Upfarming

What Upfarming does

Upfarming is a Portuguese non-profit association (associação sem fins lucrativos) founded in June 2020 in Lisbon by Tiago Sá Gomes, Margarida Villas-Boas, and Bruno Lacey. The organization designs and implements vertical urban agriculture projects across four institutional portfolios — schools, prisons, hospitals, and neighborhoods — operating in five Portuguese municipalities (Lisbon, Sintra, Leiria, Torres Novas, Caldas da Rainha). Its core technical offering combines aeroponic and hydroponic vertical farming systems, including Sky Greens rotating tower technology, with horizontal horticulture, agroforestry, and composting methodologies adapted for accessibility-restricted environments such as psychiatric wards, correctional facilities, and community spaces.

The organization has documented measurable outcomes including 2,461 beneficiaries reached, 6,713 kg of food distributed, 8,951 food baskets donated to Banco Alimentar, 85-95% water savings versus conventional agriculture, and 70% certified agricultural qualification attainment among incarcerated participants. Its work has received international recognition including the European New European Bauhaus Prize (2025), Europris Prison Achievement Award (2024), BPI Fundação La Caixa Solidário Prize (2022), and explicit UN Human Rights Council recognition.

Upfarming's revenue model is diversified across social investment and individual donations (including the 'Amigos da Upfarming' recurring donor programme), corporate patronage and CSR partnerships (Fujitsu, IKEA, Vinci, Delinat), corporate workshops and team-building activities at the Alvalade Community Greenhouse (priced €40-65 per participant), corporate edible garden installations, and grant funding including the European Horizon Europe Cultivate consortium (2023-2027, 19 partners) and Portuguese social innovation programs. The 9-person team combines agronomic, architectural, psychological, political science, and economics expertise, with a corporate-backed go-to-market motion that combines institutional partnerships with municipalities, corporate social investment engagements, and event-driven community outreach.

Name

Upfarming

Legal name

Upfarming

Website

https://upfarming.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Upfarming is a Lisbon-based non-profit association that designs and operates vertical urban farming projects in schools, prisons, hospitals, and neighborhoods across five Portuguese municipalities, using aeroponic and hydroponic systems to deliver food literacy, therapeutic, and social reintegration outcomes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Agriculture & Social Impact Services

NAICS

Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming (Indoor LED Farms) (AFAGAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems & Land Management (BPADALAG)

Keywords

• Urban vertical farming
• Community agriculture programs
• Therapeutic horticulture services
• Social reintegration projects
• Corporate team building workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Social Investment and Donations: Upfarming depends on support from social investors and individuals to implement and maintain projects. Donations can be one-time or regular monthly contributions (Amigos da Upfarming). Bank transfer details are provided for donations.
2. Corporate Patronage: Companies can become patrons by financing programs in neighborhoods, schools, prisons, or hospitals, or through corporate social responsibility partnerships and sponsorships.
3. Corporate Workshops and Team Building: Companies can book team building activities and workshops at the Alvalade Community Greenhouse. Activities range from 2-4 hours with per-person pricing.
4. Corporate Edible Gardens: Companies can transform their facilities into greener spaces through installation of vertical gardens, creating more sustainable and productive environments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Upfarming is a non-profit association that designs, installs, and operates urban agriculture projects using vertical horticulture technologies (aeroponic and hydroponic towers, including Sky Greens rotating towers), horizontal horticulture, agroforestry, and composting. It delivers these projects across four institutional portfolios — schools, prisons, hospitals, and neighborhoods — partnering with public institutions and municipalities to deliver food literacy, therapeutic rehabilitation, social reintegration, and community-building outcomes. It also operates corporate workshops, team building activities, and edible garden installations as a revenue-generating service line.

