In 2020, Vincent underwent a transformation from being a techno-solutionist to an impact entrepreneur, prompted by his growing awareness of climate and societal issues. Seeking a fresh entrepreneurial challenge, he collaborated with Astrid, Marc, and Simon to create FEVE (Fermes En Vie). The aim of this venture was to provide support to French farmers in their transition to agro-ecological practices, facilitated by citizen savings. With the conventional agricultural sector facing decline and vulnerability, the role of FEVE in driving the agroecological transition becomes crucial. How does FEVE contribute to this transition? What strategies can be employed to expedite the process and ensure food sovereignty? Vincent sheds light on the development of a resilient model that not only addresses these concerns but also rekindles the enchantment of our countryside.

"Nowadays, I notice a significant number of young individuals graduating from school who aspire to establish impactful businesses. Back in my time, consulting or finance were the primary options" confides Vincent. As an engineer from Polytechnique, Vincent initially pursued this traditional path, starting his career in finance and later venturing into healthcare entrepreneurship. However, a pivotal moment occurred after the birth of his first daughter when his wife, Hélène, urged him to read "Comment tout peut s'effondrer" (How everything can fall apart) by collapsologists Pablo Servigne and Raphaël Stevens, which had a profound impact on him.

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In 2020, Vincent solidified his transition from a firm believer in technological solutions to an impact entrepreneur as he contemplated a new entrepreneurial endeavor. "Driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference, I became deeply interested in the agricultural sector due to the numerous environmental challenges it faces, not only related to carbon but also impacting biodiversity and water resources"  explains Vincent. Additionally, he emphasizes the health and social implications associated with the agriculture industry, which directly affects our daily sustenance. Ongoing events, such as the historical drought in Eastern Pyrenees, the contentious water issues surrounding mega-basins (as observed in Sainte-Soline), or the recent decline in bird populations in Europe, serve as poignant reminders of these challenges. It's a paradoxical situation where intensive agriculture, responsible for biodiversity destruction and exacerbating global warming, also finds itself at the forefront of dealing with the consequences it has caused.

 

Agriculture, the scapegoat of global warming

Since 1950, the green revolution has enabled French agriculture to achieve food abundance through increased productivity and global trade. However, this conventional agricultural model is now revealing its limitations and posing a long-term threat to our food sovereignty. The sector itself contributes to 25% of national greenhouse gas emissions, as reported by The Shift Project. This includes emissions from transportation, agricultural production (such as inputs like fertilizers and pesticides, machinery, and buildings), and livestock (methane emissions). Deforestation and pesticide usage are detrimental to biodiversity, particularly insects and birds, while also causing soil pollution and erosion. Intensive agriculture, known for its high-water consumption, further exacerbates the problem by “depleting water tables and disrupting the water cycle”, as explained by water economist Esther Crauser-Delbourg in a recent interview on the water crisis. Consequently, the system perpetuates a vicious cycle of vulnerability, as it is directly impacted by climate disruptions such as droughts and water scarcity. Extreme weather events like heavy rains, hail, and frost also pose a significant threat to the yields of dominant monocultures. The decline of biodiversity negatively affects pollination, soil fertility, and water retention. Lastly, the industry's heavy reliance on fossil fuels within a context of dwindling energy and mining resources leads to a dead end.

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The urgent need to renew farming generations

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This agro-industrial model also demonstrates evident economic and social flaws. Its globalization exposes it to geopolitical and economic tensions, such as the Ukrainian war and cereal trade. The actual cost of food is not properly considered, given the subsidies provided to conventional agriculture through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the negative externalities it imposes on the environment and health. The pursuit of hyper-specialization and international competition has led to a race to the bottom for farmers. Out of every 100 euros spent on food, a mere 6.5 euros finds its way back into their pockets. As a result, farmers face indebtedness and precarious employment due to the arduous nature of their work. This has rendered their profession unattractive, despite farmers comprising only 1.5% of the working population. Vincent highlights that “by 2030, around 50% of farmers are projected to retire”, even though there is a substantial need for manpower. France witnesses the disappearance of almost 200 farms each week due to challenges in transferring ownership, including difficulties in accessing land.

