Intro
Agricooltur® brings out-of-soil agriculture to large retail aisles: basil and Salanova® lettuce, grown at zero distance, arrive alive and fresh at Carrefour Hypermarket and Market stores in Milan and Turin.
need
Carrefour wanted to offer customers a unique experience: truly fresh, local, and sustainable products, capable of lasting longer outside the refrigerator without resorting to heavy packaging or artificial preservation processes.
solution
Aeroponic cultivation near stores: greenhouses installed in Milan City Life and Carignano (TO) to supply stores in Milan and Turin respectively.
- Living products: basil and Salanova® are sold still with roots, ready to root again at home with a little water—a valid alternative to ready-to-eat products
- Reduction of refrigeration and transportation: local cultivation eliminates the need for cold chain and minimizes transportation pollution
- 100% compostable packaging that keeps the product alive until consumption, in line with the project’s eco-sustainable philosophy.
results
The presence of Agricooltur® products on Carrefour shelves has received very positive feedback in terms of:
- Perceived quality: visibly fresh, living, untreated vegetables;
- Sustainability: reduction of waste and harmful packaging;
- Innovation: a unique offering that differentiates the store’s selection;
- Customer experience: greater consumer trust in locally and responsibly grown products.
A concrete step toward more conscious large-scale distribution that values customer and environmental well-being.
other projects
In Sozzago (NO), an indoor facility transforms a former cold storage room into a sustainable production hub
In 2024, PUM RUS installed an indoor facility producing over 24,000 units per year, transforming a former cold storage room into a production space for live vegetables destined for the restaurant, direct sales, and the HoReCa channel.
Carrefour brings zero-kilometer production to the storefront
From 2023 to 2025, an Hortus module in front of Carrefour Market in Piazzale Siena enabled the cultivation and sale of zero-kilometer products, combining sustainability and retail.
In Genoa, the Michelin star meets innovation: basil and herbs grown in the dining room
A Michelin-starred restaurant in Genoa uses an aeroponic cultivation system in the dining room to produce fresh basil and herbs, enhancing the tradition of Ligurian pesto with “zero-centimeter” ingredients.