Product overview

Upfarming is a non-profit association offering urban agriculture services through four institutional portfolios (schools, prisons, hospitals, and neighborhoods) and innovative products. The core offerings include Vertical Horticulture Technology (aeroponic and hydroponic towers), Horizontal Horticulture, Agroforestry, and Composting methodologies. Key named programs include 'Da Escola para a Mesa' (school program), 'Semear Esperança' (prison reintegration program), 'Enraizar.SE' and 'Recultivar' (hospital therapeutic programs), and 'Do Céu para a Mesa' (community program). The innovation product 'Living Layers' is a vertical microecosystem using computational design and bioreceptive materials. Corporate services include team building and workshops at the Estufa Comunitária de Alvalade. Projects are implemented across Lisbon, Sintra, Leiria, Torres Novas, and Caldas da Rainha municipalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Team Building & Workshops Corporate team-building activities and workshops at the Estufa Comunitária de Alvalade. Four workshop tiers include Plantar Comunidade (2h, €40/person), Semear o Futuro (3h, €50/person), Lisboa cidade comestível (4h guided tour, €60/person), and Somos o que comemos (cooking workshop, €65/person). Target audience is corporate groups seeking ESG engagement and employee engagement experiences.
• Da Escola para a Mesa (School Program) School program that transforms educational institutions into interactive learning spaces through vertical pedagogical gardens, connecting students to nature and sustainable food production. Delivered at primary and secondary schools in partnership with municipalities.
• Semear Esperança (Prison Program) Prison program at Estabelecimento Prisional de Torres Novas that uses vertical horticulture as a tool for personal and social transformation, promoting social reintegration through agricultural skills development. 70% of incarcerated participants obtained certified agricultural operator qualification.
• Enraizar.SE (Hospital Therapeutic Program) Hospital therapeutic program at Casa de Saúde do Telhal using vertical cultivation systems as therapeutic gardens for people with mental illness and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Delivered in partnership with Instituto São João de Deus.
• Recultivar: Semeando a Reabilitação Mental (Psychiatric Rehabilitation) Hospital project in partnership with Hospital Júlio de Matos combining aeroponic vertical horticulture, permaculture workshops, agroforestry, and composting for psychiatric rehabilitation. Working with 44 forensic psychiatry patients.
• Do Céu para a Mesa (Community Program) Community program under BIP/ZIP framework using vertical horticulture to promote sustainable food education, community capacity building, and solidarity networks with food donations to local food banks. Implemented at Bairro das Murtas, São João de Brito and Pote D'Água communities.
• Living Layers (Innovation Product) Vertical microecosystem designed to host edible plants and other life forms, promoting symbiotic relationships. A vertical iteration of permaculture using computational design and bioreceptive materials to bring biodiversity to cities. Developed in partnership with By the End of May, Feed your Future, and IED.
• Agrofloresta de Carnide (Neighborhood Agroforestry) Community agroforestry project in Bairro Novo de Carnide implementing vertical gardens and aromatic plant pathways in public space to promote urban agriculture for environmental sustainability, health, and social cohesion.
• Semear Esperança - EP Leiria Jovens (Youth Detention Program) Formative project at Estabelecimento Prisional de Leiria for young people aged 16-25, developing technical, personal, and social competencies through four workshops: Oficina da Horta, Horta para a Mesa, Solidária, and Lifeshaker.
• Corporate Patronage & Edible Garden Installation Corporate patronage and edible garden installation service. Companies can become patrons by financing programs in neighborhoods, schools, prisons, or hospitals, or by installing vertical gardens at their own facilities to create more sustainable and productive environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2461 beneficiaries reached, 6713 kg of food distributed, 8951 food baskets donated to food bank
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cultivate (European Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Upfarming participates in the European Cultivate project funded by Horizon Europe 2020. The 4-year project (2023-2027) involves 19 European partners from academia to social entrepreneurship, aiming to analyze, develop, and replicate food sharing projects and networks.
• FujitsuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing support for urban agriculture projects.
• VinciminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting Upfarming's mission.
• DelinatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner in Upfarming projects.
• Taste of LisboaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood and culinary partner collaborating with Upfarming.
• IKEAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting sustainable urban living initiatives.
• Race for GoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting social impact initiatives.
• Fundação Vasco Vieira de AlmeidaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting social and environmental projects.
• FoodLinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUpfarming is part of the FoodLink collaborative network launched in 2022 in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML), promoting transition to more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems.
• Banco AlimentarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank receiving donations of surplus produce from Upfarming projects. Distributed across hospital and community programs.
• Instituto São João de DeuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare institution partnered for the Enraizar.SE project at Casa de Saúde do Telhal, using vertical farming for therapeutic purposes.
• ULS São JosécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital center partnering for the Recultivar project at Hospital Júlio de Matos psychiatric ward.
• DGRSPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral Directorate for Reintegration and Prison Services, government partner for prison-based projects.
• CM LeiriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality of Leiria supporting prison-based project.
• CM Torres NovasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality of Torres Novas supporting prison project.
• CRITminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization receiving food donations from prison project for vulnerable families.
• Cruz Vermelha PortuguesaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese Red Cross receiving food donations from prison project.
• CáritasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaritas receiving food donations from prison project for vulnerable families.
• JF AlvalademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJunta de Freguesia de Alvalade supporting neighborhood projects.
• Centro Social e Paroquial do Campo GrandeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity center partnering in neighborhood programs with elderly and families.
• JF CarnideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJunta de Freguesia de Carnide supporting neighborhood agroforestry project.
• Marta Caras LindasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural Chef providing culinary workshops using produce from vertical gardens.
• André Maciel (Hortas LX)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban permaculture specialist partnering for horizontal gardening projects.
• Joaquim Espada (BioVilla)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyntropic agriculture specialist and agroforestry expert.
• Rodrigo BorralhominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgroforestry specialist collaborating on projects.
• Florian Ulm (Permalab)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPermaculture expert providing composting consultation.
• By the End of MayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Living Layers microecosystem project for computational design.
• Feed your FutureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Living Layers project promoting urban biodiversity.
• IED (Istituto Europeo di Design)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean design institute collaborating on Living Layers project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AeroFarms: US-based commercial vertical-farming operator specializing in aeroponic indoor farms. Comparable technology (aeroponic towers) and category, but operates at industrial scale with commercial customers rather than social-impact mission.
• Spread Co. Japanese vertical-farming operator with large-scale automated indoor lettuce factories. Operates in the same CEA/vertical-farming category but as a commercial industrial producer.
• Plenty: US-based vertical-farming company building large indoor farms using vertical growing systems. Comparable in vertical-farming technology category; significantly larger and commercially focused.
• GrowUp Farms: UK-based commercial vertical-farming operator producing leafy greens and herbs in urban environments. Comparable CEA/urban vertical-farming technology and European footprint, but for-profit B2B model.
• Bowery Farming: US-based commercial indoor vertical-farming company. Operates in the same CEA category with comparable technology stack, but at commercial scale for retail customers.

Direct peers

• Incredible Edible: UK-based volunteer-led network of community food-growing projects with comparable social-impact mission focused on free, accessible urban food. Highly comparable to Upfarming's neighborhood and schools portfolios.
• Infarm: Berlin-based vertical-farming operator deploying modular hydroponic units across European cities (restaurants, retail, schools). Direct peer in CEA technology and European urban-vertical-farming footprint, though operated as a commercial venture.
• Growing Communities: London-based social enterprise running community market gardens and urban food-growing with a similar blend of social inclusion and sustainable food production. Comparable in mission and non-profit/community structure.

Others

• Sky Greens: Singapore-based developer of the rotating-tower vertical-farming technology that Upfarming explicitly licenses and deploys. Comparable as the upstream technology provider rather than a competitor.
• Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens: UK-wide umbrella body supporting community gardens and city farms, including those with therapeutic and educational missions. Comparable as an ecosystem/network enabler for community urban agriculture.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/upfarming.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upfarming
• Instagraminstagram.com/upfarming.pt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Upfarming