ANGERS A SECTOR OF EXCELLENCE + AN EXCEPTIONAL HERITAGE + + + & + PLANTS + + + to plants be connected +
léonard de serres / ville d’angers/ PHOTO DU CHATEAU d’angers ANGERS, CAPITAL OF PLANTS!
It is with pleasure and pride that we offer you this panorama of the organizations and projects that make up the excellence of the Angevin plant sector, in terms of economic and territorial development. The roots of the plant sector in Angers are ancient and deeply rooted in the history of our territory. The national rankings attest to the quality of this unique heritage and the actions taken in favour of its preservation.
As the first beneficiaries of this exceptional living environment, the inhabitants are its
best ambassadors; but, of course, the Angevin plant sector is also and above all else +
the strength of a world-renowned sector, with the presence of key players and key
moments that cannot be ignored. This ecosystem, which is conducive to innovation, +
enables in particular Angers to accelerate its ambitious ecological transition process, with environment, energy, food, economy etc., the challenges of tomorrow’s world, + being already at the heart of our concerns. + Eco-neighbourhoods, urban renewal, soft mobility etc., are examples of how Angers is developing in a balanced way to best welcome companies, students and residents who, for their future, choose this quality of life.
Christophe BÉCHU Yves GIDOIN President of ANGERS LOIRE METROPOLE President of ALDEV
+ SUMMARY
HERE IS ANGERS ...... p. 5 + KEY FACTS & FIGURES ...... p. 6 THE ROOTS OF THE ANGEVIN PLANT SECTOR ...... p. 8
+ SECTOR OF EXCELLENCE, A UNIQUE CONCENTRATION OF PLAYERS IN EUROPE ...... p. 9 + Angers, THE reference territory...... p. 9 Training, Research, Innovation...... p. 10 Companies, Production, Jobs ...... p. 15 Focus on the Angers Loire Métropole territory ...... p. 17
AN EXCEPTIONAL HERITAGE, TOP OF THE NATIONAL LIST OF GREEN CITIES AND FOR QUALITY OF LIFE ...... p. 19 Integrating nature into the urban environment ...... p. 19 Raising awareness among inhabitants and tourists...... p. 22
USEFUL LINKS...... p. 27
Production: aldev | 3rd edition: april 2021 Composition : Nosoda | Printed by: Angers Loire Métropole - Ville d’Angers PHOTOS CREDITS |p.1-2-3 : Léonard de Serres-Ville d’Angers | p.4 : ST-V, Delphine Perrin-Ville d’Angers, Patrice Campion- Ville d’Angers, Léonard De Serres-Ville d’Angers | p.6 : ihc2018.org DR | p.7 : Jean-Luc Gaignard | p.8 : Thierry Bonnet-Ville d’Angers | p.8 : 360images-Ville d’Angers | p.9-11 : Marc Chevallier-SIVAL2020 | p.12-14 : objectifvegetal.univ-angers.fr DR | p.15 : fermedesaintemarthe.com DR | p. 17 : AURA | p.18 : ALDEV | p.19 : observatoirevillesvertes.fr DR | p.20 : Icoptair-Ville d’Angers | p. 21 : Lydia Foucher-Direction Parcs Jardins Paysages-Ville d’Angers | p. 22 : Fabien Tijou-Ville d’Angers | p.23 : Christophe Martin- Ville d’Angers | p. 24 : Clément Quentin-Ville d’Angers | p.25 : Corine Amigouët-Maison de l’environnement -Ville d’Angers, Jérémy Fiori-Ville d’Angers | p.26 : Thierry Bonnet- Ville d’Angers, Groupe ZUR-DR | p.28 : Thierry Bonnet-Ville d’Angers
2 3 édito EASILY ACCESSIBLE… HERE IS ANGERS
COMING TO ANGERS: AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE AREA + + By car: Nantes and Le Mans 1 hour, Rennes 1 hour 40 / motorway junction / Beaches 1 hour 30 + Direct high-speed train (TGV): Paris 1 hour 30 / Charles-de-Gaulle airport 2 hours 20 / Nantes 35 min / direct trains for Lille, Brussels, Lyon… + + By plane: business and seasonal flights from Angers Loire Airport INVESTING IN ANGERS: AN ATTRACTIVE AREA
+ + Strategic sectors: plants / digital & electronics industry / health & ATTRACTIVE… silver economy / tourism… + + International influence: Végépolys Valley – international plant cluster / international oriented companies + Emerging business quarters: cours Saint-Laud, quai Saint-Serge
STUDYING IN ANGERS: AN AMBITIOUS AREA
+ 43 000 students, including 10 % from abroad: 4 university campuses / CHARMING… several higher education establishments + Valuable and diverse training offers: n°1 best French city (L’Étudiant, 2019-2020), in particular regarding centres of excellence + + Student’s quality of life: n°1 best French city to live and study in + (Le Figaro Étudiant, 2020) VISITING ANGERS: A WELCOMING AREA
+ + Plant & wine tourism: Terra Botanica / visits and sightseeing + tours / winery visits / Loire valley wine Routes / “Vignobles et découvertes” label AMBITIOUS… + Historic and natural heritage: Châteaux / Val de Loire (UNESCO World Heritage) / “City of art and history” label / exceptional natural spaces + Arts & Culture: performances / modern music / opera / cinemas / festivals / museums / libraries … + + LIVING IN ANGERS: A CHARMING AREA
+ Urban area of 420 000 inhabitants: 48 % of Angevins aged under 30 + + Lifestyle: 2nd place best city in France to live in (L’Express, 2020) / top of the list of green cities (Observatoire des villes vertes, 2014-2017-2020) + A constantly changing city: urban developments for an even + higher quality of life WELCOMING…
5 KEY FACTS & FIGURES Excellence in the field of plants dates back many centuries! Even today Angers is still the place where students and professionals come to keep on developing this cutting edge industry.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE
