Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative Agriculture

Seven Decades of Agricultural Succession

The predecessor of KFBG was the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association (KAAA), a post-war agricultural aid organisation. In the 1950s, a massive influx of refugees streamed into Hong Kong. Embracing the ethos of “Helping People Help Themselves”, KAAA used agricultural assistance to help society navigate this crisis. At that time, KAAA’s major aid initiatives included:

  • While rice and vegetable farming dominated rural Hong Kong back then, KAAA provided fruit tree seedlings, chicks, piglets, and other livestock to help farmers diversify and boost their incomes.
  • Donating agricultural tools and machinery to reduce the financial burden of farming costs.
  • Improving rural infrastructure — such as funding the construction of access paths and upgrading irrigation systems — to elevate the standard of living in villages.
  • Conducting various agricultural research projects, which led to achievements like breeding the unique “Pak Ngau Shek Chicken”.
An early village footbridge of concrete crossing a stream, with hills behind Villagers collecting bamboo baskets of chicks at a distribution in the fields An elevated view of the early farm buildings and livestock pens, with terraced hillsides behind A farm worker holding up a honeycomb frame beside hives marked with the Kadoorie name

As Hong Kong entered the 1980s, the refugee wave subsided, and the scale of local agriculture began to shrink. As KAAA anticipated the rising global trend of environmental conservation, it gradually transformed itself, paving the way for the KFBG we know today.

Despite pivoting toward environmental conservation, KFBG never forgot its agricultural roots and original mission. By marrying farming with sustainable goals, KFBG charted a course toward sustainable agriculture. In 1995, KFBG fully adopted organic farming guidelines and began establishing community farm demonstration projects, broadening the vision of agriculture to include sustainability and community participation.

Over the years, the structure of our agricultural department has evolved alongside changing times. KFBG established the “Sustainable Living and Agriculture Department” in 2007, which was later restructured into the “Regenerative Agriculture Department” in 2023. While our working environment and strategies adapt to the times, the original intent remains unchanged.

SINCE 1995, STILL EVOLVING

Milestones

From the switch to organic farming in 1995, the work has kept changing. These are the turning points of the past thirty years:

1995

Transitioned to organic farming methods

  • The concept of organic farming gradually emerged in Hong Kong during the late 1980s as public awareness of environmental conservation deepened. KFBG officially transitioned to an organic farming model in 1995.

Initiated on-site composting

  • Resource recovery is a vital component of sustainable agriculture. Composting facilities transform various organic wastes from the farm (such as fallen leaves, dead branches, and livestock manure) into highly valuable agricultural resources.
Two masked staff turning a compost pile with shovels inside the composting shed
Turning the compost pile — organic waste from across the farm becomes a valuable soil resource.
1999

Hosted the first “Organic Festival”

  • Prior to the millennium, organic agriculture in Hong Kong was still in its promotional and experimental stages. KFBG was one of the very first organisations to host a large-scale carnival centred around an organic theme.
Organic Festival participants with flags and straw figures posing beneath a harvest parade banner
The Organic Festival harvest parade — one of Hong Kong’s earliest large-scale organic-themed carnivals.
2004

Established the tea plantation area

  • “Adapting to local conditions” is a core principle of sustainable agriculture. Utilising the unique microclimate of KFBG’s upper farmland required a cautious and thoughtful approach. KFBG successfully introduced tea and coffee trees across several terraced fields at an altitude of approximately 400 metres, achieving excellent results.
Tea bushes flushing with bright new shoots
Tea bushes flushing on the upper terraces, at around 400 metres.

