FOODMET, the new food hall at the Abattoir site will become a showcase for commercial urban agriculture: in 2016, on the 4000m2 roof an Aquaponic Greenhouse Farm System will be constructed, the FIRST one of this scale in Europe. BIG SCRL and Abattoir SA signed a concession agreement to go forward with this plan. BIG will be the tenant of the roof space and will operate the Farm System including productive gardens. The economic model is based on aquaponic technology, an integrated combination of fish farming (AQUAculture) and fruit & vegetable, juvenile plants, mini tubers and microgreens production (hydroPONIC) along with more traditional vegetables in the gardens. An exclusive restaurant and guest garden terrace at roof level is also included.
As the initial first part of the master plan, the Abattoir site will, in the coming years, provide further space for urban agriculture developments. In addition to the operating the slaughterhouse and the management of the markets, Abattoir SA has chosen a distinctive leader role in supporting sustainable food production.
LIGHTHOUSE FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE
BIG (Building Integrated Greenhouse) scrl, a Belgian company created by Lateral Thinking Factory Development, integrates the partnership of ECF, Germany (with its 2 operating aquaponic similar size farms in Berlin and Bad Ragaz) and TZervice, CH (food and agricultural innovation experts).
BIG SCRL was selected by Abattoir to develop and operate the FOODMET rooftop urban farm. The exceptional site of Abattoir in Anderlecht was favored by BIG for its unique situation ontop of one of the largest fresh markets in Europe and in support of the redevelopment of the canal area of Brussels, Capital of Europe.
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