Néofarm

NeoFarm, founded in 2018 by Alexia Rey and Olivier Le Blainvaux, is developing a network of technological micro-farms designed to produce organic vegetables locally and sustainably. The company's model integrates agroecology with automation to address challenges of food sovereignty, environmental impact, and the demanding nature of farm labor. The business was born from a desire to create an efficient, ecological, and profitable agricultural model.

Co-founder Alexia Rey, a graduate of Sciences Po, brought her experience from tech startups to the agricultural sector, becoming the company's CEO. Olivier Le Blainvaux, a graduate of École Polytechnique with a background at McKinsey & Company, co-founded the startup studio Technofounders before starting NeoFarm, where he focuses on marketing and investor relations.

NeoFarm's business model centers on designing and operating turnkey technological micro-farms, typically 1 to 4 hectares, located on the outskirts of cities. These farms are established in partnership with local entities such as municipalities, agricultural cooperatives, and other businesses. Revenue is generated by acting as the designer of the complete micro-farm system and then as the operator for its partners. This model facilitates short-circuit distribution, supplying fresh, organic produce directly to the local community.

The core of NeoFarm's product is a comprehensive solution that combines bio-intensive market gardening with proprietary technology. This includes both open-field areas and greenhouses equipped with an automated gantry. This robotic system handles strenuous and time-consuming tasks like soil preparation, seeding, and weeding. By automating these processes within a controlled greenhouse environment, NeoFarm can achieve up to eight crop cycles per year, a significant increase from conventional methods, while improving working conditions for farmers. The technology is complemented by a farm management application that assists with operational tracking and decision-making.

The company began its R&D at a 1,000 m² pilot site in the Yvelines region of France, where it has spent years developing its technology and agronomic methods. Building on its successful pilot, which produces 120 tons of vegetables annually, NeoFarm is expanding significantly. A new 25-hectare site is scheduled to open in the second half of 2025, which is projected to produce up to 1,300 tons of organic vegetables each year. Keywords: agroecology, agtech, micro-farms, sustainable agriculture, organic farming, local food systems, food sovereignty, farm automation, bio-intensive gardening, market gardening, controlled environment agriculture, robotics in agriculture, urban periphery farming, short-circuit distribution, sustainable food production, vegetable farming, greenhouse automation, soil regeneration, turnkey farm solutions, local production