** French agriculture at the crossroads: the emerging challenges of the International Agriculture Fair **
The 61st International Agricultural Fair which is held in Paris does not only take the festive ceremonial of a gastronomic and rural gathering, it is a crucial platform where the contours of French agriculture are emerging in crisis. Emmanuel Macron opened the event on February 22 in a more reserved climate than in 2024, without apparent clashes, but there is no winner in this dialogue. Beyond political speeches, the economic reality of farmers is imbued with deep frustration in the face of growing challenges.
### Voices of agricultural dissatisfaction
While security has been reinforced to avoid overflows of the previous year, farmers came with marked expectations. Their concerns go far beyond the usual tensions linked to subsidies and expenses. Many of them, like Jean-Philippe Yon, denounce a “gap in distribution of margins” while the continuous distribution to monopolize disproportionate profits. Thus, the question arises: how can farmers remain in a system where production costs are increasing, while purchasing prices remain stagnant?
The recent demonstrations in the fall of 2023 recalled to what extent the opposition to the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement has created a feeling of urgency in the agricultural environment. This concern is reinforced by the emergence of geopolitical tensions which risk aggravating the competitiveness of French products. Farmers are not only opposed to a trade agreement; They highlight the risk of a crumbling of French food sovereignty in the face of the ramp-up of importance often less-mindedly on the environmental and social level.
### Agriculture at the time of geopolitics
An often neglected dimension in agricultural debate is the role of geopolitics in the sustainability of local production. While France is struggling with its own agricultural crises, it is essential to consider the impact of free trade agreements on the food supply chain. In particular, a study by the National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA) has shown that each 10 % increase in import costs would have a domino effect on internal prices, jeopardizing food security and diversity.
The United States of the Biden era, just like the Chinese giant, seem to choose to protect their own markets while accentuating competition on a global scale. This does not only represent a threat to farmers, but also for the way food consumption is structured in Europe. In a society where environmental issues are increasingly central, the need to produce locally becomes a concern not only economic, but also societal.
### A dialogue that wants to be constructive
Emmanuel Macron called for a “respectful dialogue” with farmers. But a dialogue also requires tangible actions. Government promises of financial allowances and support for farmers, as many unions point out, are often perceived as insufficient in the face of the magnitude of the challenges. The recently voted “agricultural orientation law”, although approved by some, is criticized by others who believe that environmental protection cannot be done to the detriment of the profitability of farms.
If commitments of 500 million euros in tax discounts have been announced, the question remains: are these measures substantial enough to counterbalance years of growing agricultural crises? The answer to this question could come from the field, where farmers fight against unbalanced competitiveness, under the growing weight of large distribution.
### Conclusion: Reinventing the French agricultural model
While the climate at the International Agriculture Show is more peaceful, the underlying tension remains palpable. It seems that as long as farmers see no fundamental changes in the distribution of margins, as well as concrete responses to their concerns, dialogue will remain a theoretical exercise. The challenge, for France, will be to raise its agricultural model by combining profitability and sustainability, while sailing in the uncertain future shaped by globalization and geopolitical crises. This readjustment is not only essential for the survival of farms, but also to guarantee a more local and respectful food for environmental standards.
Through the prism of the show, the future of French agriculture calls for collective awareness and concerted action, because the time of promises must give way to that of concrete solutions.