+ Végépolys Valley, international plant cluster: more than 500 members and 750 innovative projects since 2005 + Plante&Cité, national technical centre for parks and landscaping: 600 members, 30 studies and experimental programmes per year + Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO):the European Union agency dedicated to the management of the EU plant variety rights system Hydrangea hybridisation + World-class international trade fair for plant production (SIVAL): more than 30 editions, 700 exhibitors and 26 000 visitors in 2020 + 31st international horticultural congress in 2022: 3 500 professionals from around the world are expected to attend, with the theme being “Horticulture for a world in TRAINING AND RESEARCH DEDICATED TO PLANTS transition” st + Leading European area for the production and sale of hydrangeas: 6 million plants + 1 training centre in France dedicated to the plant sector (100 training every year, 80 % of which are for export courses); including 3 000 students in 50 higher education courses (post “Baccalauréat”) + Seed production places Maine-et-Loire among world leaders, ornamental st horticulture and nurseries in 1st position nationally, arboriculture in 3rd position + 1 national horticultural research centre with 450 experts involved in nationally, viticulture with its “Protected Designation of Origin” is world-renowned plant technology: researchers, university lecturer-researchers, engineers and technicians In 2022, Angers will host the international + The Campus du Végétal, a geographic and partnership-based dynamic horticultural congress sector + 8 400 m² of laboratories and offices at the Maison de la Recherche
“GREENEST CITY IN FRANCE” (2014, 2017, 2020) & “GOLDEN FLOWER” TROPHY (2016)
+ 100 m² of green space per inhabitant (national raverage: 51 m²) + 100 % of inhabitants are located within less than 500 m from a park, garden, or square
SHARING AND APPRECIATING PLANTS
+ Terra Botanica, 1st European theme park dedicated to plants, more than 500 000 plants and 5 000 species + The Gaston-Allard Arboretum preserves 350 000 samples in the great herbarium retracing the evolution of French flora
6 7 THE ROOTS OF THE ANGEVIN PLANT SECTOR SECTOR OF EXCELLENCE No other city in France has the same historic, cultural and economic identity! A UNIQUE CONCENTRATION OF PLAYERS IN EUROPE Angers is remarkable due to its abundance of plants and great diversity: from In the Angers region, the networking between players in the plant sector the traditional to the innovative, from the urban to the natural. is remarkable. It fosters encounters, innovation, cooperation, visibility and dynamism.
AT THE SOURCE OF THIS ANGEVIN ECOSYSTEM DEDICATED TO PLANTS: A GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL ANCHORAGE ANGERS, THE REFERENCE TERRITORY
+ The right geography: a temperate oceanic climate and VÉGÉPOLYS VALLEY, PLANTE&CITÉ: presence of good quality water and soil have generated a very WORLDWIDE ORIENTED NATIONAL NETWORKS
broad range of plant life Two structures located at the crossroads of research, training, experimentation, knowledge transfer and innovation + Iconic personalities punctuate the history of Angers: th • 13 century: the gardeners of the castles were already + Végépolys Valley, international plant cluster practising plant breeding • Gives life to innovations that will make the green world of tomorrow, • 15th century: King René introduced certain plants in Anjou through more competitive and better quality farming, which is respectful • 19th century: The peddler-florists of Oisans settled as to the environment and to human health. horticulturalists in Anjou; Gaston Allard created the King René, a plant lover • Created in 2019 through the merger of Végépolys and Céréales Vallée– Arboretum; André Leroy opened the biggest nursery in Nutravita. A global ambition, with a national dimension and local Europe presence ; head office based in Angers. • Early 1960s: Edgard Pisani, minister of Agriculture, launched the development of • More than 500 members and more than 750 innovative projects labelled. the Authion valley (to the east of Angers) into a French “Little Holland”. + Plante&Cité, national technical centre for parkland and landscaping + A dedicated ecosystem has been organized since the 1970’s: higher education and • Innovates for sustainable development, acquires new references, shares research, business events and networks, tourism… knowledge. • More than 600 members throughout France (local authorities, Loire Valley landscape “CULTIVATED” PLANTS, “NATURAL” PLANTS: companies, design offices, research and training players). A GREAT DIVERSITY IN URBAN LANDSCAPES • Presidency by the Mayor of Angers. + “Cultivated plant” landscapes are dedicated to production and the living environment. Plant sector professionals There is a difference between: meet in Angers! • Horticulture* that strongly characterises the Anjou region • Field crops (“grandes cultures” in French)
+ “Natural plant” landscapes include exceptional natural areas such as: Basses Vallées Angevines, Basses Brosses, Ardoisières, gardens and landscapes along the Loire…
* High added-value plant production: seeds & plants, market gardening & fruit tree growing, ornamental horticulture, wine growing & cider growing, aromatic & medicinal plants.Significant needs in terms of labour, investments. 8 9 EUROPEAN AND NATIONAL-SCALE ORGANISATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS: ROOTED IN ANGERS
+ Creation of new plant varieties, seeds and young plants • Community plant variety office (CPVO) the European Union agency (only 4 decentralised agencies in France); this one is dedicated to the management of the EU plant variety rights system • Variety and seed study and control group (GEVES) official organisation, unique in France; has expertise on new plant varieties and analyses the quality of seeds; official analysis laboratory: the National Seed Testing Station (SNES) • French national office for plant breeders’ rights (INOV) delivers plant variety For over 30 years, the SIVAL serves tomorrow’s production certificates and other official documents • Permanent technical committee for plant breeding (CTPS) advisory committee PROFESSIONAL TRADE FAIRS AND ENCOUNTERS: for the registration of each new plant variety in France in the Official Journal AN UNMISSABLE DESTINATION