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In the face of a conventional agricultural model that has deviated from its role as a source of nourishment, agroecology emerges as a resilient approach that encompasses sustainable agricultural practices, respecting both the environment and human well-being. It offers a way to adapt to climate constraints, regenerate ecosystems, and provide farmers with a viable economic model.

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Supporting the agro-ecological transition through community banking
 

"I was contemplating the possibilities within agriculture"  shares Vincent, for whom nothing in his Basque background indicated a connection to agriculture. In 2012, Vincent made his first career shift by leaving Société Générale to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure in the healthcare sector. He achieved his initial success when he and his partners sold SeniorAdom to a health care mutual company in 2019. Searching for a new entrepreneurial challenge, "I couldn't envision myself doing anything other than making a meaningful contribution" says Vincent, and being fully aware of the environmental and societal issues at stake during that time. "I gathered my three associates, and together we brainstormed how we could accelerate the agro-ecological transition" explains Vincent. This led to the birth of FEVE in 2020, formed by the collaboration of Astrid Tarteret, Marc Batty, Simon Bestel and Vincent Kraus, each with diverse backgrounds and complementary profiles.

 

The primary goals of the partners were to assist farmers in transforming their practices, promote the establishment of ambitious agro-ecological projects, and address the issue of generational renewal in farming. They quickly identified land as the main obstacle to launching new businesses, particularly outside the family context, which currently accounts for two-thirds of new ventures. "We decided to establish a landholding company to support those with agro-ecology projects by acquiring the land and leasing it to them, while providing the opportunity to eventually become owners" highlights Vincent. He points out that "land is costly, averaging around 6,000 euros per hectare. Considering the average size of a French farm is 70 hectares, you quickly reach 400,000 euros. When you factor in buildings, the cost can escalate to 600,000 or even 800,000 euros, making it unaffordable."

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Regarding financing, the approach involves community banking, as private investors are increasingly interested in environmentally and socially impactful projects. Vincent adds, "Agricultural land is a tangible asset that historically exhibits minimal volatility."  By spring 2023, over 700 individuals had already joined the company, with investments in farm shares ranging from 500 euros to 200,000 euros for larger contributions, with an average investment of 10,000 euros. Thanks to its socially responsible nature, the investment offers a 25% tax reduction while channeling savings towards a socially beneficial project.

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Self-reliance and collective ambition of farms to regenerate the countryside

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FEVE, a virtuous alternative model, empowers responsible agro-ecological projects to come to fruition and fulfills the aspirations of aspiring entrepreneurs by identifying farms and facilitating their transfer. Julie and Vivian, after encountering several unsuccessful attempts, were finally able to establish themselves at Ferme du Trey in the Landes region. They now rent the 190-hectare farm from FEVE and have invested in their project, which includes crop diversification and the implementation of cover crops to enhance soil carbon and water storage. Vincent comments, "Our goal is to make these projects more self-sufficient while helping them develop a viable economic model."  Each project financed by FEVE must adhere to a specific agroecological charter with detailed specifications, including diversified mixed farming models, extensive livestock breeding, minimal tillage, biodiversity, and water management, as well as meeting social criteria. Vincent further explains, "We aim to provide support in various areas, ranging from product processing to marketing and diversification of production." Additionally, FEVE is actively developing tools such as the digital platform "la grange" to equip farmers with necessary resources and facilitate their connection with one another.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/ Vivian Santos - Ferme du Trey,  Parleboscq (Landes), South West - France (2023) - Credit Photo: Valentin Izzo                
2/ Vivian Santos and Vincent Kraus - Ferme du Trey,  Parleboscq (Landes), South West - France (2023) - Credit Photo: Thomas Verjus

 

"When it is feasible and makes sense, we strive to foster synergies among farmers" states Vincent. "This approach allows us to enhance both the environmental impact and economic viability." An exemplary illustration of this collective establishment concept can be seen in Ferme Les Bouriettes, located in the Aude region, which was among the first farms set up by FEVE. It successfully brings together two market gardeners and a cereal and legume producer to join forces with Pierre, an established dairy farmer, creating a more locally resilient model. Vincent expresses his satisfaction, saying, "We are delighted to have accomplished this, as it is complex both from a legal and human perspective."

