Following an announcement last September, Gaming Garden – Gamification for Accessible Vertical Farming, has officially entered its implementation phase. With a focus on accessibility, gamification, and sustainable urban food education, the initiative aims to make vertical farming education more engaging and inclusive for all learners, especially those with disabilities.

Kickoff event brings partners together in Spain
The first consortium meeting took place in Madrid last month, hosted by ISIFARMER, a local innovation hub for urban agriculture. Partners from the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF), Edugarden, WELT DA DRAUSSEN, and Fundación Down Madrid convened for a multi-day program blending practical workshops with strategic planning.

Participants took part in ISIFARMER’s “Urban Farmer for a Day” program, engaged in microgreens cultivation, and were introduced to a prototype mini-game titled Vertical Farming Challenge. The agenda also included a session exploring the distinctions between game-based learning and gamification, and a university visit showcasing plant-communication research and other emerging technologies in urban agriculture.

Centering inclusion in agri-tech education
Fundación Down Madrid’s participation shaped discussions around how vertical farming concepts can be taught in a way that’s not only accessible but empowering.

“Urban farming can be accessible and impactful when approached simply and inclusively,” AVF wrote in a LinkedIn post, sharing impressions from the workshop. The event also offered space for informal networking, including a dinner with local entrepreneurs to explore Madrid’s food culture and sustainability priorities.

Laying the foundation for a gamified learning framework
The Gaming Garden project was originally announced in September 2024, after AVF and its partners secured EU funding through Erasmus+ to develop a gamification-based educational framework for vertical farming.

The Madrid meeting marks the first major milestone in a development process that will include additional workshops, content co-creation, and a final public report. The project’s core aim is to equip educators with inclusive tools that make vertical farming more approachable, while promoting broader diversity in food systems education.

For more information:
Association for Vertical Farming
[email protected]
www.vertical-farming.net