About urban farming
54% OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION LIVED IN URBAN AREA IN 2014, A PROPORTION EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 66% BY 2050. THAT MEANS AS THE CENTURY ARRIVES AT ITS HALF, WE WILL BE ADDING ANOTHER 2.5 BILLION PEOPLE IN CITIES WORLDWIDE, WITH CLOSE TO 90% OF THE INCREASE CONCENTRATED IN ASIA AND AFRICA.
In Peninsular Malaysia, 80% of all farm produce originate from the Cameron Highlands. This means every day trucks after trucks travel for hundreds of kilometers to make sure that the country is fed. More often than not, these farms operate in the form of large-scale monopolies with an underlying focus on profit maximization, which comes at a cost of exploitation in the aspects of health, smallholder farmers’ livelihoods, and our ability to coexist harmoniously with nature.
Restoring nature’s place in cities
More than a mitigation effort to reshape our global food system, the practice of urban farming challenges the widely entrenched perception that rural means agrarian, and urban means cosmopolitan – a view that is increasingly outdated by both our drive to innovate and a growing sense of urgency fueled by untoward, man-induced climate events. With our improved understanding today of what it takes to live sustainably alongside nature, we are now capable of transforming our cities into a productive and healthy element of the biosphere.
All hands on deck – it’s now or never
Today, growing organic produce in cities and providing affordable access to quality nutrition among urban dwellers are as much a story of technology as it is that of the ingenious discourse in human collaboration. Nearly every major profession is at stake – farmers, engineers, entrepreneurs, city planners, policymakers, advocates, academics, financiers, nutritionists, and others.
Literally ‘City Farm’ in the Malay language, Kebun Kota now embarks on a new chapter – one that participates in shaping the future of business and entrepreneurship with real products, process, and people. Amid a reality of climate change and accelerating interconnectivity, different actors and players along the value chain are already adapting – from compete to collaborate, maximize to optimize, and zero-sum to the common victory.
Looking to grow your circular economy startup? We're listening.
We are committed to supporting young agritech startups that embrace equitable partnerships, bottomline on a socioeconomic model, and are environmentally motivated. Up to the challenge? Join our Circular Economy Entrepreneurship Incubator (CEEI) Program, and gain access to coaching, tech sharing, potential equity investment, coworking space, business partnerships, community footholds, and joint R&D.
Shop and support fair trade products
Roots by Kebun Kota is an interactive marketplace for sustainable living. For every purchase made through Roots, part of the profit goes to enabling us to work with more smallholder farmers, producers, and artisans. All products at Roots are certified Halal.
A growing alliance
We embrace diversity in all social aspects: culture, age, gender, nationality, and just anyone basically. The following companies, institutions, and organizations unite for the common cause, but each adopting strategies and directions with a focus on specific roles and functions within the partnership, complementing each other in this joint business venture.
What we do, in a nutshell
Circular economy strategy
We gather like-minded businesses, organizations, and individuals aspiring to participate in the circular economy, and provide a platform for prospecting collaboration and capacity building.
Fair trade marketplace
Roots is an open, inclusive marketplace that encourages fair and transparent commercial partnership among smalholder producers, makers, growers, farmers, and artisans.
Agritech R&D and consultancy
Urban farming and practical technology go hand-in-hand, especially one that focuses on waste reduction, energy efficiency, and scalability. We provide our production and business partners a platform for tech sharing, learning, and joint commercialization.
Supply chain partnership
Fair trade in business applies to the entire spectrum of a green supply chain. We partner with experts in the field of logistics, marketing, training and HR, procurement, asset management, security and legal professionals, among others.
Social entrepreneurship
Businesses that measure their successes on wellbeing, sustainability, and social impact are critical to fair trade and the circular economy. We engage young social entrepreneurs via our CEEI Incubator Program.
Sustainable living education
Kebun Kota is as much a space for community learning as it is for business co-creation. Contact us to discuss and arrange potential programs on eco-tourism, sustainable living, and aquaponic learning.