Urban farming: Montpellier Métropole is committed!

From creating vegetable gardens on rooftops to planting herbs and salad at the doorstep of businesses and growing strawberries in connected containers, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole wants farming initiatives to flourish in cities, “so people can eat well, while reconnecting city dwellers with their food and its producers.” This includes crops based on both traditional methods and hi-tech approaches, such as that taken by Champignons d’Occitanie, a company that produces pleurote mushrooms on coffee grinds in a basement in downtown Montpellier.

To help farmers get organized, with producers based at properties or buildings owned by Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, local authorities recently signed a charter agreement written by the French Professional Urban Farming Association (AFAUP). The charter clarifies good practices with respect to water and waste management, biodiversity, food security, and the circular economy. It will also help establish strong ties among urban farming professionals, notably landscapers, architects, and developers. For example, these experts can audit projects and help make sure they are feasible. They could also help write detailed project specifications and requirements.