• French inter-professional group on seeds and plants (SEMAE, ex-GNIS) regional office for western France + The SIVAL - World-class international trade fair for plant production • French national federation of seed growers (FNAMS) technical centre and regional • Showcase for materials and services for horticulture production, station of Pays de Loire Bretagne exchange and information platform, but also: international business convention (VIBE), innovation and start-up competitions, conferences, + Research company tours, European prospective event “Fruit 2050”,... • French national research institute for agriculture, food and environment (INRAE), • A business and innovation meeting point, unique in France and with the Angers site focused on the sustainable management of plant health international oriented (55 nationalities), with 700 exhibitors and 26 000 visitors in 2020 + Agricultural technical institutes, specialized by sectors + 7 professional wine trade fairs • Pays de la Loire Horticultural Experiment Agency (AREXHOR) regional office of the French technical institute of horticulture (ASTREDHOR) • Early February in Angers : Salon des Vins de Loire, Levée de la Loire, Salon Demeter, Salon St-Jean, Les Pénitentes, Les Anonymes (and la Dive Bouteille in Saumur) • Val de Loire-Centre division of the French institute for vine and wine (IFV): 2 sites in Angers and Montreuil-Bellay • These 6 professional trade fairs in Angers bring together 13 000 buyers, including 1 000 from abroad, and more than 900 exhibitors • French research institute for perfume, medicinal and aromatic plants (ITEPMAI) national headquarters based near Angers, in Chemillé-en-Anjou + The Salon du Végétal, dynamism and innovation of the ornamental plant sector • Organic agriculture technical institute (ITAB) regional branch • Gathers sector professionals: production, distribution, landscaping + Ecology, Plant health • Based on expertise from the Bureau horticole régional • French ecological transition agency (ADEME) national head office in Angers + Angers is also the site of numerous professional events based around plants: • Plant health laboratory (LSV - ANSES) Laboratory of the French agency for food, • Every 2 years: Les Rencontres du Végétal, Les Rendez-vous de l’agriculture connectée environmental and occupational health and safety (ANSES) • 2019: “Greensys – Advanced technologies and management for innovative Polleniz regional branch of the FREDON national network dedicated to the • greenhouses” international symposium, 1st international chenin blanc Congress, protection of plant health and plant products international asparagus Days, #ESAfoodtech… • 2020 & 2021 (digital): national INRAE Symposium “Innovation for resilient NB: The Bureau horticole régional (BHR) is a consultancy facility created by ornamental horticulturist in Pays de agricultural, food and forest models“, international French-speaking Meeting on la Loire in order to assist them from creation to transmission, on technical and economic themes. leguminous plants… The Institut national de l’origine et la qualité (INAO), present via its Val de Loire delegation, is responsible • In 2022, Angers will host the international horticulture Congress, for the official identification signs for agricultural and agri-food products. having been chosen over several world-class candidates, including Beijing
10 11 THE CAMPUS DU VÉGÉTAL: A TWO-FOLD DYNAMIC TRAINING, RESEARCH, INNOVATION + Geographic: at the heart of the Belle-Beille campus, a unique grouping of players in TRAINING OFFER DEDICATED TO PLANTS: 1ST FRENCH HUB the plant sector (higher education and research establishments, centres of expertise and transfer, competitiveness cluster, innovative companies, etc.). + In Anjou, anyone can follow a comprehensive course based on plants and its various areas of expertise. The range of qualifications on offer (entry + Partnership-based: a desire to pool resources, encourage collaboration and level or lifelong education, on a work-study basis or fulltime) goes from interdisciplinary approaches. certificates up to PhD. Links between training centres allow anyone to adapt their training course to their needs.
+ Around 20 training centres specialised in plants can be identified (most of which are historically rooted). They alone account for more than 100 training courses; of which half are in higher education i.e. around 50 higher education courses (after “Baccalauréat”) involving around Major stakeholders of the Campus du Végétal 3 000 students.
HIGHER EDUCATION 1ST HORTICULTURE RESEARCH CENTRE (”VÉGÉTAL SPÉCIALISÉ”) IN FRANCE: ACADEMIC EXPERTISE DEDICATED TO SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES
PLANT EXPERTISE COMPLEMENTARY EXPERTISE 450 researchers, university lecturer-researchers, engineers and technicians are involved • University of Angers : Faculty of Science • College of International Agro-Development in research and innovation in the field of plants in Angers. They are divided into and Institute of Technology (ISTOM) since 2018 9 research laboratories which pool their expertise and resources within the QuaSav • L’Institut Agro - Agrocampus Ouest Angers • Université Catholique de l’Ouest (UCO) : Faculty Federative Research Structure: Quality and Plant Health (SFR QUASAV). • Ecole Supérieure d’Agricultures (ESA) of Science (environmental protection) Research teams are involved in a variety of national and international research programs.
