This charter is addressed to collection hubs that are part of the TEIKEI network or wish to become part of it.
Within the TEIKEI network, collection hubs are not merely transshipment points. They assume a supporting function between farms, transport, distribution, and communities. Precisely for this reason, a clear, comprehensible, and fair basis for collaboration is needed here.
This charter records key learnings that have emerged from practical experience. It describes not only an attitude but also concrete points that collaboration must adhere to.
This charter specifies the overarching Charter for Actors in the TEIKEI Network for the context of collection hubs.
This charter does not stand alone.
It is based on the TEIKEI Manifesto 2030 and the ten TEIKEI principles.
The TEIKEI Manifesto 2030 describes the network's long-term orientation. This includes in particular:
The ten TEIKEI principles form the common foundation for collaboration, supply, and development across the entire network. These include:
This charter translates this common foundation into the concrete practice of the collection hub within the network.
This means:
The structures, decisions, and processes described here must not be considered or implemented in isolation from the ecological, social, and community goals of the TEIKEI Manifesto or the ten TEIKEI principles.
Even if a collection hub does not engage in agricultural production itself, it is part of a system built on ecological responsibility, regenerative practices, and community-supported supply.
This results in:
The roles, tasks, and attitudes described in this charter can only be fully understood in the context of this shared foundation.
Therefore:
The TEIKEI Manifesto 2030 and the ten TEIKEI principles are not an optional background but a shared foundation that must be read, understood, and supported in practice by all participants.
A collection hub consolidates goods flows, coordinates transitions, and ensures that products are passed on in good quality, traceably, and reliably.
In doing so, the collection hub does not assume the role of an invisible intermediary but rather a clearly definable infrastructural task within a community-supported network.
This means:
A sustainable collection hub structure requires clarity about who assumes which tasks.
Therefore, it must always be traceable:
This distinction is not a side issue. It is a fundamental condition for trust, fair pricing, and shared learning capacity.
A central principle for collection hubs at TEIKEI is transparent price formation.
It must be clearly stated:
This also means:
Transparency in price formation is not an additional ideal value but a binding prerequisite for collaboration.
If a collection hub receives a share of the price structure, it must be clearly described which services are actually provided in return.
These may include, among others:
It is not sufficient to speak only generally of "organization," "handling," or "infrastructure." The services must be specifically named.
A collection hub works in service of a vibrant supply relationship and not as a shielding entity between the network and the farms.
Therefore:
A good collection hub structure strengthens the direct, transparent, and responsible relationship among all participants.
A key learning from past conflicts is: Logistics and infrastructure must not be built in such a way that the network becomes factually dependent on individual external structures without this being openly named and collectively supported.
Therefore, it must be visible:
TEIKEI aims for infrastructures that are sustainable without falling into hidden dependencies.
A collection hub bears responsibility for ensuring that problems are not concealed but identified early.
This includes:
The collection hub is not only part of the goods flow but also part of the learning flow within the network.
TEIKEI needs functional and economically sustainable collection hubs. At the same time, economic viability must not become the sole benchmark.
Therefore:
A good collection hub structure combines efficiency with fairness and overview.
Collection hubs work in close coordination with Support & Coordination.
This involves in particular:
Support & Coordination does not assume the operational work of the collection hub but supports clarity and connectivity within the overall process.
This charter can be read, discussed internally by collection hubs, and supported upon agreement.
It serves as a common foundation for collaboration and further development. It is not intended as a rigid set of rules but as a binding framework against which concrete practice must be measured.
The goal is to design collection hubs in the TEIKEI network in such a way that they:
This way, the collection hub becomes a responsible part of an infrastructure that is not based on opacity, dependency, or shifts in power but on clarity, fairness, and shared sustainability.
By signing this charter, the undersigned person confirms that this charter has been read, understood, and will be supported in practical implementation.
The signature expresses the willingness to act in the TEIKEI network in accordance with the principles, responsibilities, and forms of collaboration described here and to further develop this practice together with the other participants in the network.
This confirmation does not replace any further agreements if these are necessary but documents the shared commitment to this charter as a binding foundation for collaboration.
Name of the Collection Hub:
Name of the Responsible Person:
Role / Function:
Location:
Date:
Signature:
If relevant, additional agreements, role descriptions, or operational arrangements can be documented separately and attached to this charter.
Future adjustments to this charter should be made transparently and—where possible—in dialogue with the affected participants in the network.
One level up: 07 - Charter for Actors in the TEIKEI Network
Author: Felix Schröder, with the help of AI (ChatGPT)
Creation: written by Felix Schröder › formatted in Markdown by ChatGPT › published by Felix Schröder › layout adjusted by Claude
Created: 2026-03-18 · Last updated: 2026-06-09 · Questions or feedback? support@teikei.us