AgTech Forum

A look back at the AgTech forum

The AgTech forum - "What strategies to structure the market and support the development of agricultural sectors?" - took place on 29 November 2022 at LAB'O Village By CA Orléans. An event co-organised by AgreenTech Valley, the AFNOR Group, the Orléans Technopole and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, in partnership with the #frenchtech #Agri20 and the Agreen Lab'O Village by CA.

Opening of the forum

Opening of the AgTech forum by Taher MESTIRI, Jean-Luc ANGOT, Pascal TEBIBEL and Anne BESNIER

The forum began with an opening speech by Taher MESTIRI, President of Seabex, representing Jean-Michel GALLIER, President of AgreenTech Valley (excused).

Then, Jean-Luc ANGOT, Section President at the CGAAER (Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty) and President of the COS Agro of the AFNOR, Anne BESNIER, Vice-President - Centre-Val de Loire Region and Pascal TEBIBEL, Vice-President of Orléans Métropole took the floor recalling the importance of the Centre-Val de Loire territory in the positioning of AgTech as a national issue.

Conference by Fabrice FAUROUX (AFNOR): "The standard, a development tool?"

Conference by Fabrice FAUROUX from AFNOR: "The standard, a development tool?"

To set the scene, Fabrice FAUROUX, head of innovation development at AFNOR, presented the standard as a development tool. He reminded the audience of the difference between standardisation, which is voluntary and stems from a bottom-up approach, and regulation, which is mandatory and stems from a top-down approach. Fabrice FAUROUX also explained that the standard is the retranscription of a market need, expressed by its actors upstream. It is therefore essential for players wishing to penetrate a new market to be aware of the standards in force, in order to strengthen the acceptability and attractiveness of their innovative solution.

Presentation of the FRENCH TECH AGRI 20 programme by Sofiène LOURIMI and round table discussion led by Nicolas MANIEZ

Afterwards, the FRENCH TECH AGRI 20 programme was presented by Sofiène LOURIMI, French Tech France 2030 project manager, before the round table discussion moderated by Nicolas MANIEZ, project manager at AgreenTech Valley, highlighting our French experts involved in key themes and international networks:

ADVENTIEL, Xavier L'HOSTIS - Digital services for agriculture
AGDATAHUB, Gaëlle CHERUY-POTTIAU - Data sharing and consent
LA FERME DIGITALE / AXIOMA, Anthony BUGEAT – European AgTech Ecosystem / Biosolutions for agriculture
NEXTINO, Bernard PEULTIER - Data Sovereignty & Cybersecurity
SEABEX, Taher MESTIRI - Water in agriculture, a global issue
UNILASALLE, Karine LAVAL - Living soils, a key to the future

Rich and inspiring exchanges that Taher MESTIRI sums up well: "Think global, start local" !

Presentation of the "Smart Farming" Roadmap by Sandrine ESPEILLAC (AFNOR)

Before moving on to the networking lunch, our participants were able to benefit from the knowledge-sharing of Sandrine ESPEILLAC, head of the Agri-Food cluster at AFNOR, during a presentation on the "Smart Farming" Roadmap, an international initiative led by Germany and the USA in which France must strategically get involved.

Working groups "Needs of the AgTech sector to structure the market"

The afternoon was dedicated to working groups on the needs of the AgTech sector to structure the market. One group focused on the theme of data, while the other looked at the issues of agro-ecological transition and resilience. The morning's lectures were thus put to good use, with the information gathered greatly feeding the exchanges within the groups.

Debriefing and closing of the forum by Frédéric ROS and Anne YOUF

After an hour and a half of collective reflection, all the participants in the workshops met to attend the debriefing led by Fabrice FAUROUX and Anne YOUF from AFNOR, which shed light on the perspectives and subjects on which we must federate a French collective in order to be a force for proposals and maintain our lead on the key subjects of AgTech.

Finally, Frédéric ROS, Director of the Orléans Technopole and Anne YOUF, Regional Delegate of AFNOR, closed the forum.

We would like to thank again our collaborators, partners and funders as well as all our experts and forum participants!

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