Deforestation highlights a problem: we’re running out of room to grow crops. In addition, to limit transport, we need to produce food close to where it is consumed.
Soilless agriculture is the answer to both these problems. On the one hand, it “creates” an agricultural surface, and on the other, it is particularly compatible with cities, notably by enabling vertical farms. The most interesting growing system for this purpose is called hydroponics: growing with water.
A variant of this system is to combine it with a fish farm: the fish’s excrement feeds the plants. Pure circular economy!
This is where Urban Leaf comes in. The company’s founder, Marie Fiers, agreed to talk to us about her company.
What is Urban Leaf?
UrbanLeaf is a design office specializing in aquaponics, which designs, installs, operates and maintains aquaponic systems. A natural process modelled on the functioning of a pond, aquaponics was already used by the Aztecs several centuries ago. It enables the cultivation of fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers, as well as fish, both edible and non-edible. UrbanLeaf proposes to recreate this autonomous ecosystem, watering and fertilizing plants with the nutrients present in the fish’s water.
Thanks to a microbiological process, the plants act as a natural filter for the water, which is then returned to the aquarium clean.
By setting up these systems, Urbanleaf aims to recreate a social link, get consumers involved and raise awareness of the need to protect the environment.
What environmental issues does Urban Leaf address?
Urbanleaf helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by offering local production solutions that do not emit CO2 when transporting foodstuffs.
Urbanleaf recreates autonomous ecosystems where plants are watered and fertilized with nutrient-enriched fish water, and the fish water is filtered by the plants. This production method promotes biodiversity in the city, produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
Aquaponics produces high yields of fruit, vegetables and fish to feed urban populations, saving 90% water compared with conventional market gardening systems thanks to a recirculating circuit design.
Through aquaponics, vegetation provides numerous ecological services, particularly in cities: air pollution control, reduction of heat islands and enhancement of neglected urban spaces.
What added value do you bring to your customers?
UrbanLeaf is developing several products in different fields of action:
- Well-being and social cohesion. Gardening, in contact with water, fish and plants, is a soothing and relaxing activity. According to scientific studies, contact with plants and fish reduces stress, boosts productivity, improves well-being and reduces oral, dermatological and neuropsychological symptoms. An aquaponics vegetable garden within a company will encourage exchanges within teams, reduce stress and improve efficiency at work.
- Teaching. Learning about aquaponics, what an ecosystem is and the importance of preserving the planet’s natural resources is a must for young and old alike. UrbanLeaf organizes workshops and conferences to make learning fun, and to inform people about simple actions they can take to protect the planet. A mini aquaponics system set up in a classroom or schoolyard is a great way to learn by doing and encourage personal development.
- Production. We work with professionals to design commercial aquaponics systems that combine market gardening and aquaculture in an efficient and innovative way. Whether on the ground or on the roof, a wide range of installations are possible to make the most of surface areas that cannot be exploited by conventional processes.
Have you identified any competitors? If so, what are your competitive advantages?
Aquaponics represents an emerging market where competition is starting to appear.
Founded by Marie Fiers in 2015, Urbanleaf benefits from almost 5 years’ experience in aquaponics and a multidisciplinary team of PhDs and engineers in agronomy, aquaculturist technicians, specialists in their discipline and masters of production techniques.
Most of Urbanleaf’s competitors market a particular type of aquaponics system, or cater for a single target customer base. UrbanLeaf’s advantage lies in its adaptability, in its ability to create different systems according to customer needs. Its competitive edge lies in its ability to respond to any type of request with customized creations. UrbanLeaf is also the designer of Symbiums. The smallest aquaponics system on the market, made in France, highly ergonomic and ideal for installation in small spaces.
What’s stopping you from completely filling your market at the moment?
Urban agriculture, and aquaponics in particular, are still little-known techniques and therefore not very widespread, despite growing demand and their ecological benefits. There’s still a lot of controversy in the agricultural sector about “soil-less” cultivation, despite the fact that these are alternative, modular techniques. Growing interest from local authorities and the launch of national calls for projects are helping to raise awareness of this technique and develop our activities. UrbanLeaf is also a member of AFAUP, the “Association Française de l’Agriculture Urbaine Professionnelle” (French Association of Professional Urban Agriculture), whose aim is to federate urban agriculture professionals and create links between them and local authorities, the general public, the agricultural world and public authorities throughout France. Membership of AFAUP gives UrbanLeaf access to a vast network of urban farmers, a monitoring service for calls for projects, access to pre-negotiated contracts with a panel of suppliers and greater visibility. AFAUP is a real showcase for urban agriculture, enabling UrbanLeaf to increase its visibility.