The high-flying agriculture

Let's go to La Chapelle, in the north of the capital. Here, on the largest building in the city, is Plantation Paris, a project led by Cultivate, a company that bills itself as a “developer of virtuous ecosystems.” This new urban farm is more ambitious than its 400 French cousins: The flagship of the new Chapelle International eco-district, it is a 7,000 square meter complex that grows vegetables, herbs, and lifestyle, by hosting numerous events, so that Parisians can enjoy a green oasis in the heart of the capital.

In 2018, the city of Paris launched the call for urban agriculture projects to extend the Parisculteurs program, started in 2017. It aims to green the roof of a logistics hotel in the 18th arrondissement, which houses the urban rail terminal at the Gare du Nord in particular. A dozen structures applied for this attractive call for projects, but Cultivate, a company created for the occasion by Sarah Msika, a former innovation consultant, and Sidney Delourme, a business developer in renewable energies, and Sidney Delourme, a business developer in renewable energies, won the jackpot. Sidney Delourme says: “With the municipality, we quickly realized that we had the same social and environmental goals, in addition to having the same inspirations.” The example that both entities had in mind is on the other side of the Atlantic. It is called “Brooklyn Grange” an agricultural complex located on the roofs of the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Long Island and Queens, which developed from 2010.

Two years of development, and a few months of work were necessary for Plantation Paris to open its doors in early 2020. On site, the growing space is divided into two units: the vegetable garden, with an area of 1500 m2, and the large greenhouse, six meters high and kept warm thanks to the data center in the building. Up there, agroecology is the key word. Sidney Delourme explains it “Here, no herbicides or pesticides, we let the soil be fertilized”. No machines or automation either, everything is handmade, thanks to a team of 10 enthusiasts. “We do almost everything ourselves” says Sidney “Cultivation, harvesting and packaging”. After preparation, everything is shipped by Cargo Bike, 20% of the production is sold directly to individuals or in the form of click and collect baskets, the rest being destined to be sent to the kitchens of numerous partner restaurants, from three-star restaurants to neighborhood restaurants.

In France, there are more than 400 urban farms. The concept is now well known to everyone, but Is it relevant to build yet another farm without changing the formula? Not really. Like its model overlooking the Big Apple, Plantation Paris is open to the public. Sidney Delourme explains that he wanted to “Create a soothing place where to come and recharge and exchange, just like in the countryside”. To do this, the chapelaine installation offers an event space called “La Grange”: 250 m2 of reception room, and 1000 m2 of terrace, enough to take up to 400 people surrounded by nature, with a view of the Sacré-Coeur. Up there, the event program is busy. La Grange hosts seminars, workshops or yoga classes, so you can have a good time, but not only...

Beyond its unusual aspect, Plantation Paris is also a space for awareness and learning. Regularly, discovery days are offered to young people. An essential activity according to Sidney Delourme, who recalls that “Many children in the neighborhood have never been on a farm”. By bringing them the countryside around the corner, it is likely that vocations will be created, as has been the case with many city residents, with whom Plantation Paris maintains a particular link. Sidney Delourme says: “We settled at the time of the health crisis. A period that was an opportunity for many people to question their professional lives.” Among those who decide to change their lives, many have embarked on the agricultural adventure, and to learn the trades of the land, some have come for an apprenticeship at Plantation Paris, to develop their knowledge before taking the key to the fields.

For the time being, the La Chapelle site is Cultivate's only project. But given the success of the installation, many cities have joined forces with Sarah Msika and Sidney Delourme to develop similar infrastructures. The co-founder of Cultivate says “think about it, especially in cities further south than Paris.”