Aquacaux x Symbi0se Roundtable Discussion - Hangar Zéro

Aquaponics: A Different Approach to Farming, from Prototype to the Farm of the Future

Aquaponics is often presented as an innovative technology. But how does an aquaponic farm actually work? What are its advantages, limitations, and prospects for development?

Drawing on their respective experiences, Paul Leroy (Aquacaux) and Arnaud Pigeon (Symbi0se) will share their insights from the field: how an aquaponics system works, fish and plant production, economic viability, technical challenges, and the role of this approach in the food transition.

The discussion will also cover the latest developments in the Symbi0se project, from an urban farm set up at Hangar Zéro to the development of a future farm in Normandy, designed as a hub for production, education, and agricultural innovation.

Arnaud Pigeon

Arnaud Pigeon is the founder of Symbi0se, an aquaponic farm located at Hangar Zéro in Le Havre. After gaining initial experience in logistics, he decided to devote himself to a form of agriculture that is more local, more resource-efficient, and more resilient.

For the past four years, he has been developing an urban farm that produces microgreens, trout, and processed foods, while hosting educational tours and raising public awareness about sustainable food issues.

He is currently working on a new project: Symbi0se Normandie, a large-scale aquaponic farm that combines agricultural production, aquaculture, education, the circular economy, and the promotion of local products.

Symbi0se Website

Aquacaux

Founded in 1998, the Aquacaux association is a work integration workshop based just north of Le Havre. Located on the site of a former NATO base by the sea, its activities have always focused on the coastal and marine environment. As such, beach maintenance through the manual collection of large debris and the management of natural areas are two of the activities carried out by the ACI. Brush clearing, tree pruning, and eco-grazing operations all serve as training opportunities for employees and are carried out both on the association’s own managed site and in partnership with the Seine-Maritime department in Sensitive Natural Areas, as well as through services provided to local governments. Combined with naturalist expertise—primarily in botany—this enables the association to evaluate the actions it has implemented, adjust them as needed, and make the most of the data and experience gained. Finally, this natural area management component is complemented by a diverse range of environmental education programs on various topics related to understanding and preserving the coastline and the marine environment.

Instagram Aquacaux