FEDERATIVE RESEARCH STRUCTURE OTHER TRAINING CENTRES SPECIALISED OR STRONGLY “QUALITY AND PLANT HEALTH” (SFR QUASAV) INVOLVED IN PLANTS non-exhaustive list 3 RESEARCH TOPICS POOLING OF RESOURCES • Public agricultural training centres: 2 colleges, 3 professional training centres • Sustainable management of plant health • 3 technical facilities • Maisons Familiales Rurales (MFR): 6 sites in Maine-et-Loire Cellular imaging, Genomics, • Centre National de Promotion Horticole (CNPH-Piverdière) • Seed biology, quality and health Collection of microorganisms • Campus de Pouillé • Horticultural plant product qualities • 3 platforms Phenotyping service, Sensory analysis, Phytochemicals analysis Rich and varied training offer dedicated to plants
+ Local expertise includes: genetics, pathology, biochemistry, phytochemistry, imaging, physiology, massive data management, artificial intelligence, life cycle analysis, quality of horticultural substrates, cropping systems, product quality and perception. + Various study models: roses and other ornamental species, pome fruit species, carrots, leguminous plants, seeds, phytopathogenic agents, insect pests. + Complementary expertise within the other laboratories based in Angers: economics, management, mathematics, computer science, history on questions related to the theme of plants.
12 13 SYNERGIES TRAINING - RESEARCH – INNOVATION COMPANIES, PRODUCTION, JOBS + The “Objectif Végétal” programme, since 2014, has brought together local authorities (Pays de la Loire Region and Angers Loire Métropole) and players in Research- HORTICULTURAL COMPANIES (”VÉGÉTAL SPÉCIALISÉ”): A WIDE RANGE OF OCCUPATIONS Training-Innovation: University of Angers, Institut Agro - Agrocampus Ouest, ESA, University of Nantes, INRAE, and Végépolys Valley. The whole value chain is concerned: + An investment of more than 8 million euros which has already produced the following results: UPSTREAM PRODUCTION DOWNSTREAM SIGNIFICANT RESULTS (SELECTION) health development & field crops, food, quality of nutrition, selection, plant & soil horticulture (seeds & plants, market well-being & cosmetics, • 3 “joint laboratories” with SMEs • 18 invention disclosures health, machinery & gardening & fruit tree growing, ornamental agro-materials, • 13 industrial theses (particularly in the form • 17 patent applications equipment, digital & horticulture, wine growing & cider growing, urban planting & of the Industrial Agreement of Training • Welcoming new researchers agtech aromatic & medicinal plants) livingenvironment through Research (CIFRE)) • 100 % of training courses available on a • 3 winning projects from the Priority work-study basis SUPPORT consultancy, services, communication Research Programme “Cultivate and Protect • Development and consolidation Differently” (National Research Agency) • of strategic international partnerships • 1 winner at the i-Lab innovation contest (BPI France) HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN MAINE-ET-LOIRE: A LEADING POSITION + The consolidation of these collective actions will continue up to 2025, in particular: Horticultural production is strongly characterised by the agricultural economy and • To implement a Graduate Programme in the field of plants. contributes to the reputation of the Anjou region. • To strengthen the leadership of the hub based in Angers in plant protection Although animal production dominates in Anjou, plant production is a key marker research and on alternative control methods to pesticides. in Maine-et-Loire: • To carry on collaborations with companies in the plant sector and the consolidation • seeds place Maine-et-Loire among world leaders, of the service offer related to technological developments. • ornamental horticulture and nurseries are ranked number 1 in the country with a broad range of products DEDICATED EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE • arboriculture at number 3 in the country,
• vine growing is world renowned with its designations. + The Maison du Végétal has welcomed since 2014 Végépolys Valley (international plant cluster) and Plante&Cité (national technical centre on parkland and • Maine-et-Loire dedicates 10 % of its organic agricultural soil to horticulture. landscaping). Exceptional know-how Employment in horticultural production + The Maison de la Recherche has provided since 2015 no less than 8 400 m² of + laboratories and office space, and catalyses exchanges between different research companies: a strong need for permanent and laboratories. It also houses the R&D centre of Végépolys Valley. seasonal technical labour • Horticulture requires a significant amount Cutting-edge research of labour: as there are tasks that cannot be mechanised, and also in order to meet production’s seasonal peaks (1 full-time equivalent = about 3 jobs, the needs also vary depending on the production volumes). • A seasonal job charter has been implemented locally. It defines good practices to be shared between seasonal employees, employers, and other territorial professionals.
