Agropolis is a scalable productive farm in the heart of the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island, Christchurch. Launched in October 2013, the farm is a collaboration between the Festival of Transitional Architecture (FESTA), Garden City 2.0, A Local Food Project, Plant Gang and several green-fingered volunteers.
Set on the previously empty site of 154 High Street, the transitional farm involves composting organic waste from inner city hospitality businesses as well as the ground preparation, sowing and planting, maintenance, harvesting, cooking and distribution of the produce.
The edible landscape is a shared space accessible to all, where citizens support budding students to grow a form of collective enterprise specializing in local food and social goods. It is also contributing to discussion about Christchurch’s ongoing food resilience, its future land use, and its food production and distribution.
Agropolis eventually aims to expand into an urban food hub, which would include a mobile kitchen that could be used for “garden to plate” experiences and educational programmes in the community.
AECOM is proud to have provided a range of pro-bono services to this grassroots project as part of our commitment to building a stronger and more resilient Christchurch.