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Another significant triumph highlighting the impact of FEVE is the acquisition of a farm by the technical committee of SAFER (Société d'aménagement foncier et d'établissement rural/ Land Development and Rural Establishment Company) in the summer of 2022. The FEVE project competed against a conventional farming project. Despite the presence of traditional trade unions like FNSEA (Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles/ French National Federation of Farmers' Unions) on the technical committee, the FEVE project emerged victorious.

 

As a company with a social economy mission, FEVE has already supported the establishment of seven farms through €7 million in community banking, resulting in the conversion of nearly 500 hectares to agroecology. Operating primarily in the South-West of France, the FEVE team aims to install 10 to 15 new farms by 2023 and expand further in the Greater West of France.       

 

A more resilient agricultural model to meet the challenges of food sovereignty

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In the face of the limitations of conventional agriculture, the agroecological transition has become an imperative to ensure food resilience. However, achieving this transition is a complex and systemic endeavor, as it involves numerous stakeholders and their interconnected dynamics. According to Vincent, one of the key priorities, as described in the Greniers d’Abondance, is to reintroduce "crop diversification" as a means to naturally enhance soil fertility while reintroducing specific crops. Vincent highlights the paradox of France, an agricultural country, importing over half of its fruits and vegetables, emphasizing the need for change in this regard. Another crucial priority is to "reduce meat production in France." Such a shift would have significant environmental, nutritional, and health impacts, and would also free up land for agroecology.
 

At an individual level, agriculture plays a central role in our daily lives. However, the connection between what we consume and the citizen's role in shaping the food system has been severed. How can we initiate the agroecological transition on an individual scale, and what are the primary factors that can drive and contribute to this transformation?

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Get informed and educate through resources such as the Fresque Agri’Alim, the climate fresco's ‘little sister’, co-created by Céline Monthéard and FEVE associate Astrid Tarteret, aiming to create awareness on agricultural and food issues. Vincent also recommends watching documentaries such as Roots, to gain deeper insights into how our food is produced.

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Taking proactive steps through your purchasing decisions for food, although Vincent acknowledges that this may not be feasible for everyone, by prioritizing organic products, supporting local and direct-from-the-producer options, such as AMAP fruit and vegetable baskets. In a broader sense, it becomes essential to cultivate an interest in understanding the implications of our food choices, including their impact on our health and the livelihoods of farmers in France.

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Direct your savings towards meaningful financial investments and contribute to financing the shift towards sustainable and resilient agriculture. You can choose to invest in various ways, such as directly purchasing farmland through organizations like SAFER, investing in agricultural companies, or supporting socially responsible landholding initiatives like FEVE or Terre de Liens. Additionally, there are crowdfunding platforms like Miimosa that offer opportunities to invest in impactful projects within the agricultural sector.

Supporting an agro-ecological project as a pathway for individuals seeking impactful careers in agriculture. In France, the development of training programs like HECTAR aims to empower a new generation of farmers who are equipped with the necessary skills to tackle these challenges effectively.

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Faced with this challenge, there is also regulatory leverage to change the rules of the game and encourage these new practices and consumer reading. The food labelling project based on the ABCDE health model opens the way by giving more power back to the citizen. We still have a long way to go in the face of the powerful lobbies of conventional agriculture and the agri-food industry.

