Amidst the urban setting of duplexes, triplexes and friendly neighbourhood shops that make up the Plateau area of Montreal, AquaEntrepeneur alumni Daniel Feinglos and Philippe Reaud from Agriculture du Coin have just unveiled a milestone years in the making.
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The aquaponic farm, which uses water efficient methods to grow fresh produce, acts as a unique centre of experimentation and education at the very centre of this dense urban landscape.
In addition to their flagship storefront, the farm has been the shared mission driving their team over the past three years with the aim of strengthening urban agricultural resilience at a completely new scale.
Redefining Urban Food Systems
Before opening the farm, founder and president Daniel Feinglos built Agriculture du Coin around three main pillars: education, production, and consumption.
Education:
Their boutique at 235 Avenue Laurier Ouest in the Mile End opened in December 2023, with the goal of providing Montrealers with the tools and knowledge to grow and create food sustainably. They offer workshops, cheese and kombucha making kits, and a curated library of over 500 books on food autonomy and urban agriculture for all ages. The space aims to inspire everyday action and spark curiosity among local residents.
Production:
The farm, located within the fabric of urban life, uses sustainable, water efficient aquaponic methods to grow fresh herbs, edible flowers, microgreens, and salads. By recycling water in a closed loop system and combining plant growth with fish farming, the aquaponic farm significantly cuts down on water waste. It is the definition of how new ideas can help tackle the challenges facing one of our most valuable resources: freshwater.
Consumption:
The farm sits at the center of a living ecosystem of collaborators. The restaurant right next door will transform the farm’s harvested products into seasonal dishes, while a retail shop and housing units nearby complete a fully integrated community vision for resilience in an urban setting.
At the inauguration on November 10, this vision was already on full display. At Chez Greenberg, a restaurant that prioritizes local ingredients, customers sampled some of the farm’s earliest harvests.
It’s worth mentioning that the restaurant sits mere inches from the newly inaugurated farm, ensuring the freshest possible ingredients!
Water Efficient Agriculture for an Ever-Changing World
Agriculture du coin offers a clear plan for the future as global agriculture faces challenges from water shortages and climate change. Their aquaponic method produces fresh, nutritious food year- round while using much less water than traditional farming.
This method is both sustainable and innovative, showcasing how cities like Montreal can play a vital role in ensuring their own food security and lessen their reliance on unstable supply chains, public health issues, and climate impact.
Through water efficient food production methods, the farm is a cornerstone of freshwater innovation in agriculture - connecting environmental responsibility with daily consumption. They’re showing how water stewardship can be woven directly into the urban experience.
AquaEntrepreneur: Cultivating Innovation
The team at Agriculture du Coin recognizes that their journey to this point didn’t happen alone. The coaching they received through AquaEntrepreneur played an important role in shaping their approach.
“Books and research are indispensable, but learning directly from experienced coaches, startup mentors, and fellow entrepreneurs offered something different: insight grounded in lived experience.”, says Philippe Reaud, director of operations at Agriculture du Coin. The program connected Philippe and team with business leaders at various stages who could speak openly about their own challenges and successes in the start up world.
More importantly, it created a group of people who were dedicated to preserving freshwater.
Looking Ahead: Growing Resilience in the City
With their new aquaponic farm now open, Agriculture du Coin is set to scale both their impact and message. While the opening is an expansion of their own production capacity, it’s also a demonstration of what urban agriculture can achieve when innovation, sustainability, and community are all connected.
Agriculture du Coin’s story shows what can happen when passion meets purpose, and how programs like AquaEntrepreneur can turn bold ideas into tangible change right here in the heart of Montreal.
