Industry

The French seed sector can attribute much of its excellent international reputation to good climate conditions, crop diversity and bountiful output. During the 2012-2013 campaign, the sector exported 1.9 billion dollars’ worth of seeds, a whopping 15% increase from the previous year. These figures make France the world’s number one seed exporter, placing it ahead […]

Agrifood business is of great importance for the French economic growth and employs almost 6% of the French population. France is the 4th largest exporter of agricultural and agrifood products and has to face new upcoming challenges. At the end of 2013, the Ministry for Agriculture asked for a strategic reflection on the direction that […]

Fish farming has a long history in France. In the Middle Ages, French monks were breeding fishes in lakes and ponds. When artificial reproduction for salmon trout was established at the end of the 19th century, French salmon aquaculture soared. Around the world, fishing captures are capped to 90 million metric tons (mt) since the […]

A network of 18 Wholesale markets (« Marché d’Intérêt National » – MIN) organizes the distribution of fresh products in France. It represents 35% of the French food distribution market. What is a MIN? MINs were created in 1953 after World War II in conditions of food scarcity. They allowed for the modernization and efficiency […]

Over the past 40 years, the number of corporate agricultural organizations in France has increased from 1% to 30% of the total number of farms. Farmers and ranchers get involved in a corporate organization of farms for many reasons: division of labor, optimization of production, protection of private wealth, integration of capital providers, and the […]

The French agrifood industry is one of France and Europe’s most important economic sectors, and the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agrifood and Forestry’s office of Statistics and Studies has just released a comprehensive fact sheet, breaking down the industry piece by piece and examining what makes it so unique. In addition to the figures presented […]

P.I.V.E.R.T. – Picardy Plant Innovations, Teaching and Technological Research is a cross-disciplinary project  financed by many stakeholders including several universities, public resource outlets, and industries such as Sofiprotéol, Solvay, Maguin, PCAS, and SNC-Lavallin. On June 6, the French Government granted funding of 64.25 million euros to this innovative research and training center to be paid […]

After the International Year of Forests in 2011, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21st as the International Day of Forests. All over the world, this day serves to promote the celebration of trees and forests and makes people realize their importance in their lives. On this occasion, all countries are encouraged to make […]

Agence BIO, the French public body responsible for developing and promoting organic farming, recently published its 10th annual report on the organic industry in France in 2014, and business is booming! This past year, France was the number one European producer of organic broilers, hens and oilseeds and number two for dairy and meat cows. […]

French Minister of Agriculture Stéphane Le Foll has announced the publication of a new technical guide for forestry called “Successful Forest Plantation.” Previous versions of this guide in 1986 and 1990 were received with great public enthusiasm and commended by industry professionals, especially those involved in reforestation efforts. Since the legal, technical and environmental context […]