COOLCROWD 2.0: Testing of a local crowdfunding concept for financing climate mitigation measures in Norwegian agriculture

COOLCROWD 2.0 is based on the previous COOLCROWD project, a 4-year international research project funded by the KLIMAFORSK program at the Research Council of Norway.

Foto: Colourbox
Foto: Colourbox

The purpose of COOLCROWD was to assess the potential for a locally crowdfunded system that enables Norwegian farmers to install climate-friendly technologies on their farms and the Norwegian public to invest in local climate mitigation measures. The project developed a business model concept that is ready for implementation by industry partners. However, there is the need to gain more evidence-based knowledge on the potential of the concept that will help stakeholders to choose a future commercialization path. Hence, the aim of COOLCROWD 2.0 is to test the concept in a pilot study to verify the research results. This will help 1) to better determine the potential commercial application and level of maturity of the concept; 2) to identify opportunities and constraints for the implementation; 3) to provide knowledge on how to adapt the concept for a successful implementation and 4) to design an application to the Research Council of Norway for commercialization funding in the form of a Proof-of-Concept.

 

Project details

Contact persons

Pia Piroschka Otte

Research Professor

Rita Moseng Sivertsvik

Project administrative advisor/researcher

Project leaders

Pia Piroschka Otte

Research Professor

Other project members

Rita Moseng Sivertsvik

Project administrative advisor/researcher

Subject areas

Project period

14/12/2021 - 13/12/2022

Collaboration partners

Høgskulen på Vestlandet / Mohnsenteret for innovasjon og regional utvikling

Financing

Norges Forskningsråd KOMMERSFORSK

Publications

  • Article

2026

A-4/26 Crowdfunding of climate measures in agriculture: investigation of success factors in a real-life setting

Contributors: Natalia Maehle

Description

Forfattere: Pia Piroschka Otte, Natalia Maehle og Rita Moseng Sivertsvik

Purpose Promising climate mitigation practices are costly for farmers within the current regulatory, market and business frameworks. There is a need for innovative solutions that ensure that farmers are paid and supported for their efforts to reduce GHG emissions. Crowdfunding represents a novel approach with high potential. This article tests previously identified success factors for crowdfunding in a study of two sustainable crowdfunding campaigns in Norwegian agriculture in a real-life setting. Design/methodology/approach We designed real-life crowdfunding campaigns with two Norwegian farmers and carried out semi-structured interviews with them and their backers to discuss their experiences with crowdfunding. We also analysed both campaign descriptions. Findings One of the crowdfunding campaigns was unsuccessful with no backers, while the other one collected 88 per cent of the targeted amount with 82 backers. The farmer of the successful campaign communicated actively with backers and showed a strong emotional appeal in the campaign description. Originality/value This study contributes to testing previously identified success factors for sustainable crowdfunding and crowdfunding of climate measures in agriculture in real-life settings. Furthermore, the study contributes to the under-investigated topic of crowdfunding climate measures in agriculture, which is a potential innovative approach for reducing GHG emissions and increasing uptake of climate mitigation measures.

Baltic Journal of Management, https://doi.org/10.1108/BJM-05-2025-0400

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