Hello Julien Bourgeois, can you introduce yourself in a few words: who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I am Julien Bourgeois, organic farmer, married, 2 children.

Born in Auxerre in 1980 (Yonne), I have been living on a mixed crop and livestock farm in this area since 2006, in a small natural region located between the Loire and the Yonne called Puisaye.

So today I operate a 170 ha farm run 100% in Organic farming, half in natural and temporary meadows used by my herd of 50 Charolais cows and the rest in cereals and various crops, stored on the farm then sorted and marketed to COCEBI, an organic cereal cooperative created in 1983 of which I have been a director since 2008.

I was therefore mandated to represent COCEBI on the Board of Directors of Forebio since 2019, and has just taken over as president from Mathieu Lancry (Norabio).

Apart from a little direct sales, my animals are sold in the sector UNEBIO, also a member of Forébio.

I am also involved in the organic network by participating in my gab (GABY for Yonne) for many years and in the regional organic group in Bourgogne Franche Comté.

The future seems brighter for organic. How are you experiencing this?

The consumption situation seems to be stabilizing, or even starting to rise again, primarily in fruit and vegetables. These positive signals are welcome, but we must remain cautious: while sales are increasing, this is currently measurable in value, but not sufficiently in volume.

The sectors have been severely impacted by the sharp decline in consumption, while operators have invested heavily to cope with the strong growth of previous years. Unfortunately, this context has led to a drop in production (shutdowns, deconversions, etc.) which, combined with a year of mediocre harvests, leaves us barely a glimpse of the end of the tunnel. The market is likely to be more tense, with some productions in short supply in 2025. It will take more time to return to a calm and balanced situation.

For my part, I remain optimistic about the progress of organic farming. Even if the agricultural context is tense and the most intensive trends seem to be regaining ground, organic farming is the only alternative for healthy food and a preserved planet. We are working every day in this direction. So let's not control the pace, but let's not lose our way!

What are Forébio's plans to support thethe sector?

Forebio maintains contacts between different players in the sector, in order to best support groups in their structuring.

While the federation does not yet have the means to provide a range of services, it is on the lookout for mechanisms that can help emerge from the crisis and structure new sustainable sectors. Its expertise and global vision of the market are a strength. Conveying information, assisting with procedures such as the deployment of Operational Programs, a European mechanism now accessible to new sectors (milk, cereals, etc.). It continues its advocacy efforts with elected officials, public authorities, and downstream and food distribution stakeholders. More than ever, we need to promote the image of organic farming and communicate our shared vision. It is for this purpose that it has joined the Maison de la Bio. 

What do you expect from the next edition of Natexpo?
in 2025?

A good turnout, hopefully increasing, which will allow us to meet new players and seize new opportunities. Even if we are emerging from a gloomy phase, the stores must grow, as must the new project leaders. Farmers must continue to come together, create cooperative projects, and pool resources to fairly promote their production. Such an event allows everyone to find something for them in a friendly atmosphere. Happy 2025 edition!