Half of French people say they have changed their purchasing habits or eating behavior over the past 3 years. For 48% of French people, this means local products and short supply chains, a criterion which figures in the top 5 commitments of the French to eat healthily and eat better.1The phenomenon is expected to continue to grow, particularly with the growing awareness of the importance of food sovereignty. Consumers strongly expect guarantees of proximity and transparency regarding origin from organic companies, which are called upon to provide them with additional guarantees of responsibility regardless of their sectors of activity. This is why NATEXPO is putting local products at the forefront. The show particularly highlights locally engaged companies by inaugurating a dedicated exhibition route and offers the opportunity to discover local French know-how through 10 regional pavilions.
A new thematic tour on the local area
The international organic products trade show is offering a new thematic itinerary dedicated to locally engaged businesses. From September 18th to 20th, visitors will have the opportunity to immediately identify professionals involved in initiatives combining organic and local products, to meet them directly and discuss their desire to prioritize short supply chains. NATEXPO thus offers the opportunity to target new potential partners based on specific origin criteria in order to stand out in an increasingly demanding organic market in this area. The aisle within which the ingredients are sourced, the percentage of ingredients from a local supply chain, the product's design and packaging location, as well as information on specific labels or territorial designations will be mentioned.
Additionally, the local aspect will be at the heart of the show's content, with conferences organized on this theme. Visitors will be able to attend three presentations in the Agora space:
- “Local: feedback on a low-carbon, made-in-France factory with Naturopera”
- “Local supply: first source of attractiveness in organic stores, with Caroline Girard from Cluster Bio and a member of the company So.Bio »
- “The impact of a local brand in supporting and developing a sector: feedback on the Isère brand, with Alpes Control”
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: historic bastion of organic farming in France
Local organic expertise is particularly highlighted this year by NATEXPO with 10 regional pavilions representing a quarter of the show. Among them, the show's host region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, 1st region of the country in number of organic processing and distribution companies (3,100 companies) and the 3e for organic farms (7,321 farms) and areas cultivated using organic farming (10,5% of the Useful Agricultural Area). In 2021, the Auvergne Rhône Alpes Regional Chamber of Agriculture supported more than 6,000 farmers in their conversion to organic farming and, over the last 6 months of the year, the region welcomed 2/3 of the new organic stores opened in France!2
The region, represented by the association Cluster Bio, will occupy the largest regional pavilion at the show. Around fifty companies will be present in this space, reflecting the diversity of organic players in the region, both in terms of activities and size. Food, cosmetics, dietary supplements, organic ingredients... from VSEs to SMEs to the most important historical players in organic, this pavilion also reflects the 360° organic represented at NATEXPO Lyon 2022!
Particularities, trends and food sovereignty:
Update with Adrien Petit, Director of Cluster Bio Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
What are the particularities of organic farming in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes?
AP: The combination of pioneers in organic farming and a very agro-industrial regional fabric quickly raised us to the rank of 1st region in terms of the number of organic processors, with leading and historic organic companies such as Markal, Ekibio, La Vie Claire, Ecotone, Pain de Belledonne, l'Eau Vive, Sanoflore, etc.
In addition, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has, since 2006, identified organic farming as a center of excellence and competitiveness for the region, resulting, among other things, in the creation of our Cluster, the only one in Europe dedicated to products from organic farming. This dynamic of federated companies has created emulation, generating attractiveness among project leaders. Our region has also seen the birth of renowned associative structures, such as Cosmébio, Biopartenaire, Terre de Liens and the Biovallée.
In terms of agriculture, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the 3rde organic region of France, with 7,321 farms certified or in conversion to organic at the end of 2020. Organic farming represented 10,5% of the region's usable agricultural area in 2020, compared to 9,49% nationally. This 3e This place is notably linked to regional mixed farming, reinforced in 2016 by the merger with Auvergne.
What are the new organic trends in the region?
AP: Companies are launching activities related to eco-packaging and deposits, plant-based alternatives, lacto-fermentation, zero-waste approaches, augmented organic, that is to say organic approaches offering additional guarantees on local, vegan, etc.
What future for organic farming in the region, in the medium and longer term?
AP: There's a lot of talk about food sovereignty these days. It's also an issue that's being addressed at the regional level. The trend is therefore to relocate production, processing, and consumption within the region. The stakes are high for the sectors, the development of organic land, and organic production.
Cluster Bio has planned four major speaking engagements during the show. The association will notably speak on the theme of "local in-store, a source of differentiation."
1 Organic Agency / CSA Barometer
2 Cluster Bio