diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 1a3ec8e..cd395f5 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ include env.local
 N_CORES = 5
 # insert kres files into database in chunks, for fewer connections
 KRES_CHUNK_SIZE = 30
+
+# Backend parameters found in conf file (see make backend)
 export
 
 .PHONY: python-env fill-database
@@ -107,3 +109,8 @@ backend-dev:
 	cd ./src/backend_flask; python3 app.py \
 		--config-file ./conf_files/dev_conf.yaml \
 		--dbuser $(DB_USR_USER) --dbpass $(DB_USR_PASS) --dbaddr $(DBADDR)
+
+backend-prod:
+	cd ./src/backend_flask; python3 app.py \
+		--config-file ./conf_files/prod_conf.yaml \
+		--dbuser $(DB_USR_USER) --dbpass $(DB_USR_PASS) --dbaddr $(DBADDR)
diff --git a/dockerfiles/python-env/Makefile b/dockerfiles/python-env/Makefile
index 339cc75..e9b30d4 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/python-env/Makefile
+++ b/dockerfiles/python-env/Makefile
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ run:
 	- docker rm $(CNNAME)
 	docker run \
     -it \
+	-v $(HOME):$(HOME) \
     -v $(MAKE_ROOT):/project \
 	-w /project \
 	--net host \
diff --git a/src/backend_flask/conf_files/prod_conf.yaml b/src/backend_flask/conf_files/prod_conf.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c5aaa24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/backend_flask/conf_files/prod_conf.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+debug: True
+port: 8084
+host: 0.0.0.0
+logfile: "/var/log/valency_backend.log"
+---