The Key Witnesses medFEL 2024
They carried the commitment of medFEL and intervened to provide their perspective on the main challenges faced by the profession.
Trained as an agricultural engineer, Isabelle Autissier became the first woman to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in 1991. After numerous maritime adventures, she became president of WWF France in 2009. She has been Chair of the Board of Directors of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands since 2021.
Isabelle Autissier honored us with her presence as a keynote speaker at medFEL 2024 and held an exceptional conference with the theme "How to stay the course in a world in crisis?" hosted by Florence Rabut, editor-in-chief of Végétable.
Tomás García Azcárate holds a doctorate in agronomy and is an agricultural economist. He is the former head of the fruit and vegetable office at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture. He was instrumental in the creation of Producer Organizations and is currently a member of the French Academy of Agriculture and an editor for Végétable magazine.
We had the privilege of welcoming Tomás García Azcárate as a Grand Witness of medFEL 2024. He answered questions from Olivier Masbou, associate journalist at Socopag, duringa conference on the theme "What European agricultural policy for fresh fruits and vegetables?".
WEDNESDAY APRIL 24, 2024
10:30 AM – European apricot harvest forecast
Presented by Eric Hostalnou – Chamber of Agriculture of the Pyrénées Orientales.
With Bruno Darnaud, PDO peaches and apricots of France, Elisa Macchi, Centro Servizio Ortofruticolo de Ferrara (Italy), Javier Basols, Coopérativas Agroalimentarias (Spain), and Georges Kantzios, Asepop (Greece).
Followed by an anticipation of the plum harvest
Presented by Olivier Masbou, associate journalist, Socopag Press Agency
With Joël Boyer, president of the AOPn Prune and André Graglia, director of the AOPn Prune.
11:30 a.m. – Inauguration of medFEL 2024
14pm – Does the increased use of plant-based foods in institutional catering benefit fruits and vegetables?
Presented by Olivier Masbou, associate journalist, Socopag Press Agency
With Marie-Cécile Rollin, (Restau'Co), Sylvie Rondole (University Restaurant, Cafeterias and CROUS) and Pierre-Yves ROMMELAERE (Joseph Anglade College)
The Egalim law has mandated that school cafeterias offer a weekly vegetarian menu since 2019. This measure is part of the National Food Program, one of whose objectives is to promote plant-based proteins in institutional catering. It has been applicable since January 1, 2023, in all cafeterias managed by the State and national public companies. But how is this provision implemented in practice? Has it led to an increase in the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in institutional catering?
15:30 pm – How to stay afloat in a world in crisis?
Present by Florence Rabut, editor-in-chief of Végétable.
With Isabelle Autissier, Agricultural engineer and navigator.
In a unique context, marked in the short term by France hosting the Olympic Games, and in the longer term by a growing awareness of planetary boundaries, the perspective of a top-level scientist and sailor was essential. How can a leader stay the course in a world of constant, overlapping, and successive crises? How can we foster a more inclusive relationship with nature and the environment while simultaneously developing models of growth and performance?
"If you consider the experience of a sailor, he doesn't choose the wind and the waves, he's part of it. If you try to go against the elements, you'll wreck your boat." Isabelle Autissier reminds us. The question then becomes how we will transform our models to limit the risks and suffering of a warming world with less water and biodiversity. What new paths for development are possible? This is what Isabelle Autissier, an agricultural engineer, offshore racing sailor, the first woman to complete a solo round-the-world race, radio host, writer, storyteller, and Honorary President of WWF France, will ultimately reveal to us…
16:45 PM – Organic: How to reinvent yourself? Conquer without corrupting yourself
Presented by Dany La Noë, Interbio Occitanie and Olivier Masbou, associate journalist, Socopag Press Agency
With Rémy FRISSANT, Co-founder of AMANDERA
After years of growth, and despite a slight recovery, consumption of organic products is at best stagnating, or even declining. The French seem less willing to make the necessary effort to "green" their diets. And the return of inflation is exacerbating budgetary constraints.
How can the organic sector initially maintain its positions and then rebound in a context where national and European objectives are still to develop organic agriculture?
We are witnessing the emergence of dynamics to reinvent ourselves, both in terms of offering new collaborative sales spaces, highlighting marketing strategies, and having a global vision of the organic issue and its necessary adaptation for consumers.
