Food shortages, climate emergencies, survival of the food industry... Today, the stakes are clear: the agri-food industries must take up the subject of sustainable development to guarantee the sustainability of the industry in France and around the world. It is time for companies in all sectors to integrate the aspects of sustainable development into their quest for performance. At the level of the territories and the different actors of the agri-food value chains, this strategy has very different implications.
Eating is changing the world, the podcast by Soliance Alimentaire: the objective of this 4th episode is to better understand how the theory of sustainable development applies to the agri-food sector and how the sector can benefit from it. For the occasion, Bulle Pouzoulet, a specialist in sustainable industries and a consultant with the Soliance Alimentaire consultancy firm, takes the floor.
Generally speaking, when we refer to sustainable development, we are talking about a rational use of planetary resources motivated by the transmission of a functional environment to our children.
This first approach was structured by the definition of 3 pillars in 1992: economic, social and environmental. The economic pillar is the "nerve of the war" for companies in all sectors. Since then, we have also focused on the environmental sphere. We have become aware of the needs underpinned by the climate emergency. However, it is important not to restrict sustainable development to this dimension alone. Today, the social pillar is becoming increasingly important, particularly in the agri-food industry. Indeed, farms represent the first brick in the chain. If they cannot develop sustainably, the whole food system will suffer.
It is common to oppose sustainable development and economic performance. This is even more the case in companies and in the food industry. However, beyond the interest in climate change, sustainable development raises the question of the survival of food industries. Unfortunately, many economic actors do not seem to have yet grasped the scope of the problem. However, taking an interest in sustainable development in the food industry also means asking some essential questions. Access to water, sustainability of soils, protection of biodiversity... All these elements are a guarantee of sustainability for the industry.
In reference to this famous social pillar of sustainable development, the agri-food sector is also facing a critical issue: that of its social responsibility towards farmers. It is indeed fundamental that these actors can live decently from their profession. It is this stratum that allows the renewal of farms and the sustainability of agricultural production.
Echoing the notion of sustainable development, we deal with the issue of the resilience of agri-food chains. A quality that will avoid their collapse. Bulle Pouzoulet speaks on this subject:
"Jean-Manuel Lévêque, President of Novepan, recently spoke at SIAL. He believes that sustainable development is vital and is all the more necessary in light of current events. We are picking up on many urgent signals that are pushing us to install sustainable development within the food industry. The objective is to ensure their sustainability. Despite this imperative, we are often confronted with the sole question of economic performance during our exchanges with our clients. However, focusing on economic indicators will not be enough to ensure the sustainability of the industry.
Today, according to Bulle Pouzoulet, the main challenge of the sector is to " ensure the sustainability of the agri-food industry by helping them to set up systems that will enable them to avoid supply or production shortages. Situations that would be for many reasons, harmful to their survival.
In order to respond favorably to this objective, companies need to be able to measure their sustainable performance, beyond the only economic indicators traditionally taken into account. If we focus on the environmental pillar of sustainable development, this type of measure makes it possible to optimize agricultural production by steering the transition from a mining approach, dating from the industrial revolution, to a so-called "resilient" model. This change management is particularly necessary to preserve soil health and good water management at the plot level.
Bulle Pouzoulet also talks about the importance of the link between agribusinesses and farmers: " Recently, we had the opportunity to discuss with McCain and Agromousquetaires who are already in aregenerative agriculture andagroecology approach. To achieve this, they are working on these points in partnership with farmers. The link between large agri-food groups and farmers is a fundamental issue. In this configuration, farmers are not just suppliers, they are real partners in the sustainable development of the sector . For our consultant specialized in sustainable industries, facing the current challenges of the industry means that companies must be able to develop this type of partnership. For her, it also implies that the actors of the sectors are able to adopt changes in practices at the farm level
To be effective, this type of transition must be accompanied by a change in mindset. We must also be aware that these changes in practice sometimes take several years to become 100% operational. This is why we still speak of transition at this stage. Throughout this process, a tailor-made support for producers is necessary. This must include different points:
Of course, part of the transition is taken care of by the institutions. Nevertheless, from experience, Soliance Alimentaire knows to what extent agribusinesses have a role to play in the definition of partnership relations and in the support of producers.
It seems rather complicated to ask producers to change their practices without supporting them financially. This effort is partly the responsibility of companies. Beyond accompanying the transition to a sustainable agri-food industry, this support will allow them to secure their supplies.
Bulle Pouzoulet shares an example of this:
" We worked with a large dairy group that was sourcing fruit from all over Europe. In view of the goodwill strategy in place, our client identified a potential risk of supply disruption. To secure the situation, we worked with them to relocate their supply to France. In this way, they were able to meet one of the challenges of sustainable development in the food industry, but also their need for security.
For this transition to a more responsible industry to succeed, we need the will of the companies in the sector and the creation of company/producer partnerships. These elements allow us to drive change, but above all to ensure that it takes place on a large scale.
Establishing a company/producer partnership requires mutual trust, but also to offer farmers a more reassuring situation:
" Some companies, such as Danone, offer to integrate the cost of production into the purchase price for a group of their partner producers, as well as multi-year contracts. Thanks to this, producers can project themselves. They know that their product will be purchased over a defined period of time, and at a price fixed in advance. Their situation becomes more reassuring, they can then devote their time to other things. With the emergency put aside, they are no longer in survival mode and can thus begin to lead the change.
To help food companies develop more responsible practices, we support them in their CSR approach and the sustainable development of their supply chains.
At Soliance Alimentaire, we believe in a model that favors short and controlled supply chains. As explained throughout this podcast, we support the establishment of partnerships with producers. We then adapt our vision to the reality of each company to best meet the needs of our customers.
From upstream to downstream, we offer them the benefit of our in-depth knowledge of the value chains of the main food industries. Our expertise allows us to help them implement a sustainable and equitable distribution of value throughout the chain, right down to the producer.
Our firm also works with territories and communities - key players in the deployment of sustainable development within the agri-food industry.
Within the framework of territorial food plans, the sectors are most often integrated within territories - thus, when we work with them, we are able to diagnose the way in which we eat within them. This also allows us to identify how their food networks are constructed.
Once the diagnosis has been made, we build territorial strategies for the food chains with the support of the actors of the territory.
At Soliance Alimentaire, we have been working for the development of sustainable food chains for 25 years now. During these years, we have been able to enrich our experience of the subject by being in contact with the field.
Two decades ago, the economic indicators were extremely powerful - we had to fight to make our vision heard by the industry players. Despite the inequity in the sharing of added value specific to that time, our idea was already to support the balance between all the players in the sector. And this, always in favor of sustainable development.
Today, we have understood that sustainable development is an important part of the strategies of the agri-food industry in that it allows us to build a sustainable, long-lasting and profitable future.
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