The CrowdFarming idea was born in 2010, when Gabriel and Gonzalo Úrculo founded Naranjas del Carmen, enabling people to adopt an orange tree and receive its harvest at home. Due to its huge success, the brothers decided in 2017 to launch CrowdFarming to replicate this model across more organic farmers and consumers in Europe.

Direct sales

CrowdFarming’s mission is to democratise the food supply chain by enabling direct sales from producers to consumers. Gonzalo Úrculo: “A growing number of consumers are seeking to buy their food directly from producers, and at the same time producers are looking for sales channels without intermediaries. It’s not a trend, it’s a much-needed revolution in the world’s most inefficient supply chain.”

Game changer

CrowdFarming is a one-stop-shop that offers farmers the tools they need to create their own direct sales channel. It provides them with logistics, customer service, packaging and marketing services. The invention of an adoption system, enabling the consumer to actively contribute to sustainable farming by financing a tree and receiving the harvest in exchange, has proven a major game changer regarding the relationship between producer and consumer and the fight against food waste.

With its clear mission, CrowdFarming is disrupting the farmer-to-consumer industry and has become the market leader with around 200 farmers selling their products directly to 350,000 consumers all over Europe.

Minority shareholding

Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund obtained a minority shareholding in CrowdFarming in September 2021. The fund co-invested together with two Spanish investors: Q-Impact and Seaya Ventures.

Senior Investment Manager Adam Kybird: “CrowdFarming’s focus on sustainable and responsible farming practices, fair and stable prices for farmers, and a true connection between farmers and consumers fits in seamlessly with the impact thesis of our fund. The company is a true European frontrunner, and we are happy to contribute to its positive impact and growth going forward.”

CrowdFarming will use the newly received funds to facilitate the entrance of new farmers in the marketplace, improve logistics, and help more farms obtain the EU’s organic certification.