Viessmann Foundation partners with Acker e.V. to promote food education
January 29, 2026 – The Viessmann Foundation has launched a three-year partnership with Acker e.V. (“Acker”) to expand food education and nature-based learning for children across Germany. Under the agreement, the foundation will provide €300,000 to the non-profit social enterprise. The funds will be used to expand Acker's activities and increase its sphere of influence, focusing on food literacy and a deeper appreciation for nature among students in schools and daycare centers.
Max Viessmann, CEO Viessmann Generations Group: “Our partnership with Acker is in line with our purpose of co-creating living spheres for generations to come. Climate protection, health, and education are key issues for the Viessmann Foundation. The Acker team has succeeded in raising environmental awareness and nutrition among many children through its tremendous commitment and collaboration with a wide range of educational institutions. We support this mission through our partnership.”
Dr Christoph Schmitz, Founder and CEO ACKER: "By joining our System Change Alliance, Viessmann joins a group of philanthropic pioneers providing the unrestricted, long-term capital necessary to drive systemic change. This partnership allows us to better anchor our programs within the education system and the broader public. We are grateful for this support, which fuels our organizational growth toward a critical 2030 goal: ensuring every child has the opportunity to experience nature and adopt a healthier diet."
In Germany, only 10% of children aged 6 to 11 consume an adequate amount of vegetables, while two-thirds spend less than an hour per week outdoors. This growing disconnect from the natural world has led to significant long-term health risks.
To address these trends, Acker aims to provide every child in Germany with the opportunity to experience the growth and value creation process of food during their time at daycare and school by 2030. Through practical programs integrated into the standard curriculum, students sow, tend, harvest, and cook their own produce. Acker’s model is designed to be catalytic; by providing the initial tools and training, the organization empowers schools and daycare centers to manage these programs independently over the long term.
Acker’s educational portfolio serves a nationwide audience, including children, youth, and adults. The curriculum spans from food production and complex global supply chains to the social impact of community vegetable gardening.
Acker’s model has demonstrated significant impact since its founding in 2014, reaching more than 400,000 children across 1,800 educational institutions. Through these partnerships, 15,900 educators have integrated nature-based outdoor learning spaces into their curricula. As a result, 50% of participating children have increased their vegetable consumption, and more than 65% report a more positive relationship with nature. The Viessmann Foundation aims to further accelerate the scalability of these proven outcomes.
Viessmann Foundation gGmbH
Founded in 2020, the Viessmann Foundation gGmbH is the philanthropic arm of the Viessmann Generations Group, united by a shared purpose: co-creating living spheres for generations to come. Rooted in family values, the Foundation acts where market solutions fall short - deploying catalytic capital to complement the Group’s investments and driving systemic change toward resilient, equitable communities. We focus on three high-impact areas, partnering with exceptional organizations: Climate & Ecosystems, Education & Democracy, Health & Wellbeing. More information here.
Acker e.V.
Founded in 2014 by Dr. Christoph Schmitz, Acker set out to strengthen collective awareness and appreciation for nature and food. Through educational programs for daycare centers, kindergartens, and schools—such as AckerRacker and GemüseAckerdemie—as well as initiatives for companies, neighborhoods, and care facilities, Acker enables people to experience firsthand the effort and joy involved in growing fresh vegetables.
Today, the social enterprise employs more than 200 people and is supported by around 420 volunteers. Working at the intersection of education, agriculture, environmental protection, and nutrition, Acker brings nature-based learning and practical knowledge into everyday educational settings in an impact-driven and scientifically grounded way. Numerous awards, including the national “Education for Sustainable Development” award from the German UNESCO Commission and the German Sustainability Award, highlight its success.
Acker’s goal is clear: by 2030, every child should have access to a nature-based learning environment.
More information: www.acker.co
Press Contact:
Viessmann Generations Group
Byung-Hun Park
Vice President Corporate Communications
M: +49151-64911317
Acker e.V.
Sara Reichau
Referentin für Presse, PR und Politik
E: s.reichau@acker.co
T: +49 30 800932047
