SDG 15 - Life on Land

Last modified: 23. November 2025

1.4. Sustainably farmed food on campus  

MATE prioritizes providing sustainably farmed food on campus, sourcing products from local and environmentally responsible suppliers whenever possible. Students and staff are encouraged to choose from locally farmed food, supporting both sustainability and the regional economy.  

SZIA Agroecological Garden of MATE (Gödöllő)  

SZIA Agroecological Garden of MATE in Gödöllő is a social garden which has other tasks and functions besides agricultural production. In our case, it is education, awareness-raising, i.e., the promotion of organic gardening, ecological farming and green, environmentally sustainable lifestyles, and the presentation and dissemination of practical methods. Another important task of the social garden is to provide work and development opportunities for disadvantaged people, such as the disabled and the long-term unemployed.  

The garden functions as a community space, providing space for environmental education, camps and workshops. It also serves as a venue for corporate team-building training and family days, where groups can enjoy crafts, gardening and cooking together to raise awareness of sustainability. At SZIA Garden, they practice ecological gardening and work with disabled and disabled colleagues. They sell the vegetables others help them grow to a restaurant and to the local Dombvidék Kosárközösség (Hillside Basket Society). They do not currently sell at their own "SZIA Market", but they are working on getting their customers to come to them in this way in the future. 

https://diverzitasalapitvany.hu/oko-kert/   

 

Botanical and organic gardens  

Buda Arboretum Organic Garden (“Biogarden”) is an educational garden presenting the principles and practices of organic farming in the Buda Arboretum, run by the staff of the Department of Agroecology and Ecological Management (Institute of Rural Developement and Sustainable Economy, MATE - https://rural-development.uni-mate.hu/introduction2). 

https://www.facebook.com/budaiarborbiokert   

Wild plants are also sustainable food sources. There is an educational trail on edible and collectible wild plants in Soroksár Botanical Garden. The aim is to provide a professional opportunity for students and those interested in nature to learn more about wild and edible plant species. The trail will provide a safe and professionally authentic way for everyone to learn more about the edible plants of our country's flora by visiting the living plant material. The educational trail is part of the 60-hectare Botanical Garden located in the XXIII. district of Budapest.  

https://soroksaribotanikuskert.uni-mate.hu/   

https://ehetovadnovenyeink.hu/  

https://www.facebook.com/sorbotkert/?locale=hu_HU   

 

MATE Farm Enterprise  

MATE Farm Enterprise Ltd. is the wholly university‑owned enterprise of MATE, established to manage the university’s practical farms and training facilities. Operating over 3 500 hectares across five sites in four counties (including Gödöllő, Keszthely, and Kaposvár), its mission covers education, research, and production in crop farming, horticulture, viticulture, and livestock. Interested persons can gain hands-on experience with a wide range of livestock—including poultry, pigs, sheep, cattle, bison, deer, and horses—and modern technologies like robotic milking at the Kaposvár dairy farm.  

The organization plays a key role in advancing practical training and innovation in agriculture. Through its “demonstration farm” programs, such as courses on precision plant protection and spring crop inspection, it brings together students, farmers, and regional stakeholders for applied learning. In addition, they operate a game processing plant, a winery, a restaurant, a guesthouse, a game park, and a museum.  

https://tangazdasag.hu/