Le Figaro Nice
A natural area of 10,000 hectares located west of Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), the Var plain is an area of the future.
It is in this space, which forms the link between the metropolis and the Mercantour national park, that Christian Estrosi intends to bring his city of the future out of the ground thanks to the project of the Nice Ecovallée Public Agricultural Establishment (EPA).
An operation of national interest (OIN) that the mayor of the Riviera capital and president of the metropolis undertook fifteen years ago, while he was still Minister of Regional Planning, in 2007. A form of urban sprawl , an extension of the city, when the hypercenter is less and less accessible, due to lack of available housing and excessively high prices.
This is also where Christian Estrosi says he wants to
“pursue and develop”
actions in favor of agriculture and land users.
Although the Alpes-Maritimes department certainly does not have the most agricultural fiber in France, initiatives are multiplying to change the situation, in favor of the development of food sovereignty in particular.
This is also one of the key ambitions of Maralpin prefect Hugues Moutouh.
“
Here, agricultural policies are important but are less of a political and media priority.
However, I consider that the Var plain is a fairly exceptional heritage
,” he told Le
Figaro
at the end of last year.
Read alsoNice: in the Var plain, the prefect wants to “preserve agricultural land” in the face of land pressure
Two plots for rent
The State representative then warned of the significant land pressure exerted on the land of the Var plain due to urban planning projects carried out by the metropolis.
“
It is important to set the return of agriculture as a desirable and essential objective”,
he insisted following an eco-responsible logic and the promotion of short circuits (in a department where food self-sufficiency does not exceed 1% .)
Equipped with an intervention fund of 18 million euros over six years and as part of its “Territorial Food Project”, the Nice metropolis acquires agricultural land over the years which it leases to new farmers, while fully developing them (premises, water, sanitation, electricity).
In the heart of the Var plain, in the Lingostière district, it acquired two plots representing an area of 8,600 square meters and developed 3,000 square meters of greenhouses.
In a press release on Wednesday, it announced that it was launching a call for applications for the installation of a new professional farmer,
“for organic market gardening in the open field and in greenhouses, within the framework of a rural lease of 9 years, renewable.”
Plots which are surrounded by agricultural, market gardening, horticultural and citrus farms.
Candidates have until April 8 to contact the metropolitan services.
The winner is expected to be chosen by the end of June.
Will this green initiative be enough to silence the skeptical, those who doubt the real “eco” foundation of the Var Plain metropolitan project?
Nothing is less sure.