The Context
Agri-city is an french online magazine dedicated to sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture, created by Claire Nioncel, a trained agricultural engineer and journalist. The magazine has published its first article (since) at the end of 2019. It is aimed at "all stakeholders, planners, architects, urban planners, CSR managers of companies involved in the development of this agriculture, which creates links and gives meaning".
Agri-city is an ideal information media for all professionals in the sector, or for people wishing to start a (peri-)urban agriculture project.
The project
The subjects covered by the magazine are varied, ranging from the social and health field, architecture and construction, to new legislation or cultural techniques.
In the "News" section, the reader will find the latest relevant information on urban agriculture (latest regulations, technological advances, upcoming events, etc.). The "Wide Angle" tab provides information on related topics (biodiversity, energy, waste & recycling, etc.). "Agriculture and the city" presents the different forms that initiatives take (urban micro-farms, rooftop agriculture, etc.).
The site also publishes training courses. MOOCs (such as "Building and Biodiversity") accessible to all are presented, as well as training courses lasting several months offered by schools such as the EFEA (“Ecole de formation par l'expérience en agriculture”) which is aimed at project leaders in urban agriculture.
The objective of the media is to share the different experiences in urban agriculture, to allow new farmers to learn from previous projects. The magazine reports on the diversity of existing initiatives in urban agriculture, and all the potential it offers in terms of urban development.
Claire Nioncel recalls the importance for urban farmers to draw on the know-how and experience of traditional farmers. In an interview, she specifies that they form a "tandem" and that urban farmers cannot do without rural farmers.
The means :
The magazine obtained the joint commission (online press agency) and an emergence grant from the Ministry of Culture. One part of the site is accessible to all, but another is reserved for subscribers. Thus, the economic model is already based on subscriptions and the objective is to work on partnerships to ensure the durability of the media and to develop.
Claire Nioncel, the creator, is for the moment the only journalist working on the magazine, and collaborates with external freelancers. She regularly calls on twelve experts from the urban agriculture sector: researchers, town planners, geographers, landscape designers, retired CTIFL (Interprofessional Technical Centre for Fruit and Vegetables), a technical institute. These experts support it in terms of content and help it in monitoring and collecting information. She also works with students (Science Po, Purpan engineering school and journalism students).
The little extra
Do you want to become an urban farmer? The magazine publishes calls for tenders and calls for projects regularly!
This initiative sheet was written by Emma Plouchard and translated by Charlène Laroche LFC volunteer - October 2020.
Last modification : 05 Feb 2021.
Agri-City
Agri-city is an french online magazine dedicated to sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture, created by Claire Nioncel, a trained agricultural engineer and journalist. The magazine has published its first article (since) at the end of 2019. It is aimed at "all stakeholders, planners, architects, urban planners, CSR managers of companies involved in the development of this agriculture, which creates links and gives meaning".