At Porte de la Chapelle in Paris, an underground parking lot on a council estate building has been converted into a farm. Shiitake and other fungi are developing in the depths of the capital. There are thousands of square meters underground where endives and mushrooms are grown, with a production reaching one ton per day. The farm currently employs 15 people, to which are added a dozen indirect jobs on the same premises, all specialized in agribusiness.
Named La Caverne, the parking lot is the property of social housing landlord ICF La Sablière, who awarded it as part of a call for projects from the city, the Parisculteurs. The La Cavern system is a boon for local employment. It can accommodate different companies with a common goal: produce sustainably and cleanly. Several entities have already settled there such as Wesh Gros, a company specialized in the culture of micro-shoots. Even a dairy producer is expected soon.
"Even if we sometimes target a similar customer base, we rather play the unity card. With all our verticalized productions, our catalog can be large enough for a restaurant or a market. Unity is strength, "says Laurent Couraudon, founder of Wesh Gros.
Source: The OBS