{"id":37714,"date":"2025-09-19T08:44:57","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T06:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/artiklar\/mat-och-odling-som-verktyg-for-social-hallbarhet\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T14:05:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T13:05:37","slug":"mat-och-odling-som-verktyg-for-social-hallbarhet","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/artiklar\/mat-och-odling-som-verktyg-for-social-hallbarhet\/","title":{"rendered":"Food and farming as tools for social sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9550-768x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34653\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9550-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9550-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9550-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9550-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9550-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9550-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9550-1000x667.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Founder Lena Friblick (left) together with Matilda Lundberg, intern from SLU, out among the crops.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"lead-text\">Food and farming are the focus of the social work that the Botildenborg Foundation has been conducting for the past 10 years on an urban farm close to the city of Malm\u00f6. Innovative methods are being used to shorten the path to employment for people who are currently far removed from the labour market. They are now receiving support from the European Social Fund to gather knowledge and methods in a national knowledge platform.  <\/p>\n\n<p>Botildenborg, a farm dating back to the 1860s, is located on the outskirts of the Roseng\u00e5rd district of Malm\u00f6. At first glance, it looks like a lunch restaurant and conference venue, but the non-profit Botildenborg Foundation is so much more than that. The urban farm runs many different types of social sustainability projects for a variety of target groups, ranging from preschool children to new arrivals to Sweden and pensioners.  <\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cWe use food and farming as tools to create methods and activities that help to build a sustainable society,\u201d says Botildenborg founder Lena Friblick.<\/p>\n\n<p>Behind the main building, the well-tended crops stretch as far as the eye can see. Here, vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes and squash grow alongside colourful edible flowers \u2013 and most of what is grown ends up on the restaurant&#8217;s plates. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch the video about the project<\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"background:none repeat scroll 0 0 #ccc;margin:0 auto;width:100%;\"><div style=\"position:relative;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;width:100%\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/im16.inviewer.se\/skiss\/62\/62OE8QKIEZ.jpg\"\/><iframe title=\"ESF_En plats fo\u0308r alla_Botildenborg_film_FINAL\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;\" src=\"\/\/play.mediaflow.com\/ovp\/16\/62OE8QKIEZ?theme=\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Social sustainability project<\/h2>\n\n<p>Lena Friblick, who is a journalist by trade, sowed the seeds for what is now Botildenborg when she made a television series in 2011 about cooking and growing food in the Roseng\u00e5rd district of Malm\u00f6.<\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cI wanted to show a different side of Roseng\u00e5rd and tell a positive story,\u201d says Lena.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-grid\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9403-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n\n  \n  <div class=\"image-grid-row\">\n    <div class=\"image-grid-left\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9572-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n\n          <\/div>\n    <div class=\"image-grid-sidebar\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9426-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n\n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>During her work, she saw the power of food and farming, and shortly afterwards sought support from the European Social Fund for the V\u00e4xtplats Roseng\u00e5rd project, an integration project focusing on farming for foreign-born residents of Roseng\u00e5rd.<\/p>\n\n<p>There was a great deal of interest in the project. There was a great deal of interest in the project. Shortly after that, Lena was given the opportunity to buy Botildenborg from the municipality, on condition that the organisation would continue to work for social sustainability. <\/p>\n\n<p>However, the farm had been abandoned and was in a state of disrepair, so the renovation was carried out as a project that aimed to shorten the path to employment for people who were far removed from the labour market.<\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cThe participants in the project worked alongside people who were established in the labour market. This gave them the opportunity to learn about the Swedish labour market and build relationships that ultimately led to them being matched with a job.\u201d <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Botildenborg Growing Site<\/h2>\n\n<p>Over the years, a number of projects have been carried out for different target groups, including helping more than 50 Ukrainian refugees enter the Swedish labour market. Today, there is also a partnership with the City of Malm\u00f6 for the V\u00e4xtplats Botildenborg initiative. With support from the municipality, people who are currently far from the labour market can come to Botildenborg and receive vocational employment training, either directly with the crops, in the kitchen or as serving staff.  <\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cThe people who come here are often in need of a fresh start. Once here, they work alongside us employees, which usually sparks their motivation. That sense of community permeates the entire project. Here, we make no distinction between employees and employment training programme participants \u2013 everyone works side by side,\u201d says Lena.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More work experience<\/h2>\n\n<p>Fatema Dabor came to Sweden from Syria nine years ago. After many years without a job, she now has the opportunity to take part in an employment training programme at Botildenborg. <\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cI work in the kitchen and prepare food for lunch guests, for example by chopping vegetables. I have training as a kitchen assistant and here I&#8217;ve gained more experience of working in a kitchen,\u201d says Fatema. <\/p>\n<div class=\"block-image\">\n          <div class=\"block-image-background is-large\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9337-scaled.jpg)\"><\/div>\n              <q class=\"block-image-title\">\u2013 I Syrien var jag biodlare. Min dr\u00f6m \u00e4r att l\u00e4ra mig svenska b\u00e4ttre s\u00e5 att jag kan starta ett f\u00f6retag och bli professionell biodlare h\u00e4r i Sverige ocks\u00e5<\/q>\n      <\/div>\n\n<p>She also says that she has learned a lot of Swedish during her time at Botildenborg.