(source: Chamber of Agriculture Pays de la Loire – 2018 Data)
15 PROMOTING THE PLANT SECTOR AND ITS JOBS: SEVERAL INITIATIVES FOCUS ON THE ANGERS LOIRE MÉTROPOLE TERRITORY + Promoting the diversity of training and jobs: A challenge for the future of the sector ASSESSMENT OF EMPLOYMENT LINKED TO THE PLANT SECTOR* Work on awareness and information is carried out to school children and the general public in various forms: exhibitions, job olympiads, company tours during the “Made + It is estimated that there are between 4 500 and 5 000 full-time equivalent (FTE) in Angers” event for example, or other events such as “ExpoFlo” by L’institut Agro - jobs in Angers Loire Métropole, including: Agrocampus Ouest… • jobs from all the companies and farms linked to the plant sector (which means The scientifc, technical and industrial culture centre “Terre des Sciences” and its between 3 700 and 4 000 paid jobs and self-employed activities), partners contribute moreover to the development of educational resources: • and jobs linked to the various institutions of the plant sector located in Angers, • L’école du Végétal® is designed to help secondary school pupils including higher education and research institutions or professional organisations. discover jobs and training courses in the plant world, in an interactive way. COMPANIES & FARMS * • The website votreavenirvegetal.fr presents career options in the plant sector in the Pays de la Loire region. It is complemented + Nearly 700 companies and farms linked to the plant sector are identified in the by a travelling exhibition called “The functioning of an economic Angers Loire Métropole territory ; about 40 of them have more than 20 employees sector – the plant sector example” and is available upon request from Terre des Sciences. This exhibition presents written and video • Numerous companies such as SME’s, but also some cooperative associations and testimonies from employees and students at different stages of national/international groups: Vilmorin Mikado, Graines Voltz, HM Clause… the value chain. • Start-ups incubated in the wider Angers area benefit from this whole fertile ecosystem to grow: Green impulse, Aptimiz, HortiTrace, Vegetal water, Vanilla + Promoting the local plant sector: bridge, Tersèn… Examples of business gatherings * (source: Aura, 2019) • Association Pôle Végétal Loire Maine: an “agricultural protected area” dedicated to horticulture in the outskirts of Angers Created in 2015, this association is there to bring together the whole range of horticultural production companies in the horticultural and market gardening area of Sainte-Gemmes-sur- Loire / Les Ponts-de-Cé. This perimeter is now registered as an “agricultural protected area”. • Hortensia d’Angers - Val de Loire ®: a brand highlighting the 1st European pool for production and sale of hydrangeas Production companies are grouped together with the association Hydrangea Worldwide. 6 million young plants are produced each year (80 % of which are for export). 25 % of European production comes from within a radius of 30 km around Angers. • Produit en Anjou ®: a brand to promote the added value of the territory Many members of this brand belong to the plant sector: fruit, flowers, landscaping.
(Map, Source: Aura - Diane 2019)
16 17 SUPPORT FROM ANGERS LOIRE MÉTROPOLE, ALDEV AND MIN VAL DE LOIRE UNIQUE HERITAGE In accordance with their skills, Angers Loire Métropole and its economic development FIRST POSITION IN THE NATIONAL LIST OF GREEN agency ALDEV actively contribute to supporting the sector: CITIES AND FOR QUALITY OF LIFE + Financial support for organisations and project structuring and excellence of the economic sector including higher education and research, innovation, multisector dynamics (ex: health & The reputation of Angers, including its incomparable quality of life, is based, urban green living environment, agtech…). among other things, on its relationship to plants. The municipal teams work together so that plantlife can contribute to maintaining a high-quality + Support for economic development of stakeholders: living environment, and so that nature increasingly enters the city. establishment, entrepreneurship, employment, occupational integration, networking… • The “Agricultural project 2017-2021” is implemented by Angers INTEGRATING NATURE INTO Loire Métropole along with the Pays de la Loire Chamber of Agriculture. It deals with for example the “Territorial Food THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT Project” or urban agriculture projects. THE LANDSCAPE HERITAGE OF ANGERS AND ITS MANAGEMENT: • The «Fleming business incubator» has a privileged location within the “Campus du Végétal” in the Belle-Beille area. There RECOGNITION OF ITS EXCEPTIONAL CHARACTER you can find companies such as Green Impulse, Vegetal Grow The Observatoire des Villes Vertes classifed Angers as “the Greenest City in France” Development… 3 years in a row (2014, 2017, 2020) thanks to: • Business development projects are also supported: Bioplants + Its natural areas: an exemplary density France, Agrauxine... • Public landscaped areas represent more than 14% of the total surface area of the city of Angers, which represents + The Val de Loire national wholesale market is a 13-hectare food 100 m² of natural areas per inhabitant (i.e. double the and logistics ecosystem managed by the SOMINVAL. Cold storage national average of 51 m²). services are offered to stakeholders of the plant sector: seed companies, horticulturists, nurseries, arboriculturists, market • The city also won “4 Flowers” in the Concours des Villes gardeners… et Villages Fleuris (Towns and Cities in Bloom) and won the “2016 Golden Flower”, the highest distinction in this national competition. Note: Since 2018, the Chamber of Agriculture Pays de la Loire, is composed of 20 territorial offices, including the “Angers Confluences“ territorial office which correlates + Its investment: Creation of new landscaped areas and with the Angers Loire Métropole territory. The Chamber is both a representative improvement of existing natural spaces: structure and a development tool dedicated to the whole profession. Angers spends € 98 per inhabitant per year on this, i.e. 5 % Bioplants France is building a new site in Les Ponts-de-Cé of the municipal budget, which is an investment well above combining technology and sustainable development. the national average (€ 76).
