Overview
- At Rungis on December 8, Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard opened the consultations and called for a “grand food awakening” as she framed intensifying global competition as an agricultural war.
- Ludovic Spiers was named general coordinator for multi-month talks by sector and region, with interprofessions, processors and FranceAgriMer involved, while consumer and environmental associations are excluded.
- France’s main farm union FNSEA and Coordination rurale boycotted the launch as a publicity exercise but will participate in the work, whereas Jeunes Agriculteurs attended and other unions voiced criticism.
- The minister cited a possible 2025 farm trade deficit, high reliance on imported produce and livestock, and rising foreign farm support, urging food patriotism and warning she would block imports containing substances banned in the EU if the Commission does not act.
- Policy friction surfaced over health and climate goals as the national nutrition–climate strategy was delayed again after reports that language on limiting ultra-processed foods was removed at the Agriculture Ministry’s request.