At FERNEY, a new vision of living is taking shape: one that blends nature, farming, and community into a single, meaningful way of life. The Tropical Agrihood, led by CIEL Properties, reimagines what it means to inhabit the land with intention and respect. It is a living ecosystem rooted in conservation, sustainable agriculture, and human connection. As Marine Dalais, Marketing & Sustainability Manager at CIEL Properties, explains, this pioneering project is guided by the profound sense of place that FERNEY evokes.
This project redefines how people can live in balance with homes, farms, and open spaces coexisting. How did this idea take root, and what inspired its creation at Ferney?
What truly inspired the Tropical Agrihood at FERNEY is the love people have for the site. And I mean everyone; the people working here every day, the communities, the visitors, the shareholders. There’s something about FERNEY that speaks to you.
It’s one of those rare places that sits beautifully between mountain and sea, with a deep-rooted story. I would struggle to explain the feeling; you must go there to understand.
From the beginning, our board of directors and project teams had this intention to create something that truly matters. Not just a development, but something meaningful, that could last.
This started long before I joined CIEL Properties. And funny enough, when I was a young graduate, I was involved in a small proposal that we sent to the FERNEY GM at the time. It included the regeneration of the old factory into a hub for markets, restaurants, as well as a reforestation plan for some parts of the site. I didn’t know then that I would one day come back to help shape a much bigger project for real.
With CIEL Properties’ motto being “pioneering meaningful destinations,” the FERNEY Tropical Agrihood feels like the natural continuation of that promise. It’s a new concept which results of questions such as: “How can we build differently?”, “How can we rethink our relationship with our environment?”.
And what’s been amazing is seeing how everyone who’s touched this project: master planners from Europe, sustainability experts from the US and Reunion, local and international architects, branding experts from the UK, our staff, the development teams; everyone seems to feel the same thing. Once you’ve walked the land, it stays with you.
What makes the Tropical Agrihood distinct from other integrated or sustainable developments?
The Tropical Agrihood stands out, in my opinion, because it brings so many elements together in one place without losing sight of the bigger picture.
First, let’s look at what “Tropical Agrihood” really means. “Tropical” reflects our lush island, with its vibrant nature, rich colours, and authentic culture. And “Agrihood” is a blend of “agriculture” and “neighbourhood,” bringing healthy food, wellness, and community back to the heart of how we live.
It’s a concept built around three core pillars: nature experiences, sustainable farming, and eco-friendly communities. It’s a place you can visit for a few hours, enjoy for a few days, and soon, call home.
We have anchored our sustainability on four key areas:
- 1. Sustainable Design, with 100% bioclimatic architecture, low-carbon infrastructure, natural drainage systems, and networks for walking and cycling
- 2. Biodiversity Conservation, including green corridors from ridge to reef, a reforestation program across 45 hectares, the expansion of our conservation area to 200 hectares, and support for bio-farming
- 3. Smart Utilities, aiming for 95% renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, individual wastewater treatment, local water sourcing, and integrated recycling
- 4. Local and Circular Economy, through regional food sourcing, support for agri-entrepreneurs, and job creation in nearby villages
What makes FERNEY truly different is that we’re not starting from scratch. We’re building on work that is already happening in conservation and sustainable agriculture and finding ways to strengthen and expand it. It’s about continuing a story that is already in motion.
The project rests on three pillars: nature experiences, sustainable farming and eco-friendly living. How will these pillars take shape in practice?
Nature experiences:
FERNEY is a place where you feel nature around you all the time. The conservation area, La Vallée de Ferney, is evolving into a true eco-tourism destination, focused on biodiversity and outdoor adventure. Our Nature Lodge and the farm-to-table restaurant are part of that. They’re expressions of how we want people to experience this land: connected, grounded, and inspired.
Sustainable farming:
At FERNEY, we’re already working with agri-entrepreneurs and farmers who genuinely care about the land. We’re also launching our own small-scale agricultural production to support the FERNEY communities directly. In addition, grass-fed deer are already being raised here.
Eco-friendly communities:
FERNEY is really for people who want something more than just a house. It’s for those looking for a lifestyle that’s closer to nature, slower, more intentional. Whether you’re hiking through forest, cycling through the valley, or simply sitting by the mangroves, the experience is yours to shape. We’re planning low-density developments, designed for a full life cycle, from early childhood to senior living.
