Ernährungsforum Zürich

What Ernährungsforum Zürich does

Ernährungsforum Zürich (EFZ) is a Swiss non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein) founded on March 20, 2018, in Zürich. It functions as a community-driven network platform for actors across the entire food value chain in the Zürich metropolitan area — including farmers, food producers, gastronomy operators, retailers, consumers, and education and research institutions. The association was established as a civil-society continuation of the 'Zürich isst' experience month (September 2015) and the 'Runder Tisch Ernährungswende' project (2016-2017), both rooted in the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact signed by Zürich at EXPO Milano 2015.

Its core offerings consist of working groups (Arbeitskreise) for member exchange, moderated round tables (Runde Tische) on specific food-system topics, whitepaper publications, and a calendar of events including the monthly Stammtisch, FoodWalks & Talks, Urban Farming Day, and participation in FOOD ZURICH. The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its tooling is limited to a website, newsletter, and standard digital communication channels. Strategic partnerships with the City of Zürich, ZHAW, FOOD ZURICH, SOIL TO SOUL, Slow Food Schweiz, and FiBL provide institutional reach into municipal policy, academia, and broader food-movement networks.

The business model is a non-commercial membership association funded through annual membership fees from over 200 individuals and organizations, supplemented by project grants and foundation support. Development was financially backed by Stiftung Mercator Schweiz from 2015 to 2021, and current programmatic activities are funded through the KlimUp program of the City of Zürich (2024-2027). Operations are run by a small core team of three (Managing Director, Editor, Accounting) supported by an 8-person board elected biennially by the member assembly.

Name

Ernährungsforum Zürich

Legal name

Ernährungsforum Zürich

Website

https://ernaehrungsforum-zueri.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ernährungsforum Zürich is a Swiss non-profit association and community network platform connecting over 200 farmers, food producers, gastronomy operators, retailers, consumers, and research institutions across the Zürich food value chain to promote sustainable food systems through working groups, round tables, publications, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Food Network & Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

Keywords

• Sustainable food network
• Food policy platform
• Community food council
• Food value chain
• Agricultural networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: The organization generates revenue through membership fees from individuals, companies, and organizations that join the network. Members gain access to working groups, projects, events, and the platform for critical dialogue on sustainable food systems.
2. Grants and project funding: The forum receives grants and project-based funding from foundations and public institutions. Development and establishment phase (2015-2021) was financially supported by Stiftung Mercator Schweiz. Current activities are funded through KlimUp program of the City of Zurich (2024-2027) and other project grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ernährungsforum Zürich is a non-profit association that operates as a network platform connecting over 200 individuals, companies, and organizations across the food value chain in the Zurich area. It facilitates cross-sector dialogue on sustainable food systems through working groups, moderated round tables, published whitepapers, and events such as the monthly Stammtisch, FoodWalks & Talks, and participation in the FOOD ZURICH festival.

Product overview

Ernährungsforum Zürich operates as a unified non-profit network platform rather than a modular software product. The organization provides a networking platform connecting over 200 private individuals, companies, and organizations across the food value chain. Its core offerings include thematic working groups (Arbeitskreise) for member exchange, moderated round tables (Runde Tische) for strategic dialogue on food system transformation, published whitepapers and research reports, and organized events and activities including the annual FOOD ZURICH festival participation. The platform also offers a newsletter and document archive for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ernährungsforum Zürich Network Membership Non-profit membership offering providing access to working groups, projects, events, and the cross-sector network of over 200 actors in the Zurich food system. Available to individuals, companies, and organizations on an annual subscription basis.
• Arbeitskreise (Working Groups) Thematic working groups where members exchange experiences and discuss challenges related to sustainable food systems. Active groups include 'Food Production in the City and Surroundings' (active since founding) and 'School Catering and Nutrition Education', with additional groups in discussion phase.
• Runde Tische (Round Tables) under KlimUp Moderated expert round tables developing strategies for positive tipping points in the food system, covering topics such as nutrition education (Ernährungsbildung), food production spaces, and Swiss legumes. Delivered under the KlimUp City of Zurich funding program 2024-2027.
• Publikationen (Whitepapers and Reports) Published whitepapers and reports from round table activities, including the Runder Tisch Ernährungsbildung Whitepaper 2025, Runder Tisch Hülsenfrüchte Whitepaper 2025, and Food Production Hub Impact Map 2025. Available as free PDF downloads.
• Veranstaltungen (Events Program) Organization and hosting of events, festivals, and activities including the monthly Stammtisch, FoodWalks & Talks, Foodsave Day, Urban Farming Day, and participation in the annual FOOD ZURICH festival (11 days, over 100 events).
• Newsletter and Document Archive Regular newsletter distribution and archive of annual reports, meeting protocols, and media coverage, accessible via the dedicated newsletter signup (eepurl.com/guuWU9).