THURSDAY 25 APRIL 2025
10am – Can artificial intelligence revolutionize our industry?
Present by Florence Rabut, editor-in-chief of Végétable
With Franck Berthu, digital transformation expert, AD'OCC, Gildas Guibert, technical expert and consultant, Mouneyrac Anicet Prod'homme, cybersecurity engineer and Mathieu Gazeau, associate producer, Gazeau Orchards and Antonin Douillet, co-founder, DAC ADN.
The arrival of massive artificial intelligence on the market, accessible to all, is a true societal upheaval. Some predict it will be revolutionary and believe its implementation will be faster than that of digital technology. The Ministry of the Economy and Finance sees it as a "tool for innovation and competitiveness" for businesses. It's already a reality: AI influences both our lives and our working methods. Yet, the majority of companies are still far from understanding this technology, or even knowing how to exploit its potential. Many questions arise: how do we move from exploratory or individual practice to collective performance? What are the tangible benefits of AI? Can this technology help us solve certain major challenges more quickly, such as increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, collecting essential data at points of sale, streamlining transactions and relationships within the supply chain, increasing the competitiveness and profitability of business models, expanding precision agriculture, and so on? What are the risks or constraints regarding data ownership or information traceability? All these questions will be addressed and debated during this conference, specifically aimed at our sector!
11h00 - Melon planting forecasts
Presented by Olivier Masbou, Associate journalist, Socopag Press Agency
With Myriam Martineau, president of the Interprofessional Melon Association, Jérôme Jausseran, Vice-President of the Interprofessional Melon Association, Rémi Javernaud, coordinator of the Interprofessional Melon Association.
14:30 PM – What European agricultural policy for fresh fruits and vegetables?
Presented by Olivier Masbou, associate journalist, Socopag Press Agency.
With Tomás García Azcárate, Doctor of Agricultural Engineering and Agricultural Economist, former head of the fruit and vegetable office at DG Agri of the European Commission, now a member of the French Academy of Agriculture and editor for Végétable magazine.
On the eve of the European elections, agricultural issues are among the most sensitive topics. Numerous decisions are the subject of debate: the extension of glyphosate authorization, the European Parliament's rejection of the pesticide regulation (SUR regulation), the Green Deal, Farm to Fork, and the debate surrounding new genomic techniques (NGT). Meanwhile, the 2023-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been established, with a strengthened role for each Member State (through the National Strategic Plan) and for regions (through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development - EAFRD). How do all these policies impact the production and trade of fresh fruit and vegetables? Does the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for fruit and vegetables still have a place?
16pm – In the face of climate change, what diversification options are possible?
Presented by Florence Rabut, editor-in-chief of Végétable – Duration 45 min.
With Yannick Chevrier, director, La Tour cooperative, Benoît Dufaÿ, France Pistachio Project Manager Tristan MargaletCEO of Greype France, Mathieu Donati, associate producer of Agrucorse and Stéphane Durand, Director of the fruit and vegetable sector at Biocoop
Faced with climate change, our agriculture is being forced to change course. The urgency is already here and is clashing with the "long timescale" of our supply chains. One of the co-authors of the 6e In the IPCC report, François Gemenne urges the agricultural sector "not to treat climate change as a crisis," since it will "be a long-term reality throughout the century." "There is an urgent need to plan for the future climate of our region, to adapt certain agricultural models and crop types that will allow us to conserve water and guarantee sustainable production," he concludes. Our agricultural sectors have already begun this transition. It is increasingly visible, particularly in the South of France, where new crops—sometimes new species—are being tested or established. Beyond opportunistic approaches, are we capable of building profitable and efficient agricultural sectors? Do we have sufficient experience in agronomy and cultivation techniques for diversification crops? What knowledge still needs to be acquired? Can we map out the possible changes over the next ten, twenty, or even thirty years?
TRADITIONAL EUROPEAN HARVEST FORECASTS
A true highlight of medFEL Each year, the traditional European summer fruit harvest forecasts have complemented this rich program.
Melon planting forecasts and European apricot harvest forecasts were presented live at the show. Then, European peach and nectarine harvest forecasts were presented via webinar as part of the Tuesdays of... medFEL May the 21 2024.
