The Porto Business School’s Edible Garden

The Noocity vegetable garden makes lofty environmental goals possible. “It has the potential to produce 3.4 tonnes of food per year,” explains Pedro Rocha, member of the Noocity team and coordinator of this project. Compared to a conventional production system, about 900 m³ of water is saved every year. There is also the possibility of recycling “2.1 tonnes of organic waste thanks to the vermicomposters integrated into the vegetable containers, which self-fertilize the substrate. The vegetable garden will also reduce CO₂ by around 7 tonnes, producing food locally and thus eliminating energy consumption from transport and refrigeration.” All this is in addition to the solar energy and rainwater harvesting that the Porto Business School has already been practicing.

The garden is also a way of strengthening social connections. Gonçalo believes that “just like a vegetable garden, human relationships need maintenance. Our garden will be an excellent way to create a work environment that promotes employee participation and discussion, for a positive corporate atmosphere and more honest relationships.” As Filipa Almeida, Noocity Grower in Porto explains, “part of the production goes to employees, and the other is donated to social institutions and the school’s cafeteria.” The school’s employees are encouraged to get involved, learn to take care of the garden with Filipa, and participate in the harvest and distribution of vegetable baskets.

The PBS garden is Noocity’s largest garden in Porto and the largest in the country to be installed on a roof. The sheer size of the project reflects the Porto Business School’s commitment to sustainable development, making it unique in Europe.