Adopted the litter-bedding system with wood shavings for the poultry section

  • • Industrial chicken farms consume vast amounts of water to wash away manure, which wastes water and fails to utilise organic waste. Our chicken coops use a litter-bedding system. This model saves water, provides chickens with space to move around, and absorbs manure to create composting material — killing three birds with one stone.
Chickens moving across a deep bed of wood shavings inside the poultry house
Deep wood-shaving bedding lets the chicken range freely while absorbing manure for compost.
2006

Published Starting from 3.5 Catties of Vegetables

  • Over the years, KFBG has published numerous books advocating sustainable agriculture. Notable publications include ‘Grow Organic!’ and ‘Grow Organic @home’, which teach cultivation skills, as well as ‘Starting from 3.5 Catties of Vegetables’, which introduces Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

Established the “Sustainable Living and Agriculture Department”

2007

Launched the Central Farmers’ Market, which continues to operate today

  • Organic farmers’ markets began appearing after the millennium, but finding suitable venues was a challenge. After trialing the market in various locations, KFBG secured an agreement with the Star Ferry in 2007 to host a weekly farmers’ market at Star Ferry Central Pier No. 7, which continues to this day.
Shoppers browsing produce stalls under the covered deck of the pier
The weekly farmers’ market at Star Ferry Central Pier No. 7.

Published Grow Organic!

Cover of the KFBG publication Grow Organic!
Grow Organic! — a practical guide to growing vegetables organically.
2008

Established the coffee plantation area

Young coffee saplings planted along terraced beds in heavy mist
Young coffee trees on the misty upper terraces.
2010

Hosted the first “Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course”

  • Permaculture is a sustainable agriculture design system that holds profound influence globally and serves as the core spirit of KFBG’s agricultural development. Over the years, KFBG has hosted numerous Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Courses.
Course participants gathered for a group photograph on the steps beneath a stone gateway
Participants of an early Permaculture Design Certificate course.
2012

Hosted the “Southeast Asian Permaculture Convergency”

Participants standing hand in hand in a large circle across a courtyard
The Southeast Asian Permaculture Convergency brought practitioners across the region together.

Launched the aquaponics project

Parsley growing from clay pebble media in an aquaponics grow bed
European celery growing in clay pebble media, fed by the aquaponics system.
2016

Published Grow Organic @home

Cover of the KFBG publication Grow Organic@home
Grow Organic @home — growing food in small urban spaces.
2019

Collaborated with The University of Hong Kong on the “Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture Course”

  • Agricultural training has always been a mainstay of local agricultural promotion. We have held numerous courses spanning various levels, topics, and formats over the years. Examples include the “Sustainable Agriculture Course” co-organised with the HKU Centre for Civil Society and Governance (2019–2024) and the “Professional Agricultural Management Course” held in 2025.
Course participants listening to an instructor beside a bed of herbs
Field teaching on the Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture course.
2020

Launched the “Central Farmers’ Market Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)” online ordering scheme for local produce during the pandemic

  • The 2020 Covid pandemic hit many local industries hard, and agriculture was no exception. Yet, crisis breeds opportunity; in response to the situation, KFBG launched the “Central Farmers’ Market Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)” online ordering scheme. This established an alternative online sales platform for local produce beyond the physical market, which remains active today.
Staff packing lettuces and leafy greens into paper wraps for CSA orders
Packing weekly orders of freshly harvested vegetables for the co-buying scheme.
2023

Established the “Regenerative Agriculture Department”

2024

Released the Farmland Survey Report on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy and Recommendations for Agricultural Priority Areas

  • Urban development poses a constant threat to rural farmland. To raise awareness among the government and the public regarding the actual state of Hong Kong’s farmland, KFBG spearheaded a collaborative farmland survey with university academics, environmental groups, and community units between 2023 and 2024, alongside hosting two large-scale seminars.
Cover of the Farmland Survey report, showing an aerial view of farmland and a village
The Farmland Survey report, released in August 2024.
2025

Hosted the “Overview of ‘Agricultural Priority Areas’ Policy Seminar”

A speaker presenting proposed Agricultural Priority Area sites to a full lecture theatre
The 2025 policy seminar on Agricultural Priority Areas.

