Agriculture: A « trendy » sector?

According to the figures communicated on Sunday evening by the organisers, the 2009 edition of the Agricultural Show which took place in Paris from the 21st of February to the 1st of March brought together 670000 people, a 10% increase over the previous year. Record affluence was even achieved on Friday 27th of February where 107000 visitors squeezed through the alleys of « the largest farm in France » - a « historical record », according to the event’s president, Jean-Luc Poulain.

A popularity rating confirmed by the latest Ifop opinion poll for Dimanche Ouest France, which results were published during the show: according to this enquiry close to 4 out of 5 Frenchmen (78%) agree to the consumer trusting the farmers; and an equivalent proportion admits their modernity.

These few figures are intended to reassure people, for they indicate that public opinion remains attached to this vital sector. This popularity now needs to be converted into political leverage, in order for the recent politicians’ awareness of the stakes and challenges underlying agriculture to be translated into relevant and effective decisions.

1 Comme le souligne la récente campagne de communication de la FNSEA. Cf. http://www.fnsea.fr/sites/webfnsea/actions/promo/metiers/default.aspx