Problem addressed

As natural spaces become increasingly rare in everyday life and food production becomes more industrialised, many young people are losing the opportunity to experience where their food comes from. The social consequences of this are significant: around 30% of food produced is wasted. The lack of engagement with food also leads to unhealthy eating habits. In Germany, more than 20% of children are overweight, putting them at high risk of subsequent diseases. 

Innovative solution

To address this, our vision is to promote a deep appreciation of nature and food, encourage healthy eating habits, and reduce the growing disconnect between society and the natural world. Central to this vision is our belief that every child has the right to a natural learning environment. To make this a reality, we develop educational programmes that enable participants to explore, understand, and value the process of growing food. At the heart of our work are the educational programmes GemüseAckerdemie and AckerRacker, tailored for schools and kindergartens as a train the trainer approach. These programmes equip teachers and educators with the necessary tools, resources, and support to implement nature and nutrition education. Through growing their own vegetables, children gain valuable hands-on experience and develop a deeper understanding of sustainability, nutrition, and biodiversity.

Key results and benefits

At Acker, we have been impact-oriented since our beginnings. This means that the ultimate goal of our educational programmes is to bring about sustainable and holistic change - in the participants of our programmes and in our society. Our impact analysis proves it: Participants in our educational programmes acquire a basic understanding of food production and agricultural interrelationships and develop conscious and sustainable consumer behavior. Participating children acquire new knowledge about food, eat more healthily and spend more time outdoors. To name some examples we can say that in 2024, 58 % of children have increased their vegetable consumption and 59% have developed a greater appreciation for vegetables. Our work is not an end in itself, but aims to bring about a positive change in our target groups - as holistically and permanently as possible! That is why we use our impact results to guide our strategies and future goals.

Replicated in Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Scaled-up and programmes adapted in new sectors such as universities, colleges, companies, retirement homes.

Potential for mainstreaming

Acker has strong potential for mainstreaming because our approach is designed to be highly scalable, adaptable, and user-centred. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to experience where food comes from and to develop a connection with nature through hands-on learning.

Our programmes are intentionally flexible, allowing schools and daycare centres to get started easily regardless of their previous experience with gardening, sustainability education, or project-based learning. We support institutions at every stage of their journey, providing practical guidance, digital tools, educational resources, and ongoing accompaniment.

Our long-term strategy focuses on creating sustainable structures rather than isolated projects. By continuously adapting our programmes to users’ needs, diversifying funding partnerships, strengthening our role as an expert organisation we are building the conditions for large-scale adoption and lasting educational change.