Urban Farm DB
← Back to cases
OtherActiveSince 1996

Kyomaru-en (Universal Agriculture Farm)

Hamamatsu, Japan · Operator: 京丸園株式会社 (Kyomaru-en Co., Ltd.)

Overview

Kyomaru-en in Hamamatsu is a pioneer of agriculture-welfare collaboration, employing people with disabilities since 1996. Under its 'universal agriculture' approach it designs tasks around each worker's abilities, building a farm business where anyone can work regardless of disability.

Citizen participation

The farm has hired at least one person with a disability every year since 1996, breaking jobs into finely tuned, optimized tasks so everyone can experience success in what it calls 'universal agriculture', working with welfare bodies and local government.

Operating model

An agricultural corporation selling hydroponically grown leafy greens; it links disability employment to productivity gains and has stayed profitable for over two decades.

Impact

Widely cited nationally as a flagship agriculture-welfare success, it demonstrates that employing people with disabilities can raise farm productivity and profitability.

Crops

  • mini bok choy
  • mitsuba
  • sprout onions
  • rice
  • potatoes

Scale

26,000 m²総面積約1.3haに35棟のハウス(ミニチンゲンサイ・ミツバ・芽ネギの水耕)と約1.3haの田畑。知的・身体障害者ら約25名が通年就業。

Sources(2)

Related cases

Other
2011

Sansan Yamashiro Employment Support Workshop

JPKyotanabe, Kyoto, Japan

A Kyotanabe employment-support workshop operating since 2011 that grows regional specialties (Uji tea, Tanabe eggplant, Kyoto taro) and became one of the first Noufuku JAS certified businesses in 2019.

WelfareFood educationOrganic cycle+1

maff.go.jp+1

Other
2022

Farm Africa Addis Ababa Urban Agriculture Pilot

ETAddis Ababa, Ethiopia

A 15-month urban agriculture pilot run in 2022 by Farm Africa with Ethiopia's Ministry of Planning and Development, aiming to improve the incomes, nutrition and food security of 100 low-income households in Addis Ababa.

CommunityFood educationWelfare+1

farmafrica.org+2

Community garden
2009

Seseragi Community Garden (Machi no Namagomi Ikashi-tai)

JPHino, Japan

A community garden in Hino City, Tokyo, started by citizens who believe 'kitchen waste is a treasure.' It collects and composts the kitchen waste of around 200 households and grows vegetables and flowers pesticide-free as a food-cycle garden. Naomi Shimpo studied its management and governance in detail in her 2021 and 2024 papers.

CompostOrganic cycleFood loss+4

acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com+3

Community garden
2021

Awai Noen

JPOsaka, Japan

An SDGs natural farm started in Osaka in 2021 that bridges 'awai' (the in-between) of farming and welfare. It partners with children's cafeterias in Tsurumi Ward and Moriguchi, donating its harvest to them, and links children's food education with the social participation of people facing employment barriers.

Food educationWelfareOrganic cycle+2

awai-farm.com+1

Kyomaru-en (Universal Agriculture Farm) — Urban Farm DB