Paris Will Soon Be Home to the World’s Largest Rooftop Urban Farm

In an Olmstedian effort to bring city dwellers back to nature and to produce a sustainable, local assortment of fruits and vegetables, urban farming company Agripolis is bringing what will be the world’s largest rooftop urban farm to Paris. Situated along the périphérique in the city’s 15th arrondissement, the 150,000-square-foot sprawling green space will sit atop the Exhibition Center at Porte de Versailles when the space opens in 2020. Designed by local French firm Valode & Pistre (who were also responsible for the recent transformation of Gare du Nord), the urban farm is a part of the decade-long renovation project to make the exhibition center a model for sustainable development as the rest of the city follows suit.

“Today, large metropolitan areas are the focal point of a number of ecological issues,” says Clément Lebellé, cofounder of Cultures en Ville, a partner in the project that specializes in urban agricultural development. “These issues include the loss of natural ground cover, pollution, and rainwater management but also societal issues such as the lack of connection between urban dwellers and their food supply.” Together, Agripolis and Cultures en Ville aim for the farm to reconnect Parisian residents with local agriculture and healthier diets. With 140 farm plots available to rent, the fruit, vegetables, and herbs grown on site (of which there will be some 30 different varieties) will be available to the expected 10,000 visitors per year. There will also be a bar and restaurant at the exhibition hall, Le Perchoir, which will integrate the fresh produce into their dishes.

Become a Member

Get the essentials to grow a sustainable business at our member-only event.

The produce will be grown entirely organically in an aeroponic manner, meaning they'll be arranged vertically above ground in crop columns and fed by a rain of water and biological nutrients. Agripolis and Cultures en Ville hope that the farm will establish itself as a model for the rest of the world. “By installing working farms on the sites we operate, we are helping to foster environmental and economic resilience,” says Agripolis founder Pascal Harder, noting this is the organization’s core principle.

The concept of the urban farm has been slowly gaining momentum worldwide. Mike Hollis, urban farms director at nonprofit Services for the Underserved, says that though it’s important to provide communities with local sources and give them a direct connection to their food, what’s often ignored is the less tangible benefit that arrives for people when urban farms emerge. “There’s very much a need for the natural connection to outdoor communities, such as parks,” says Hollis. “Having an urban farm nearby gives people a reconnection to the natural world, which is therapeutic and healing; it gives people a sense of place.” When the farm opens next year, it will offer a mix of tours, educational workshops and team building, plot rentals for the local community, and additional events. Agripolis will operate the farm, while Cultures en Ville will handle services and events.