Germany’s Largest Rooftop Farm Opens on Rewe Market in Berlin
Berlin, August 11 – A new chapter in urban agriculture has begun in Berlin-Lankwitz with the ceremonial opening of Germany’s largest rooftop farm. Located on top of the Rewe Green-Farming market on Malteserstraße, this innovative facility will cultivate ‘Lankwitzer Pflücksalat’ and supply it to around 500 Rewe markets in Eastern Germany.
The rooftop farm, a joint venture between Rewe and ECF Farmsystems, represents the core of Rewe’s Green-Farming concept. Felix Thomas, an independent Rewe merchant and operator of the market, emphasized the unique selling proposition: “With the salad from the roof, we offer something that no one else has. The rooftop farm completes our offering, allowing us to underscore our regional character with extra-fresh salad. This is our unique selling point.”
First Harvests Already Delivered
The Rewe Green-Farming market, which opened in May, introduced a unique supermarket concept where customers shop downstairs while salad grows on the roof. Construction of the rooftop farm was completed at the end of July, and harvesting is already underway, with the first salads having been delivered. The ‘Lankwitzer Pflücksalat’ is available in 100-gram bags as a salad mix, initially featuring Batavia lettuce, green romaine lettuce, Lollo Rosso, and dark green Easy Leaf lettuce.
Hydroponic System and Sustainable Practices
The plants are grown in an automated, soilless hydroponic system. They receive a nutrient solution several times a day and are irrigated with rainwater collected in a rooftop cistern. During the 23 days until harvest, the plants rotate on special trays throughout the greenhouse.
This advanced system allows for the annual production of up to 900,000 salad mixes. A portion of this produce will be sold directly in the Berlin Rewe Green-Farming market, while the remainder will be distributed via the Rewe regional warehouse in Oranienburg. This localized production is expected to save approximately 500,000 transport kilometers compared to importing produce from Southern Europe.
Nicolas Leschke, CEO and founder of ECF Farmsystems, stated during the opening, “Today, agriculture is moving into the city. We can grow fresh products year-round and provide them with short delivery routes. The market demonstrates how unused rooftop spaces in large cities can contribute to regional food production.” The rooftop farm operates with a high degree of automation; four employees manage the greenhouse seven days a week, with harvesting occurring six days a week.
Evolution of Rewe Green Buildings
The Rewe market in Berlin-Lankwitz signifies a further development of Rewe’s “Green Buildings” concept. Since 2009, Rewe has been constructing energy-efficient supermarkets nationwide. The new timber construction concept also emphasizes circular building practices.
Florian Sörensen, Sales Manager for the Rewe East Region, highlighted the company’s innovative approach: “This market shows that Rewe is willing to break new ground and give innovative concepts a chance. And now we can proudly say that we have the first supermarket in Germany where salad grows above the heads of customers.”
The Lankwitz market features 72 visible wooden columns made from stacked beams, creating a bright, seven-meter-high market hall. The modular design can be flexibly adapted to various locations, including variable rooftop uses such as the glass salad farm. According to Rewe, this approach combines resource-saving construction, regional freshness, and urban food production in one location.
The cultivation area on the roof is not publicly accessible. To protect the plants, access is only permitted with protective clothing. This space offers a tangible demonstration of how urban food production can function in the future.
Source: topagrar.com
