Government Confirms the Continuation of the Agence Bio

On January 27, 2025, Annie Genevard, the Minister of Agriculture, clarified the government’s position regarding the future of Agence Bio, following the vote in the Senate on January 17, which proposed its abolition. Contrary to what was suggested, the minister confirmed that “Agence Bio will not be abolished.” She emphasized that the agency, which operates on behalf of the state, had not received support for the proposed removal, despite the Senate vote.

Questioning the Multiplication of Actors in the Organic Sector
However, Annie Genevard raised an important issue regarding the proliferation of organizations involved in the organic sector. According to her, many actors, often funded by public money, carry out overlapping missions, which warrants examination. “I have counted several dozen organizations,” she noted, citing agricultural chambers, trade unions, and interprofessional bodies. She questioned the effectiveness of this multitude of actors, emphasizing that, at a time when the organic sector is facing difficulties, it would be more prudent to seek more effective synergies.

To address this issue, the minister announced the upcoming organization of a roundtable to bring together the key stakeholders in the organic sector. This meeting will allow for sharing observations and proposing solutions to streamline existing structures and better organize public spending.

This initiative comes after the Senate voted to cut the funding for Agence Bio, amounting to 2.9 million euros, suggesting that its missions could be taken over by other operators like FranceAgriMer or integrated within the Ministry of Agriculture’s services. While Annie Genevard expressed a “wise opinion,” neither supporting nor opposing the proposal, she acknowledged the relevance of such a reflection to optimize public finances. The threat of the agency’s dissolution, however, has sparked strong reactions from industry professionals, from producers to cooperatives, especially since France is still far from reaching its ambitious goal of dedicating 18% of its agricultural land to organic farming by 2027.