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stadt Zürich (City of Zurich)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2018The City of Zurich is a key strategic partner. The forum was involved in developing the 'Strategy Sustainable Nutrition City of Zurich' adopted July 2019. The city provides the framework for the forum's activities, and the forum offers its growing network for implementing measures requiring cooperation with business and civil society actors. The partnership is rooted in the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact signed by Zurich in 2015.
• ZHAW (Zürcher Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Zurich University of Applied Sciences is a strategic partner providing research collaboration and academic credibility. ZHAW conducted the evaluation of the 'Zürich isst' experience month and hosts the 'Runder Tisch Ernährungswende Zürich'. The partnership provides access to research expertise and facilitates knowledge transfer between academia and practice.
• Food Policy Councils (international network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe forum aligns with international Food Policy Council models from English-speaking countries (notably Toronto and Bristol) and German 'Ernährungsräte' (Berlin, Cologne). It participates in the annual networking congress of German-speaking food councils.
• FOOD ZURICHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOOD ZURICH is one of Europe's three largest food festivals, held annually for 11 days with over 100 events. The non-profit association connects actors, shares knowledge, and creates experiences around culinary topics. Partnership provides visibility and event collaboration opportunities.
• SOIL TO SOULminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOIL TO SOUL is an international movement focused on soil preservation, regenerative agriculture, and responsible, healthy nutrition. They hold an annual conference in Zurich. Partnership supports knowledge exchange and event collaboration on sustainability topics.
• Slow Food SchweizminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSlow Food Schweiz is part of a global movement with members in 150 countries, advocating for the right to good food for all and biodiversity preservation. Partnership connects the forum to international sustainable food advocacy.
• FiBL (Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiBL is one of the world's leading research institutions for organic agriculture with locations in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, and Brussels. Partnership provides scientific expertise and research collaboration for the network's activities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Slow Food International: Global movement advocating good, clean, and fair food. Listed as a strategic partner of EFZ and operates the broader umbrella under which Slow Food Schweiz connects the forum to international sustainable food advocacy.
• Food Policy Council (US network): US-based umbrella network that supports and links hundreds of local food policy councils across North America. Functions as a broader incumbent coordinating peer organizations, providing playbooks, advocacy, and convening — relevant as EFZ grows into a multi-city model.

Direct peers

• Toronto Food Policy Council: One of the longest-standing urban food policy councils; explicitly named as a foundational model for EFZ alongside Bristol. Operates as an advisory body convening civil society, academia, and municipal government to shape food strategy in a major metro area.
• Ernährungsrat Köln: Cologne's food council referenced alongside Berlin as one of the German Ernährungsräte that influenced EFZ's founding. Comparable structure: volunteer-driven, multi-stakeholder platform for sustainable food system dialogue in a major German city.
• Bristol Food Policy Council: Named English-language model for EFZ. UK food policy council that convenes producers, retailers, community groups, and academics to shape Bristol's food strategy — directly comparable in mission, structure, and municipal-policy interface.
• Ernährungsrat Berlin: Berlin's food policy council directly cited as a model for Ernährungsforum Zürich. Operates as a multi-stakeholder association connecting farmers, gastronomy, and consumers in a German-speaking urban setting; both participate in the annual networking congress of German-speaking food councils.

Emerging players

• SOIL TO SOUL: International movement focused on soil preservation, regenerative agriculture, and responsible nutrition. Named EFZ strategic partner that hosts an annual Zurich conference — comparable scope (sustainable food systems) with a more soil/agronomy-centric positioning.
• Slow Food Schweiz: Swiss chapter of the global Slow Food movement and a strategic partner of EFZ. Operates as a smaller, more consumer-facing organization focused on biodiversity and food culture — overlapping in constituency and mission, but distinct in scope and delivery format.

Regional players

• FOOD ZURICH: One of Europe's three largest food festivals, operating as a non-profit association in Zurich. Strategic partner of EFZ; overlaps in event-driven community building around Zurich's food ecosystem, but focuses on festival programming rather than policy convening.

Others

• FiBL (Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau): World-leading organic agriculture research institute with offices in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, and Brussels. Listed as EFZ partner providing scientific expertise; comparable only as an ecosystem participant supporting the sustainable food agenda rather than as a direct convening competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ernaehrungsforum-zuerich

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ernährungsforum Zürich