Architecture Sustainable design Sustainable design

World’s largest urban farm will open in Paris in 2020

September 4, 2019

As cities around the world rethink the confluence of urban planning and sustainable food sources, urban farming has emerged as a possible solution. Now,  the world’s largest urban farm is set to open next year in the Parisian neighborhood of Le Marais. The six-storey, 150,000sq ft garden by urban farming company Agripolis aims to grow more than 2,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables a day, using the aeroponic farming technique, which lets plants absorb water and nutrients via mist. The farm will also refrain from using pesticides or soil. “Our fresh produce will be used to feed the inhabitants across the southwest of the city – either directly, through veg box schemes, or via shops, hotels, and canteens – thereby helping reduce food miles and carbon footprint as a result of transportation,” says Pascal Hardy, founder of Agripolis.

The project, which is part of the larger Parisculteurs initiative, will employ 20 gardeners to grow 30 different kinds of edible plant varieties for the community. The umbrella initiative has committed to planting 250 acres of vegetation across the French capital. The urban farm, which will double up as a community space will also feature a rooftop restaurant. It’ll also allow local residents to secure plots of land for gardening. “Our vision is a city in which flat roofs and abandoned surfaces are covered with these new growing systems,” says Hardy.

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