Optim’ism is a non-profit association based in Pays de Lorient that grows organic vegetables and delivers them to its subscribers in baskets, all driven by employability work placements. 

The partnership between SDEL Atlantis and Optim’ism began in 2022, thanks to support from the Fondation VINCI under the Territorial Alliance for Equal Opportunities scheme. This scheme, initiated and funded by the City of Lorient, is managed by the Pays de Lorient social and solidarity economy development hub C2SOL, with technical support from the Break Poverty Foundation. 

This financial backing over three years enabled Optim’ism to launch its “Destination Discovery” programme at the Saint-Urchaut farm site in Pont-Scorff. The aim was to remotivate 210 young people – who had dropped out of school or were long-term unemployed – by introducing them to careers in agriculture through courses lasting anywhere from half-a-day to eight months. 

The farm was also able to expand its organic market gardening operation, with weekly deliveries of vegetable baskets to SDEL Atlantis employees. The business unit also hosts employability initiatives, opening its doors to the association’s clients to introduce them to alternative careers and expand their professional horizons. 

The final stage of this partnership was the construction of a windbreak at the Optim’ism-operated Kerguer Farm in Lanester. Greenhouses at the farm were frequently buffeted by violent winds, including during the recent storms, and needed protection to ensure production could continue. Teams from SDEL Atlantis carried out the required work toward the end of 2024 under a skills-based sponsorship: rerouting irrigation systems; moving earth; and installing the concrete posts, tether ropes and fabric for the windbreak, before creating a planted embankment. In line with its sustainable development commitments, the business unit reused posts recovered from a network deconstruction project for Morbihan Énergies in Inzinzac-Lochrist. In total, the 10 collaborators involved provided 210 hours of labour, equivalent to €30,000 of construction work.