The future is in nature

La Vallée de Ferney; a biodiversity sanctuary, a place steeped in history, a land with a rich agricultural heritage; will soon welcome the first Mauritian Agrihood. Designed from the ground up without compromise, this project pioneers a new way of life.

[Agrihood = Agricultural + Neighbourhood]

Picture yourself strolling through vegetables gardens, orchards and forests on your way home … welcome to the Ferney Agrihood. It is a place that reinvents our relationship with the land and biodiversity surrounding us.

More than just a residential neighbourhood, La Vallée de Ferney Agrihood, is a project grounded in nature. This first carbon neutral development in Mauritius aims to minimise the carbon footprint both; in terms of carbon emissions and impact on its surrounding ecosystems. Designed with high standards, the agrihood is built around 4 key aspects: sustainable construction methods, bioclimatic architecture, renewable energy production and 45-ha reforestation area.

Come and discover this unique real estate project in Mauritius.

Agrihood: Pioneering a new way of life in Mauritius

The profound need to return to nature and the land felt by some Mauritians, is part of a global trend. While cities are becoming denser and excessive consumerism is increasing, the call for a new way of life is becoming louder and louder. The number of neo-ruralists looking for an existence that is both connected to nature and sustainable is increasing. Ecological awareness is gaining ground, and buyers are embracing the opportunity to experience an eco-friendly lifestyle.

The Agrihood is designed to meet these multiple aspirations and contemporary challenges. Its ambition is to leverage on farming, eco-friendly communities, and nature experiences to create a new way of life in Mauritius.

Circular economy within Ferney is the foundation of this model. It will enable the inhabitants to eat ‘from farm to table’ and those who wish to do so to become agri-entrepreneurs. The farm to table movement re-establishes the farmer-consumer relationship, allowing families access to fresh, locally grown products. A community fostered around farming, where the eggplants grown down the street the children cycle by will later find their way into their plates.

Beyond its agricultural scope, the Agrihood way of life, aims for a lifestyle closer to nature built around the beautiful landscape of La Vallée de Ferney. Located between a ridge and a reef, it offers residents an exceptional playground on which urban development will not encroach. Living in the Agrihood means becoming familiar with the endemic ecosystems of the Ferney Conservation Park, walking through the mangroves, and observing the Mauritius Kestrel up close.

Housed in the fully renovated Ferney sugar factory, the Hub will be the heart of Agrihood life. It will be comprised of sustainable retail, F&B offerings sourced from the Agrihood’s own agricultural production and that of neighbouring villages and include rich cultural activities.

This environment, in which everyone will be able to get around by bike or on foot, has everything it takes to create sustainable communities within it.

Ferney: Agricultural roots 

What do Ferney, Voltaire and the oldest café in Mauritius have in common?

The story goes, that one-day Pierre Poivre, who was travelling across Europe, gave his friend Voltaire the coffee he had brought back from Mauritius. Voltaire tasting the foreign beverage, exclaimed: “But what is this brackish water?

In honour of Voltaire and this famous reply, the estate was named, ‘Ferney’ after the birthplace of the philosopher. 

Cultivated by Pierre Poivre centuries ago, the same coffee plants can still be found in the Ferney gardens today and are still preciously harvested every year. Just as it was in Ferney that the island’s first sugar cane was introduced in the early 17^th century. The Agrihood region was the first inhabited area of Mauritius and therefore the first cultivated area.

Today, Ferney aims to become the epicentre of Mauritian agricultural innovation. This paradigm shifting journey started in with the launch of the Agri-Hub in 2020 and continued with the inception of Katapult in 2022. The launch of the Ferney Agrihood, leverage on this expertise by shaping agriculture through innovation with organic farming, permaculture, agroforestry, orchards, aquaponics, spirulina cultivation. All these ideas have their place in the Agrihood.

The objective is to contribute to the emergence of a sustainable agricultural culture in Mauritius, respecting the health of consumers, the balance of the soil and biodiversity, and contributing to the food security of the island.

To sum up

The 4 pillars of the Agrihood project:

– A carbon neutral project.

– A life in the wild, where adventure is at your doorstep.

– A mixed-used development with agriculture at its heart, promoting a ‘farm to table’ food production.

– A vibrant neighbourhood with a dynamic commercial and cultural ecosystem.