Inge Vleemingh and Heimen Vos
Innovator
De Goed Gevulde Boerderij
Netherlands
Economic
Rural Areas
Rural village
The innovation journey
Since 2017, landscape architects Inge Vleemingh and Heimen Vos have run De Goed Gevulde Boerderij, a 17-hectare sustainable pig farm in Halle, Gelderland.
Inge’s 2014 graduation project ‘Go nuts!’ demonstrated her ability to synergize urban and rural perspectives. Partnering with Heimen from a traditional pig-farming family, she took her ideas further by creating a closed-loop system to minimise waste in multifunctional farming. The farm is energy-neutral with solar power and heat pumps and offers tours and direct meat sales both on-site and online. Their high-quality pork attracts loyal customers.
Inge handles sales and public relations, increasing turnover significantly, with direct sales achieving ten times the price a farmer gets for regular meat. She also shares their story as a speaker and collaborator with various networks.
The innovation impact
De Goed Gevulde Boerderij is a beacon of sustainable rural development, boosting economic viability while minimizing environmental impact.
The key innovations include: (1) Closed-loop system: Crossbred wild boar and Duroc pigs are fed local food waste, and manure fertilizes crops, reducing environmental impact. (2) Direct sales: Offline and increasing online sales through SEO boost revenue, expanding a niche market. (3) Resilient land use: Raising bees, chickens, and various crops alongside pigs diversifies income and reduce risks. (4) Community engagement: Workshops and farm visits spread inspiration.
The farm’s robust business model ensures economic success and environmental sustainability, proving multifunctional livestock farming can lead to a thriving rural landscape.