+ Its concern for biodiversity and “zero pesticides” maintenance • 100 % of the City’s public spaces are treated without any pesticides. • 6 of the agglomeration’s parks are labelled as “EcoJardin” (recognition of ecological management).
+ Its promotion and dynamism around plants: example of intelligent watering This voluntarist recognized policy is constantly renewed. For example, within the framework of the “Smart City” project, the installation of 50,000 sensors is planned, part of which will help to reduce watering of natural areas by 30 %.
18 19 + The “Plants in the Heart of the City” project: integrating nature into public spaces • Plants wind their way through the centre of Angers like a green path. Various objectives are being pursued: enhancement, tourism, assertion of Angers unique plant-based identity, contribution to biodiversity in the city. • Achievements: ”Promenade du Bout-du-Monde” facing the Castle (2016), Avenue and square Jeanne d’Arc (2018), ”Parvis de la Mairie” to ”Place du ralliement” section (2019-2020).
+ The call for urban innovative projects ”Imagine Angers” : future construction projects connected to plants • In 2018 the 6 winning projects of this challenge were revealed. They will soon appear in several strategic sites of the city. • The projects are linked to plants in various ways: urban agriculture (urban farms, shared gardens), ambitious architectural projects in terms of landscape (some of them with vegetated facades, or a Mediterranean greenhouse). Two construction sites have been underway since the summer of 2020 and most of them will be completed between 2022 and 2024.
+ Plants as a medium for professional integration • The City of Angers and Angers Loire Métropole include social integration clauses The Esplanade Cœur de Maine, in all their public tenders, several urban renewal operations contain “plant and perfect for a break with family or friends green spaces” projects.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT: CONSERVATION AND RECOGNITION OF LANDSCAPE HERITAGE NB: Participatory budget: a strong interest in plants Every year since 2018, the City of Angers has devoted 1 million euros of its investment budget to projects proposed and then chosen by the inhabitants themselves. Many projects deal with nature in the city, as Angers is one of the first cities in France to have integrated an urban nature policy into shown by these examples (not exhaustive): planting fruit trees with self-service harvesting, creation of water municipal projects. butts, flowering meadows to protect pollinating insects, urban gardener huts, participatory urban forests using the Miyawaki method, floating gardens on the Maine River, etc. + The “Angers Cœur de Maine” project: enhancing the city-centre and reconnecting with the river. Planting fruit trees with self-service harvesting in each neighbourhood of the city In a territory of more than 200 ha, three strategic sites have been revealed since 2018, including the following landscaping: • Centre-ville Maine: “Promenade Jean-Turc” (green pathway), “Esplanade Cœur de Maine” (3 000m² of green area along the river), “Mail de la Poissonnerie”. • Voie des berges transformed into an urban avenue with a landscaped central reservation. • Quai Saint-Serge: a landscaped park of more than 5 ha, of which nearly 4 ha are vegetalized; more than 500 trees have been planted.
+ The 2019-2025 roadmap dedicated to the landscapes of Angers (City of Angers) • An ambitious “nature in the City” roadmap organised around 5 major themes: Signature scenery of the city, Landscape design and sustainable management, Tree-lined heritage, Awareness/federation of stakeholders, Roadmap promotion and assessment. 10 million euros will be devoted to this 6-year-policy. • Among these actions, reference may be made to the creation of greenways that will bring by 2025 a potential of 150 000 seedlings, including an urban forest on the Plateau du Grésillé. 20 21 FOOD AND GASTRONOMY: VEGETABLES NOW BEING SERVED RAISING AWARENESS OF INHABITANTS AND TOURISTS + Local products: the Val de Loire wholesale market (MIN) and local food systems • Inhabitants indirectly benefit from the MIN activity which is located on 2 sites, URBAN AGRICULTURE AND GARDENING: FOR ALL AGES close to Angers city-centre and in Vivy (near Saumur). This food wholesale market is restricted only to trade and catering professionals to buy fresh products. In terms + Gardens as educational tools of the fruit and vegetable sector: 68 % of the vegetables sold on the wholesale In Angers, school time, extracurricular activities and after school clubs are all special market come from the Pays de la Loire region; and 48 % of deliveries concern times for developing activities focusing on plants and environment: garden visits the city-centre or the outskirts of Angers. The MIN contributes to promoting the and designs, gardening practices, building insect hotels, observing nature, cooking diversity of Anjou’s productions: Jerusalem artichokes, broad beans, parsnips… workshops, etc. • Consumers in Angers also support local food systems: AMAP network (a consumer network to assist small local farmers), organic and farmers’markets, drive-thru + Urban agriculture, a garden for all the “resident-gardeners” farmers’market… Without forgetting the operation launched during lockdown in Various possibilities are offered by the City: March 2020 “Angers, Adopt your market gardener”, which was then honoured at the national level with a “Territoria d’or”. • Family gardens: Individual food-growing gardens which account for around 1 000 plots spread over 10 sites. 2/3 of these plots belong to the City, which support 8 associations of family gardens, including a professional integration association. NB: A Territorial Food Programme (PAT) is being developed within the Angers Loire Métropole’s perimeter. • Shared gardens: Areas open to the public which are run by an association for It aims to “develop and promote healthy and local diet by all and for all” in close collaboration with food food production. The plot is shared, without fencing, and people can come in to stakeholders. This Programme is part of the “Ecological Transition” approach of the territory. pick produce. In this category of gardens, we also find the “Gardens at the foot of buildings” whose aim goes beyond growing food crops, or even “cultivated tubs” for groups of inhabitants or shopkeepers who request them. “Food’Angers”: Promoting gastronomy • Mini-gardens: These successful very small gardens have been set up, on the + Angers Gastronomy request of residents, in public areas (at the bottom of walls, or of trees). These and Loire valley wines gardens are cared for by individuals • Throughout the year, a whole • “Blooming Angers” competition: It rewards people who have taken part in community of players work to promote decorating Angers with plants. the diversity of flavours and local know- how, as well as share what’s happening NB: Urban agriculture & urban renewal The “Cultivate our land” project submitted in 2020 by Angers Loire especially on social networks. Métropole was selected in the framework of the national call for projects “Quartiers fertiles”. This call aims to accelerate the development of urban agriculture in neighbourhoods undergoing urban renewal. • Plants can be appreciated through wines, the great liqueur manufacturers NB: : The association M. A. U. V. E. (movement for a living and ethical urban agriculture) aims to promote urban agriculture in Anjou and to raise public awareness on this subject through various events and activities of Anjou (Cointreau, Giffard, Combier), (for example: the urban agriculture festival “Les 48h de l’agriculture urbaine”). It brings together multiple and even through local plant products urban agriculture actors in Anjou (companies, associations, institutions, training institutions). (fruit and vegetables, but also edible Gardens at the foot of high-rise buildings flowers, quinoa, spirulina...). • Food’Angers’s highlight occurs with a public event, echoing professional Wine trade fairs that are organized during the same period in Angers.
