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La Pousseraie in Nice is one of the winners of the 4S Semeur d’Innovation 2024

Key Points

La Pousseraie is one of the 4 regional winners of the Crédit Mutuel’s “4S Semeur d’innovation” competition, selected by the Crédit Mutuel Méditerranéen.
The project uses aquaponics to grow microgreens in the heart of Nice.
The competition attracted around a hundred projects, highlighting La Pousseraie for its innovation and sustainability.

La Pousseraie, located in the heart of Nice, stood out by becoming one of the winners of the regional edition of the Crédit Mutuel Méditerranéen’s “4S Semeur d’innovation” competition.

This recognition of La Pousseraie testifies to its significant impact in the environmental innovation sector.

This national competition, organized by the Crédit Mutuel Méditerranéen at the regional level, showcased projects focused on the environment, solidarity, culture, and territory. Among nearly a hundred applications received, La Pousseraie distinguished itself with its innovative vertical farm using aquaponics to produce microgreens.

La Pousseraie revolutionizes food with aquaponics

Cultivated without pesticides or chemicals, the microgreens benefit from the aquaponic growing method, which nourishes the plants with nutrients provided by goldfish, enhancing the flavor of the shoots.

Founded by three engineers in 2020, La Pousseraie cultivates more than twelve plant varieties using an innovative indoor ecosystem that combines plant cultivation and fish farming. Fish waste enriches the water with nutrients, promoting plant growth. This method allows for continuous production throughout the year, following 100% natural practices.

La Pousseraie supplies a hundred restaurants with aquaponic microgreens. Each week, between 100 and 150 restaurants are supplied with microgreens, with over 15,000 boxes sold through short supply chains. This enthusiasm for aquaponic microgreens supports restaurants on the Côte d’Azur by offering fresh and local products. It also contributes to carbon footprint reduction through local production and short supply chains.

The three co-founders, Juliette Willier, Blanche Duncombe, and Damien Willier, have successfully created a vertical farm in the heart of Nice, proving that agricultural innovation can also go hand in hand with sustainability and economic success.

Semeurs d’Innovation Forum

On June 27 in Lyon, all 64 national winners gathered for the Semeurs d’Innovation Forum. This event allowed the winners to exchange experiences and present their positive impact ideas. The themes of environment, solidarity, territories, and culture were highlighted.