L'Occitane-Backed Group To Open Europe's Largest Aquaponic Farm in 2022
The AMP Saumon de France Project is Backed by The Financial Muscle of Fragrance Products Company L'Occitane.
16 January 2020
By John Evans
France's Aquaponic Management Project Group (AMP) said it expects to open Europe's largest Aquaponic farm in 2022.
Around €12 million ($13.4 million) is being plowed into the project, which is at the study stage with work beginning.
AMP unveiled the venture in conjunction with agricultural cooperative Scael last year.
The site is expected to annually produce 1,000 metric tons of trout.
The Olis Les Jardins du Saumonier Chartres, southwest of Paris, is backed by funding from investment bank Alantra.
The project is led by Aquaculture Operations Director and Designer Olivier Soulas who joined last August from Building Integrated GreenHouses (BIGH), which bills itself a developer of sustainable aquaponics urban farms operating under the principles of the circular economy.
AMP, led by businessman Pascal Goumain, operates France's largest sea-based farm with an annual 3,000 metric tons salmon and trout producing capacity off the coast of Cherbourg in the north of the country.
It operates six salmon farms in Normandy capable of producing 1,200 metric tons annually.
The company also operates two aquaponic urban farms under the brand name Les Jardins du Saumonier in Cherbourg and Asnieres sur Seine.
AMP Saumon de France is backed by the financial muscle of the international body, face, and fragrance products company L'Occitane, which has some 1,500 stores in 90 countries.
Lead photo: L'Occitane, French body, face, and perfume products giant. Photo: Flickr / @MichelCuri