NB: The association “Vineyard in the City of Angers” works in order to promote a vineyard located in the heart of the city, at the foot of the Saint-Nicolas Abbey. Among the goals pursued by these wine lovers: produce high gastronomic value wine, without forgetting social, cultural and environmental dimensions.
22 23 + Maison de l’Environnement and its organic garden • Since its creation in 1990, la Maison de l’environnement has raised awareness about ecological transition among the general public. With its many partners, it offers 150 events for the general public per year and an educational programme approved by the French National Education system. Located within Lac de Maine, and classed as an environmentally sensitive area, the Maison de l’environnement takes action throughout the city of Angers, which can also be found on social networks. • The Organic garden was created in 2000 and covers a total of 4 000m2. The aim of the garden is to prove that it is possible to produce fruit and vegetables without Terra Botanica – Extraordinary gardens using synthetic fertilisers or pesticides, thus enabling greater biodiversity while still The organic garden, Ecocert labelled maintaining an aesthetic garden.. and LPO refuge (League for the SITES AND EVENTS: A UNIQUE OFFER TO DISCOVER PLANT LIFE Protection of Birds)
Jardins d’Expression, highlighting plants in an Numerous players and projects contribute to promoting, sharing and appreciating educational way plant life. • Launched by Angers Loire Métropole and the City of Angers, this competition Terra Botanica, 1st theme park in Europe dedicated to plants + encourages creativity and knowhow among participants. • The park takes you on a journey around the world of plants, all while showcasing • The gardens are created within the Parc de Pignerolle in Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou. the richness of the economic fabric of Anjou, from heritage to innovation. The winning garden in the student category is then exhibited the following year in • Within the space “Plants for Tomorrow”, Végépolys Valley presents innovation in the city-centre. the plant sector illustrated by examples of new products created by its members. • It is also an opportunity to discover gardens created by children. • In 2019, Terra Botanica welcomed more than 334 000 visitors, becoming a growing success particularly with families. The park also offers a business centre that hosts Summer tasting evening in the setting of the Jardins professional events throughout the year. d’Expression winning garden
+ “Terre des Sciences”, scientific, technical and industrial culture centre Soirée estivale de dégustation dans l’écrin du As part of its actions for the general public, schoolchildren and students, Terre des jardin lauréat de Jardins d’Expression Sciences is there to help people to discover the plant sector, with the support of its local partners, organising: exhibitions, lab and company open days, conferences, managing and creating events, supporting school gardens (vocations are born early), loaning of resources, training and project engineering.
+ Natural History Museum • The museum curates, studies and holds exhibitions concerning its numerous • collections: almost 10 000 pieces and documents, including 2 500 birds, 20 000 shells and 50 000 fossils. The herbarium at the Gaston Allard Arboretum explores the development of French flora (350 000 samples). • So that each citizen can be involved in activities to discover their natural heritage, the museum runs participative science programmes and collaborative workshops.
