Ferme Abattoir
Brussels Aquaponic Farm
The first BIGH urban farm is the Brussels Aquaponic Farm, built in the heart of Brussels, in the Canal Priority on the roof of the Foodmet (a food market, designed by ORG architects, on the historic site of the Abattoirs in Anderlecht.)
The Abattoirs site is famous for its cellars, its listed hall and its lively market, which attracts over 100,000 people every week over three days. It is home to the last artisanal slaughterhouse in the centre of a European capital. All these food activities have earned the Abattoir site the nickname “the belly of Brussels”.
It took about a year to develop the Brussels Aquaponics Farm: work began in 2017 and the first gardening trials were carried out in 2016, while the greenhouse and fish farm were completed in 2018. The farm was fully operational at the end of 2018.
Technical Synergies
Our fish farm is the only one in Brussels and aims at an annual production of 23 tons of rainbow trout.
We choose rainbow trout because of their compatibility with the system on several levels: they appreciate the pure well water provided by the site, they grow well in our recirculating system and they benefit from a stable temperature (17°C) provided by the building’s heat exchange system. Above all, trout is a fish appreciated by the people of Brussels who look forward to tasting the “Brussels trout”! The water that comes out of the fish farm is naturally rich in nutrients and helps fertilise our hydroponic systems as well as the outdoor garden.
Good fish farming practices
– Because it depends on billions of micro-organisms, our system does not tolerate chemicals or antibiotics.
– The fish are fed with a certified organic feed. All fish meal and oils used in the feed come entirely from fishery by-products, alessening pressure on the fishing industry. The vegetable proteins part of the feed comes from European crops, certified organic, sustainable and GMO-free.
– The water parameters are constantly monitored and the light level and currents meet the standards of the National Agency for Food Hygiene and Safety.
The Outdoor Garden
Fish Farming
Our fish farm is the only one in Brussels and aims at an annual production of 23 tons of rainbow trout.
We choose rainbow trout because of their compatibility with the system on several levels: they appreciate the pure well water provided by the site, they grow well in our recirculating system and they benefit from a stable temperature (17°C) provided by the building’s heat exchange system. Above all, trout is a fish appreciated by the people of Brussels who look forward to tasting the “Brussels trout”! The water that comes out of the fish farm is naturally rich in nutrients and helps fertilise our hydroponic systems as well as the outdoor garden.
Good fish farming practices
– Because it depends on billions of micro-organisms, our system does not tolerate chemicals or antibiotics.
– The fish are fed with a certified organic feed. All fish meal and oils used in the feed come entirely from fishery by-products, alessening pressure on the fishing industry. The vegetable proteins part of the feed comes from European crops, certified organic, sustainable and GMO-free.
– The water parameters are constantly monitored and the light level and currents meet the standards of the National Agency for Food Hygiene and Safety.
Good Practices
– Zero chemicals and antibiotics are tolerated by such system depending on billions of microorganisms
– Fishfood: fish and plant-based pellets, certified sustainable and without GMO.
– Permanent control of water characteristics, light level and flows respond to national hygiene & food security agency standards
– Fish sorting system preventing from taking fish out of water
– Best and unique in Europe slaughtering practice combining stunning and ice ensuring animal welfare and produce quality.
Greenhouse
The greenhouse of the Aquaponics Farm in Brussels produces herbs, tomatoes and other vegetables in three horticultural areas of 2,000 m². The production capacity depends on varieties, sizes and temperature.
The greenhouse is naturally pollinated by bumblebees and biological pest control methods are used to manage possible diseases. We do not use chemicals or pesticides.
BIGH focuses on fragile products, unique varieties and limited volumes sold locally.
The production of vegetables is hydroponic: the plants are rooted in bags of substrate established on suspended gutters. This substrate provides a structure for the roots and is combined with an irrigation system that provides an optimal nutrient solution. Mushrooms are used to increase the microbiological activity within the substrate. Potted herbs are grown on ebb and flow tables with supplementary LED grow lights allowing for year-round production.
Outdoor Garden
The first 700m2 of the outdoor garden has been cultivated since 2016 and but the outdoor garden has a total area of 2000m2 which will be developed in the close future. Probably the largest productive rooftop garden in Europe today, BIGH is also at the forefront of new agricultural techniques on outdoor rooftop substrates to eventually achieve economic viability.