France – a safe and sustainable food-producing powerhouse
A major economic power in the sector
Renowned for its high-quality products – wines, cheeses, cereal crops – France is the world’s sixth largest exporter of foodstuffs, generating 81 billion euros of exports in 2023. (Source: France AgriMer, “Export performance of the French agricultural product and foodstuffs sectors”)
It is not by chance that the “gastronomic meal of the French” was awarded intangible cultural heritage of humanity status by UNESCO in 2010. Local cuisine is still widely lauded by foreign visitors in the latest Satisfaction of International Visitors in France study (July 2023).
The French foodstuffs sector is a key player in the global marketplace as well as in the country’s economy. With an annual turnover of 198 billion euros, it represents 20% of France’s industrial production, according to the Association Nationale des Industries Agroalimentaires (ANIA). The country’s n°1 industrial employer, the sector provides livelihoods for 440,000 employees working for 18,000 companies, most of which are SMEs.
France – a European champion for organic farming and agritech
Fully aware of the major challenges facing us today (including agro-ecological transition and adapting to a changing climate), France’s food production industry is also one of the world’s most innovative. With 215 Foodtech and Agritech designated start-ups and companies, France is a champion for agricultural innovation in Europe and n° 3 worldwide. Its capacity for innovation, supported by clusters such as Vitagora in Dijon, and Agri Sud-Ouest Innovation, encourages the development of sustainable solutions in the face of the climate and health challenges of today.
In addition, the country’s agricultural products are renowned for their quality and their respect for strict health and environmental standards, which enhance their attractiveness in international markets. Attentive to the need to preserve the environment and make a commitment towards sustainable production, France, in its capacity as the leading agricultural power in the European Union, has also shown itself to be the driving force behind organic food production in Europe. With 10.4% of workable agricultural land designated as organic in 2023 and 14.4% of French farms committed to organic farming, France is Europe’s champion in terms of organic agriculture.
Lyon, Rennes and Paris: leading French cities in the food production sector
Rennes, Lyon and Paris are the country’s three standout cities for the foodstuffs sector as a result of their dynamic industrial fabric, their economic power and their infrastructure. These three cities illustrate the full diversity and extent of France’s food production sector.
● Rennes: located in the heart of Brittany, France’s n°1 food-producing region, the city is home to the headquarters of major companies such as Avril and key food industry events such as the CFIA (Carrefour des Fournisseurs de l'Industrie Agroalimentaire). The city also hosts the Valorial competitiveness cluster, which brings together 400 industrialists, research centres and higher education institutions with a focus on smart food.
● Lyon: a centre for innovation within the food industry thanks to Sirha, the international show for restaurant and hotel professionals, Franc’s second largest city is also home to research centres such as the Institut Paul Bocuse.
● Paris: the French capital is the headquarters for leading French organisations (such as the Association Nationale des Industries Agroalimentaires (ANIA) and Coopération Agricole) and major industrial groups. It also hosts global food events such as the International Food Show (Salon International de l'Alimentation or SIAL) and the International Agriculture Show (Salon International de l'Agriculture). The French capital also provides the backdrop for the Rungis wholesale market, the world’s largest international market for fresh products, home to thousands of producers, distributors and food professionals, and the supplier of a vast array of high-quality products across France and Europe.
The third agricultural revolution is underway
France is fully committed to structuring an innovative, safe, sustainable and traceable agricultural and food production sector.
Within the framework of the France 2030 plan, the French State is investing 2.3 billion euros to fast-forward the third agricultural and food production revolution, which is centred around three key tenets: digital, robotic and genetic. The aim: “To continue to produce food to feed France, while improving the quality of our food but also our competitiveness, while at the same time reducing CO² production.”
