Reclaiming an underutilized urban space or a building rooftop to set up a closed-loop ecosystem

Given the extreme dependence of residents in Guadeloupe’s public housing projects on food distribution systems that do not prioritize diversity, sustainable practices, or food quality, the Association Aquaponie Antilles offers residents the opportunity to move toward a form of food self-sufficiency that is sustainable, economical, environmentally friendly, local, and diverse.

The principle is simple: reclaim an unused urban space or a building rooftop to set up a closed-loop ecosystem called aquaponics.solidaire

Residents are supported by the association and trained in technical, logistical, and accounting aspects so they can gradually master their ecosystem and discover the full flavor of their local biodiversity. Services are free or pay-what-you-can.

The project thus brings together residents of all generations in a self-managed cooperative mini-farm, united around a shared, community-driven food production initiative.

The produce from these crops can be used in various ways, from consumption by residents to sale to individuals or local partners. The “growers” democratically decide how the farm operates.

The project also offers greater resilience to participants in the mini-farm in the face of economic, food, or climate-related uncertainties. The simplicity of implementation and the modest cost of the initial investment are also strong assets, revealing development potential in any type of urban setting, whether in overseas territories or in mainland France.

Objectives

· Green urban spaces;

· Enable residents of priority neighborhoods to reclaim a measure of their food sovereignty;

· Rediscover and cultivate local biodiversity;

· Provide training in a new profession using innovative aquaponics production techniques.

In POINTE-À-PITRE, opening of the community garden: Jardin Toi et Moi

Areas of focus

· Share skills and knowledge in various aquaponics techniques with aspiring farmers;

· Organize conferences and workshops for farmers;

· Pool equipment purchases among mini-farms;

· Conduct research on sustainable food systems and aquaculture using locally produced ingredients;

· Develop digital tools to improve online data sharing.

Aquaponics is a water-efficient farming method. The Aquaponie Antilles association in Guadeloupe leads numerous projects, including the “Un jardin Toi et Moi” project

The shared aquaponics system of our Jardin Toi & Moi project is celebrating its first fish harvest of 2023 with two free public workshops introducing participants to aquaponics.