The most well-known agricultural fair in France, Le Salon International de l’Agriculture (SIA), will not take place for the first time since 1964. Instead, agricultural France will hold “open house” events over the coming months, and the French government has established “national agricultural days.”
French farmers and rural areas have not always had the best reputation among the more than 67 million French for various reasons. The cancellation of the Salon International de l’Agriculture is now being used to initiate dialogue and strengthen the agricultural bond with citizens and the government.
This year, the French foundation #agridemain is launching National Agricultural Days on June 18, 19, and 20, 2021, according to the weekly report from the Agriculture Department of the Dutch embassy in Paris. Over three days, 500,000 French citizens will be welcomed at 5,000 agricultural or agro-food locations.
The largest farmers’ union, FNSEA, mainly wants to send a positive message and highlight “best practices” through the national media. Another farming organization is staging a protest in Paris on March 4 to draw attention to the agricultural “malaise.”
These farmers do not want to open their doors to the public, but are heading to the capital to raise awareness about all the farms that have to close their doors. They say they want to engage in dialogue with the French public about sensitive agricultural issues in France.
Additionally, for the next two weeks, French public broadcasting will devote daily attention to rural areas. France Télévisions will air documentaries, debates, and entertainment programs every day as a counterbalance to the frequent “agri-bashing” in the French media.
President Emmanuel Macron visited a mixed crop and livestock family farm near Dijon earlier this week. During the visit, Macron, together with Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie, spoke with various farmers, food processors, and distributors about profit distribution in the food chain.
In the months ahead, the plan is to hold farmers’ markets throughout the country where locally produced products can be tasted and sold directly by the farmers. If sanitary conditions permit, on May 14 and 15 there will be a tasting event for wine, beer, cheese, and charcuterie along the Seine in Paris.