The Agricultural Festival imagines the agriculture of tomorrow

PerpignanAfter a successful first edition, with 70 exhibitors and more than 7,000 visitors, the Perpignan Agricultural Festival returns this weekend with a more ambitious second edition. It will take place from October 10th to 12th, with more than 100 exhibitors, four invited departments, and more than 50 animals. This event highlights sustainable agriculture, gastronomy, and innovation in Northern Catalonia and this year opens in Occitania. "There were visitors who came with their families, others just to eat, and professionals also came. Most of the visitors were from the same department, but some came from further afield, from within the region and even from Southern Catalonia. Some exhibitors had to restock up on supplies up to twice during the weekend," recalled Elise Borieux, director of this second edition.

Created last year in Perpignan, this association's objective is to promote agricultural stakeholders in Northern Catalonia and the entire Pyrénées-Orientales region. "With this event, we are highlighting above all the authenticity of our farmers, their products, and their know-how. We want to create a direct link between producers and consumers by promoting traditional practices and local cultures, which make our region so rich," explains Borieux. "Today, more than ever, we feel a profound need to return to the worlds... an invitation to rediscover the passionate work of the women and men who feed us, to strengthen this vital bond between people and nature." In Northern Catalonia, agriculture is the second largest economic sector, after tourism. "This exhibition is also a platform for imagining the agriculture of tomorrow: more sustainable, more resilient, and more connected to its natural environment. Green innovation will be at the heart of the discussions, always bearing in mind respect for the land and the women and men who work it," adds Borieux, noting that the event also promotes renewable energy.

Zero-kilometer products

The Agricultural Festival is also a meeting point for rethinking agriculture. With this in mind, local stakeholders will be present, such as the La Halle au Carreau Producers' Association, located in the Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole wholesale market, which allows more than 160 northern Catalan producers to earn a living from their work. The association's president, Alain Figuères, sees it as a unique opportunity to promote this strategic location: "Our job is to produce, so we'll be there to explain and showcase our products. The foundation of everything is to consume locally to support farmers throughout the department. This allows us to find products that can't be found elsewhere, such as ancient varieties, but above all, to explore the many markets. It's a market that deserves to be discovered," he says. Nicolas Barthe, vice president of Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole and mayor of Toluges, hopes the event will help revitalize the region: "The COVID-19 pandemic made everyone realize that short supply chains, farmers, and buying local products are very important," he concludes.