<\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cI get to meet lots of people, which is good. In the future, I hope to work as a chef.\u201d <\/p>\n\n<p>Another employment training programme participant at Botildenborg is Nasser Alsaree, also from Syria. He has been at Botildenborg for almost two months and works out among the crops, for example cutting grass. <\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s very nice here. We help each other and work together. And I have a lot of fun cutting the grass!\u201d <\/p>\n\n<p>Many of those who come to Botildenborg also study Swedish through SFI (Swedish for Immigrants).<\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cIn Syria, I was a beekeeper. My dream is to learn Swedish better so that I can start a business and become a professional beekeeper here in Sweden too,\u201d says Nasser. <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9225-768x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34644\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9225-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9225-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9225-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9225-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9225-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9225-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Botildenborg-9225.jpg 1754w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fatema Dabor from Syria is receiving vocational employment training in the kitchen. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">National knowledge platform<\/h2>\n\n<p>Botildenborg has recently received funding from the European Social Fund for a project that aims to gather all the knowledge and methods developed through the various projects that have been carried out into a national knowledge platform.<\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cOver the 10 years that Botildenborg has been in existence, we have accumulated a great deal of knowledge. If we can transform that knowledge into training courses that enable us to spread that knowledge to more people, we can bring about real change at the societal level,\u201d says Lena Friblick. <\/p>\n\n<p>She hopes that Botildenborg can continue to be a force for change and a place that can make a difference for many people.<\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cIt seems like there is so much focus on writing about the negative happenings in society these days. I think we are like a beacon in the darkness, showing that there is a way forward and that it is possible to achieve something good. Over the years, I have seen how food and farming can change people&#8217;s lives, and that is what we do here at Botildenborg.\u201d  <\/p>\n<div class=\"infobox bg-with-white-text\" style=\"background-color: #124261;\">\n      <h2 class=\"infobox-title\">More about the project<\/h2>\n  \n      <div class=\"infobox-text\"><p>Botildenborg has been run as a non-profit foundation since 2016. During this period, several different projects focused on social sustainability and integration have received support from the European Social Fund. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n  \n            \n              <a class=\"arrow-link \"\n         title=\"Botildenborg Growing Site\"          href=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/resultat\/projektbanken\/projekt\/?dnr=2019\/00395\"\n         target=\"_blank\">\n                <div class=\"arrow\">\n                      <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 14\">\n              <g transform=\"translate(2751.553 -2040.461)\">\n                <path d=\"M1423.483,3895.065l6.453,6.454,6.453-6.454\" transform=\"translate(-6636.377 3477.381) rotate(-90)\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#124261\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/>\n                <path d=\"M-2734.859,2047.445h-16.694\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#124261\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/>\n              <\/g>\n            <\/svg>\n                  <\/div>\n\n                  Botildenborg Growing Site\n        \n        <\/a>\n\n      \n      \n      \n                \n              <a class=\"arrow-link \"\n         title=\"Botildenborg Knowledge Centre&lt;br&gt;Care for Ukraine\"          href=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/resultat\/projektbanken\/projekt\/?dnr=24-026-S18\"\n         target=\"_blank\">\n                <div class=\"arrow\">\n                      <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 14\">\n              <g transform=\"translate(2751.553 -2040.461)\">\n                <path d=\"M1423.483,3895.065l6.453,6.454,6.453-6.454\" transform=\"translate(-6636.377 3477.381) rotate(-90)\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#124261\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/>\n                <path d=\"M-2734.859,2047.445h-16.694\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#124261\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/>\n              <\/g>\n            <\/svg>\n                  <\/div>\n\n                  Botildenborg Knowledge Centre&lt;br&gt;Care for Ukraine\n        \n        <\/a>\n\n      \n      \n      \n                \n              <a class=\"arrow-link \"\n         title=\"Care for Ukraine\"          href=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/resultat\/projektbanken\/projekt\/?dnr=2022\/00428\"\n         target=\"_blank\">\n                <div class=\"arrow\">\n                      <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 14\">\n              <g transform=\"translate(2751.553 -2040.461)\">\n                <path d=\"M1423.483,3895.065l6.453,6.454,6.453-6.454\" transform=\"translate(-6636.377 3477.381) rotate(-90)\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#124261\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/>\n                <path d=\"M-2734.859,2047.445h-16.694\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#124261\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/>\n              <\/g>\n            <\/svg>\n                  <\/div>\n\n                  Care for Ukraine\n        \n        <\/a>\n\n      \n      \n      \n            <\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div 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At first glance, it looks like a lunch restaurant and conference venue, but the non-profit Botildenborg Foundation is so much more than that. The urban farm runs many different types of social sustainability projects for a &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":34643,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_helpful_pro_status":1,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[313],"class_list":["post-37714","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-en-plats-for-alla"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/37714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}