24 25 + Without forgetting… • Key parks in the département: “Camifolia“ USEFUL LINKS – GLOSSARY in Chemillé-en-Anjou, “Oriental Park“ in Agrocampus Ouest (L’institut Agro) www.agrocampus-ouest.fr Maulévrier, “Chemins de la Rose“ in Doué-la- Angers Loire Développement ALDEV www.angers-developpement.com Fontaine, “Jardins du Puygirault“ in Saumur Angers Loire Métropole www.angersloiremetropole.fr • Other parks and gardens managed by the Angers Technopole www.angerstechnopole.com local authorities or private landowners; Bureau horticole régional des Pays de la Loire BHR www.bhr-vegetal.com www.campus-pouille.com some guided tours are possible Campus de Pouillé Centre national de promotion horticole - Piverdière CNPH www.cnph-piverdiere.fr • Castles: Gardens of the Castle of Angers, Chambre d’agriculture Pays de la Loire www.pays-de-la-loire.chambres-agriculture.fr vegetable garden of Château Colbert College of international agro-development ISTOM www.istom.fr (Maulévrier) Community plant variety office CPVO www.cpvo.europa.eu Destination Angers (business & leisure tourism) www.destination-angers.com • Discovering businesses: Liqueur manufacturers (Carré Cointreau, Espace Ecole supérieure d’agricultures ESA www.groupe-esa.com www.eap49.educagri.fr Giffard, Maison Combier), wine-tourism Etablissements agricoles publics Le Fresne & E. Pisani Federative research structure on plant quality and health SFR QUASAV www.sfrquasav-angers.org sites and events, company visits (including Food’Angers www.foodangers.fr “Made in Angers” in February) French agency for ecological transition ADEME www.ademe.fr • Development of green routes in the heart French agency for food, environmental and occupational health & safety ANSES www.anses.fr • Plant health laboratory LSV of certified landscapes “UNESCO“, “Natura French association for employment and training in agriculture ANEFA www.anefa.org 2000 “, “Vignoble AOC“: Loire by bike, La Vélo French institute of origin and quality INAO www.inao.gouv.fr Francette, Green loops… French inter-professional group on seeds and plants SEMAE (ex-GNIS) www.gnis.fr • Interpretation trails in Angers, Savennières, French research institute for agriculture, food and environment INRAE www.inrae.fr Béhuard, Bouchemaine, Villevêque, Briollay, French technical institute of horticulture ASTREDHOR www.astredhor.fr Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire, Écouflant, • Regional horticultural experiment station AREXHOR Trélazé… French technical institute for vine and wine IFV www.vignevin.com French national federation of seed growers FNAMS www.fnams.fr • Events: “Les Printemps de Terra” & “la Fête de Hydrangea world wide HW² Facebook @hydrangeaworldwidehw2 l’Automne” (Terra Botanica), “ExpoFlo”, Events International horticultural congress 2022 IHC www.ihc2022.org in gardens during national campaigns like Loire valley wine trade fair www.salondesvinsdeloire.com “Let’s meet in the gardens”, “The nature Maisons familiales rurales des Pays de la Loire MFR www.mfr-paysdelaloire.org Jardin des plantes (Angers) festival”, “European heritage days”… Objectif Végétal Programme www.objectifvegetal.univ-angers.fr • Arts, creativity & plants: Creation of Plante&Cité www.plante-et-cite.fr temporary gardens on place du Polleniz www.polleniz.fr www.produitenanjou.fr Ralliement, Works of art like: “Silva Produit en Anjou Terra Botanica www.terrabotanica.fr adamas – The tree and men” (sculpture www.salonduvegetal.com by Lélia Demoisy), “Angers Railway Salon du Végétal SIVAL www.sival-angers.com Station Garden” (artistic installation SIVAL World-class trade fair for plant production by Alexis Tricoire), kiosk “Le Fenouil” Terre des Sciences www.terre-des-sciences.fr in Angers University Hospital (by Université catholique de l’ouest UCO www.uco.fr Matali Crasset), “Jard’In” collective and University of Angers UA www.univ-angers.fr www.min-angers-49.fr experimental project (by Groupe ZUR), Val de Loire national wholesale market SOMINVAL Variety and seed study and control group GEVES www.geves.fr 2020 installation “Sylva” at the collégiale • National seed testing station SNES Saint-Martin (by Lucie Lom)... Un « Jard’in ZUR » poétique, • Permanent technical committee for plant breeding CTPS collaboratif et expérimental • French national office for plant breeders’ rights INOV Végépolys Valley www.vegepolys-valley.eu Du roi René à Végépolys - Les plantes naissent et fleurissent en Anjou Ville d’Angers www.angers.fr by Jean-Luc Gaignard, Co-édition Terre des Sciences - Terra Botanica – Végépolys, Votre avenir végétal www.votreavenirvegetal.fr FURTHER 180 p, 2016 INFORMATION: Les Parcs & Jardins de l’Anjou au fil de l’histoire 2 PUBLICATIONS by Isabelle Levêque, Département de Maine-et-Loire - Edition Lieux-Dits, 252 p, 2016 / 2nd Prix du European Gardenbook Award (meilleur livre européen de jardin) 26 27 + + + + + PLAYERS OF TOMORROW’S PLANT SECTOR MEET IN ANGERS!
+ An Angers speciality for centuries, influence beyond borders + Exceptional concentration of players from the whole sector: training, research, companies + Precious knowhow: abilities to innovate in response to the plant challenges of today and tomorrow + Territory of discoveries and exchanges around plants: for professionals, students, inhabitants and tourists + Remarkable landscape heritage: Top Greenest City in France, Val de Loire listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site
3rd edition: April 2021 On-line brochure: www.angers-developpement.com/angersandplants French version: www.angers-developpement.com/angersetlevegetal
Aldev is the economic development agency of Angers Loire Métropole. Aldev is the gateway for entrepreneurs, businesses, municipaties and economic players for their development or installation projects, as well as the point of contact for questions regarding integration, employment, recruitment, innovation, research or higher education.
122, rue du Château-d’Orgemont - CS 10406 - 49104 Angers cedex 02 02 52 57 01 00 - [email protected] - www.angers-developpement.com 28