Our first residential phase, Farm Living, is already fully sold or booked. It’s been created in close collaboration with local stakeholders, rewriting the rules to allow for a new kind of agro-residential development. The Farm Living project spans 189 arpents and includes 76 freehold plots ranging from 0.8 to 3 arpents, all designed to support self-sufficient farmhouses. It’s a small ecosystem of its own, with people committed to growing, living, and contributing to something meaningful.
This project has been shaped through close collaboration between planners, sustainability experts, and local partners. From a sustainability and community standpoint, how did this process help define the Tropical Agrihood’s long-term vision for Ferney?
It’s an ongoing process. We’re working closely with sustainability experts as we develop our carbon roadmap and carry out our full lifecycle assessment. We’re also implementing digital tools that will help us track our impact and run simulations, allowing us to make better decisions, project by project, in the long run.
From the beginning, we brought in a range of consultants to help us shape the big vision for sustainable farming, for conservation, and for design. That gave us a compass, something to guide us. Then we moved to the details.
Much of the real environmental and social impact comes from the team on the ground, I’m thinking about Alexandre Hervé and his team, Xavier Koenig, Sophie Gordon-Gentil, amongst others, with the support of NGOs like MWF, Nature Yetu, or Drip, as well as regional and national authorities. We have dedicated teams focused on conservation and reforestation. We also have specific support for initiatives like the women of Zardin S.E.L.A. in the community garden, and resources in place to capture and store all the data we’re learning from, along the way.
I also want to acknowledge funders like CEPF, who really helped us scale the operation. These collaborations are not just technical, they reflect CIEL’s values. It’s only by collaborating, locally and internationally, that we can create something truly unique in FERNEY.
The project also carries a strong social mission. How will the Tropical Agrihood engage and create opportunities for the surrounding communities in the South-East region?
We place a strong focus on circular economy, knowledge sharing, and supporting local entrepreneurship. The goal is to create lasting opportunities for the surrounding communities, whether through access to land for sustainable agriculture, affordable rentals, or spaces in “The Hub” to sell crafts and local products. The Hub, currently in development, will become the heart of the village: open, inclusive, and rooted in the region’s identity.
There are also jobs through our eco-tourism and agro-services arms, as well as partnerships with small businesses in the area. Whenever possible, we prioritise hiring from the region. People who know and care about this place bring a unique energy, and the project is stronger for it.
We’re also investing in education and youth. Young athletes from the area use the valley for training, and we run school programmes on sustainable agriculture. And every year, the CIEL FERNEY Trail brings together over 4,000 participants, celebrating the land and reinforcing regional pride.
In many ways, the Tropical Agrihood redefines what it means to “live in harmony with the land.” What do you hope this project will represent for Mauritius and for future generations?
We hope this project helps shift the perception of Mauritius, to show that the island is not just about beaches, but also about valleys, forests, rivers, agriculture, and real, everyday life. There’s so much richness in our landscapes, and they deserve to be seen, experienced, and valued differently.
Our aim is to create a new kind of living environment. One where people feel connected to the land, but also slightly disconnected from the noise, stress, and pollution of city life. A place where you can breathe better, live slower, and feel more grounded. What we are trying to do is approach development with more care, more thought, and more respect for what already exists, both in terms of nature and community.
If the Tropical Agrihood can become a space where people choose to live differently, closer to nature, with a deeper sense of purpose, then I believe it will be something meaningful for generations to come.
We may not have all the answers yet, but we’re trying to ask the right questions. And that, to me, is heading in the right direction.
Finally, what inspires you most about being part of this pioneering and meaningful journey?
Everything. There’s so much passion in what we do here. It’s rare to be part of something so inspiring, and to be surrounded by people who carry that same sense of purpose and ethics.
What I find especially meaningful is being involved at every level; from shaping the big vision to seeing it come to life on the ground. This kind of destination building is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m truly grateful for it.
It inspires me every day. It’s a bold vision, and I feel lucky to be working alongside such talented, committed people who are all pushing in the same direction. There’s a lot of work to do, but we are convinced we will get there!