Launched the first “Professional Agricultural Management Course”

2026

Launched the “Farming Hong Kong” project

  • “Farming Hong Kong” is a local agricultural promotion project organised by the Regenerative Agriculture Department and funded by the HKEX Foundation. Grounded in sustainability principles, the project drives three main pillars: 1) professional farmer training; 2) community-driven urban agriculture; and 3) public food and agriculture education.
A speaker addressing a lecture theatre on the role of community gardens
A seminar session on community gardens and urban agriculture.
Core strategies

Strategies and Achievements

The transformation during the 1980s and 1990s marked a critical turning point. Faced with a declining farming population, should KFBG maintain its agricultural focus? If so, how should it transform?

More than thirty years later, we have maintained our agricultural work, and our efforts have yielded solid results and widespread public recognition. Below are our core strategies and achievements:

Unwavering ConvictionOrganic since 1995, and the direction has not changedPolicies and trends shift; our agricultural direction has stayed on course. We assess opportunities by long-term well-being, and decline development directions or partnerships which do not align with KFBG principles.
Professional ExcellenceHalf a century of working demonstration farming on siteThe demonstrations feed our courses and hands-on activities. The Introductory Course on Sustainable Agriculture for City Farmers, for one, has run since 2006 and taught over 400 people since then.
Connecting with SocietyOver 800 market days at the Central Farmers’ Market since 2007The market and the CSA scheme put local farmers in front of the public. We also promote urban agriculture in housing estates and schools and reach the wider public through food and farming education.
Respecting NatureCompleted the Northern Metropolis farmland survey in 2024Hong Kong’s hills, streams and farmland do not always get the attention they deserve. Through farmland surveys, public activities and policy advocacy, we make the case for these land and water resources.
By the numbers

The Work in Numbers

Agricultural Demonstrations (Excerpt)

Vegetables & Herbs~17tharvested each yearOver 80 varieties cultivated annually.
Fruits~3–4tharvested each yearOver 20 varieties.
Tea~20kgproduced each yearAbout 1,000 tea trees, three main varieties.
Coffee~15–20kgof green beans each yearAbout 60 coffee trees, primarily Arabica.
Honey50–150Lof honey produced each yearOver 60 beehives, all Chinese Honeybees (Apis cerana).
Eggs~140,000eggs produced each yearA flock of 1,500 to 2,000 chicken.
Compost~30tproduced each year

Farmers’ Market and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Central Farmers’ Market

2007 to present; over 800 market days held in total; over 40 local farms have joined, with around 10 farmer stalls at any time.

Central Farmers’ Market Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

2020 to present; 10 to 15 ordering days organised annually; total volume of local produce traded through the platform exceeds 5 tonnes.

For how to take part and the latest arrangements, please see Local Support.

Agricultural Courses (Excerpt)

Below is a record of the agricultural courses KFBG has held over the years. For courses currently on offer, please see Learning & Community, and check Events and Programmes for dates.

~2,000attendancesFarmer Re-skilling Workshop2013–2022 · 2.5 hours per session
400+participantsIntroductory Courses on Sustainable Agriculture for City Farmers2006 to present · 3 days
200+participantsBeekeeping Course2008, 2013 to present · 2 days
100+participantsProfessional Farmer Course2017–2020 · 5 cohorts · 30 teaching hours · With Hong Kong Organic Living Association
100+participantsPermaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018 · over 72 teaching hours
~90participantsCertificate in Sustainable Agriculture2019–2024 · 5 cohorts · 36 teaching hours · With The University of Hong Kong

Listed by number of people. The workshop figure counts attendances, not individuals, so it is not directly comparable with the others.

Large-scale Seminars

Seminars organised or co-organised by KFBG:

  • 2003: Community Supported Agriculture Seminar
  • 2012: Southeast Asian Permaculture Convergency
  • 2024: Farmland Survey Report on Northern Metropolis — Forum on Farmland Issues
  • 2025: Overview of ‘Agricultural Priority Areas’ Policy Seminar
  • 2026: “Urban Agriculture: Planning, Implementation and Community Engagement” Seminar
Pathways

Explore Our Regenerative Journey

Select a pathway below to discover our history, technical practices, or ways to join our community.