GIVING LAND BACK TO AGRICULTURE

The management of land is evolving, seeking a balance between the urbanisation of areas on the edge of the city and retaining the agricultural function of these areas. Restoring agricultural vitality here is a worthwhile challenge. Some holdings are no longer being farmed, often because of poor soil quality or problems with water management.

In this context, ECT is involved in agricultural rehabilitation of land, based on the upcycling of inert soil from the working sites of the construction & public works sector.
There are various ways to return land to agriculture, including made-ground for agricultural uses. Farmers in the Île-de-France region who are partners of ECT have found that cereal yields on these areas of made-ground have returned to the regional average within a few years. Other projects have made it possible to restore woodland (walnuts, fuelwood) and orchards.

ECT also has a growing business in terms of fertile substrate. This involves recycling inert soil with compost from green waste to produce an agricultural growing medium.
In partnership with the Humanité & Biodiversité association, ECT is working on a methodology for agricultural developments so as to promote biodiversity.

See the video "Giving Inert Soil back to Agriculture"

Examples from ECT's land-use developments:

Annet-sur-Marne (77)

Grisy-Suisnes (77)

Louvres (95)

Roissy-en-Brie (77)

Villeneuve-sous-Dammartin (77)

• See above for photos of the site at Villeneuve-sous-Dammartin (77) where, as the works progress, land is gradually being returned to agriculture, and where schoolchildren regularly come for educational and fun visits.