Marc Fesneau, French Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, chaired the inaugural meeting of the strategic steering committee for the fruit and vegetable sovereignty plan on Thursday, May 25. This brought together key stakeholders to establish operational governance and map the plan’s trajectory.
The fruit and vegetable sovereignty plan, announced by Fesneau at the International Agriculture Fair on March 1, 2023, was initiated based on the finding that half of the fruits and vegetables consumed in France are imported. The plan sets a clear and ambitious goal: increase French fruit and vegetable sovereignty by 5 points by 2030, with a projected rise of 10 points by 2035. It is backed by significant resources, including the “France 2030” investment plan, which aims to allocate €200 million in 2023 to support the fruit and vegetable sector.
The strategy is the culmination of consultations with over 130 actors and experts in the field, resulting in 40 action plans addressing a vast majority of the sector’s challenges. The plan anticipates commitments not only from the state but also from the associated stakeholders.
Early actions have already been launched across the plan’s four axes. Specifically, the first response to the call for expression of interest (AMI), “Equipment for the third agricultural revolution,” dedicated to fruit and vegetable sectors, was held on May 12. The success of this AMI dedicated to “Fruits and Vegetables” is evident, with 270 submissions addressing the eight themes outlined in the specifications, including reducing the use of chemical and synthetic inputs and significant quantities and risk and impact reduction.
These submissions will now be reviewed and selected by an expert jury to facilitate the swift opening of desks for farmers beginning in September. The plan also envisages the opening of several FranceAgriMer Fruits and Vegetables desks, focusing on specific areas such as greenhouses, plants, and orchard equipment. Special attention will be paid to overseas territories to provide suitable solutions and materials for their unique circumstances.
The sovereignty plan is set to roll out in 2030, with political governance overseen by the strategic steering committee. This will track the project’s progress and establish operational steering committees dedicated to the plan’s four strategic axes. Given the sector’s interest in research, innovation, and experimentation, specific governance of this axis of the plan will be carried out in close collaboration with the Interprofessional Technical Centre for Fruit and Vegetables (CTIFL) and the National Institute for Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Research (INRAE).
Governance of the strategy will also be carried out in consultation with the Regions. Regional representatives will be encouraged to initiate fruit and vegetable initiatives in alignment with the national strategy. Local authorities wishing to commit will play a vital role in implementing this plan, enhancing France’s food sovereignty capacity.
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