HÁZIKÓ is an agricultural-social enterprise launched in 2014, and it is one of the very few players of the alternative agro-food domain in Hungary that has managed to become an acknowledged market player while preserving its original social, environmental and quality principles. The company’s mission is to enhance the market participation of small-scale agricultural enterprises, while providing city consumers with top quality, healthy, fresh food. By establishing a fully transparent link between carefully selected, certified producers and citizens it contributes to reconnect cities and rural areas. With the exclusion of multiple resale, producers can make more profit, thus a local fair trade system is achieved. The contracting partners can obtain a stable, predictable market and the mutual planning of farming. Introducing farms personally brings the countryside closer to the city. Through this process consumers are also purchasing the rural development component with the products.

HÁZIKÓ operates as a living lab providing unique opportunity to simultaneously evaluate the trends of customers’ expectations, as well as the performance of small-scale food producers. The experience of the past two year drafts an exciting (though nowhere near complete) picture on which of the edible and theoretical ingredients of a HÁZIKÓ sandwich are the main attraction for picky urban consumers – this also provide lessons for the various transition movements. HÁZIKÓ may also provide an insight into the extent to which rural producers are prepared in terms of volume and quality to serve the needs of changing markets.

Additional links:

• HÁZIKÓ

This media entry was a contribution to the special session „HÁZIKÓ – an agro-social enterprise and a living lab“ at the 5th International Degrowth Conference in Budapest in 2016.