Agrilife Studio's 4 levers of impact: For a sustainable and resilient agriculture Since Agrilife Studio was founded, we've travelled the roads and
Since the creation of Agrilife Studio, we've traveled the roads and fields to meet the players in the agri/agro ecosystem: farmers, cooperatives, laboratories, competitiveness clusters, schools... In the field, at trade shows, we've increased our exchanges to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture today.
Thanks to these meetings, we have identified the four priority impact levers we wish to address to promote the sustainability of agriculture and contribute to its necessary transition.
1. Food security and sovereignty: ensuring autonomy to feed tomorrow
Recent health and geopolitical crises have highlighted the vulnerability of nations dependent on imports for their food supplies. Food security and sovereignty have become strategic issues to guarantee countries' autonomy in the face of global hazards.
At the same time, demographic growth poses an immense challenge: how to feed a world population that could reach 10 billion by 2050? In France, more than half of all farmers will retire in the next ten years, with no young entrepreneurs ready to take up the torch. This lack of succession is due to the negative perception of the farming profession: hard work, low pay and agri-bashing have tarnished the image of this essential profession.
At Agrilife Studio, we see it as our mission to intervene and innovate in response to these crucial issues. We need to explore solutions that encourage the next generation of farmers and strengthen food self-sufficiency.
2. Transition agricole durable : Vers une agriculture respectueuse de l’environnement
Agriculture must reinvent itself to meet new societal expectations: local production, organic farming, reduction of pesticides and inputs, improvement of nutritional qualities, etc. But this transition is not without challenges. Agriculture is a science of the long term: each change in agricultural practices can have positive or negative effects on crops and their yields.
There is an urgent need to innovate by developing biocontrol solutions, biostimulation and alternatives to traditional chemical products. Agriculture is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, due in particular to methane emissions from ruminants and the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
Environmental impacts are also significant: eutrophication of waterways caused by excessive levels of nitrogen, for example, is a major problem.
3. Healthy, sustainable food: a driving force for change in agriculture
The evolution of eating habits has always been a factor in the transformation of agriculture. From hunter-gatherer to sedentary producer, man has continually adapted his agricultural practices to his dietary needs.
Today, a twofold demand is emerging: to eat healthily, to preserve our health, and sustainably, to minimize our environmental and social impact. Consumers are increasingly sensitive to these issues, and the agri-food sector must adapt to this growing demand for transparency and responsibility.
4. Biobased for industry: redefining the industrial value chain
Industries depend on agriculture for the supply of raw materials, but are now under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt more sustainable practices. The textile sector, for example, is exploring alternatives such as vegan leather and organic fibers to reduce the use of pesticides and chemical inputs in the production of cotton, silk and other raw materials.
The same applies to sectors such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, energy and packaging, which are looking for bio-based solutions to reinvent their production chains and minimize their environmental impact.
At Agrilife Studio, we see these challenges as opportunities for agricultural innovation. We believe in agriculture's ability to provide sustainable alternatives to industry, and thus contribute to the transition to a more planet-friendly future.
A compass to guide our actions
These four levers - food security and sovereignty, sustainable agricultural transition, healthy and sustainable food, and biobased industries - are at the heart of Agrilife Studio's mission. They will guide our teams in their quest for solutions to questions that remain without clear answers today. We are convinced that tomorrow's agriculture must be sustainable, resilient, and at the service of mankind and the planet.
These topics will be explored in upcoming articles, so stay tuned!