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New positive narratives and action in the face of eco-anxiety
 

"When you become conscious of environmental issues, it's like a wake-up call" admits Vincent, acknowledging the eco-anxiety associated with these climate and societal challenges. "I really appreciate all the people who are striving to demonstrate that this future can be positive" confides Vincent, referring to initiatives in the cultural sphere that aim to nourish this new vision of society. Newtopia, the production company founded by Cyril Dion (Demain, Un monde nouveau / Tomorrow, A New World) and Magali Payen (On est Prêt / We are ready), bears witness to these endeavors through the creation of films, series, and documentaries portraying a desirable future. "We don't need a big car and a fancy watch" Vincent continues, urging us to "reconnect with simpler pleasures and engage in activities closer to nature." That's what he aims to do by instilling a love for hiking in his two daughters.

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In the face of eco-anxiety and the climate challenge, Vincent's primary motivation is to take action. For him, this naturally manifests through his involvement with FEVE, an impactful project, but his commitment extends further. As a member of the 50 Partners Impact mentoring program, Vincent is eager to support entrepreneurs addressing societal issues, aiming to "share some of the lessons I've learned in my entrepreneurial journey." Another source of inspiration for Vincent is witnessing the “dedication of young people to FEVE. It fosters a sense of emulation, and they strive to engage everyone in their shared mission.”

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Their mission is to contribute to the construction of a desirable future, and FEVE believes that art plays a powerful role in making this transition appealing. Therefore, they are organizing their first Feve’stival in June at the Cussac farm in the Dordogne region. As part of the event, Gael Faure, a French singer who hails from a farming background and is committed to ecology and agroecology, will perform his new show, "Le Bruit du Blé" featuring selected songs and readings from Giono's book. Vincent sees Gael's latest song, "l'œuvre de nos vies" (the masterpiece of our lives), as a fitting anthem for contemporary tastes, effectively illustrating these issues. It serves as a poignant symbol of FEVE's challenge, which is to revitalize our farms and reenchant the countryside through the agroecological transition

 

 

KEY FIGURES
 

Agriculture and carbon footprint: 25% of greenhouse gas emissions (source: The Shift Project)

50% of French farmers to retire by 2030 (source: Manger Demain - Fake or Not)

200 farms disappear every week in France (source: Ministry of Agriculture)

1.5% of the French workforce works in agriculture vs. 30% in 1950 (source: Manger Demain - Fake or Not)

Agriculture's water footprint: 40% of freshwater consumption (source: CNRS)

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DEFINITIONS
 

. Agroecology: applying ecological knowledge to agronomy, aiming to create sustainable farming systems. To establish agroecology as the norm and enhance the resilience of farms, a significant transition in agriculture is necessary. (source: Greniers d'abondance)

. CAP (Common Agricultural Policy): launched in 1962, the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a partnership between the agricultural sector and society, and between Europe and its farmers. Its main aim is to support farmers and improve agricultural productivity, guaranteeing a stable supply of food at an affordable price (source: EU).

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REFERENCES
 

Websites
-Fermes En ViE (FEVE) – http://www.feve.co
-Plateform la grange – https://lagrange.feve.co/ 
-50 Partners Impact – https://www.50partners.fr/programmes/impact
-Newtopia – https://www.newtopiastories.com/
-Gael Faure – https://www.gaelfaure.com/

Podcasts & Interviews
-« Investir dans des fermes pour gagner du blé » – Podcast La Martingale – Interview de Vincent Kraus par Matthieu Stefani (FR) - https://lamartingale.io/tous/isr-reduction-dimpot-et-rendement-les-cles-de-linvestissement-agricole/
-« Quitter la tech pour soutenir les nouveaux agriculteurs : histoire d’une prise de conscience » – Podcast Generation Do It Yourself – Interview de Marc Batty par Matthieu Stefani (FR) - https://www.gdiy.fr/podcast/marc-batty/
-« Faire prospérer une agriculture plus respectueuse du vivant » – Podcast Monétique (FR) – https://open.spotify.com/episode/59Ry7J8xkRV9s6AZCBKKos?si=3237e0bc4e9b4228
-« L’aventure d’Astrid avec Fermes En Vie (FEVE) » – Podcast Dynamite – Interview d’Astrid Tarteret par Jérôme Codiasse (FR) - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6A3MUxTaDM7ygBz5sPrGdj
-« Effondrement : est-ce que tout est vraiment foutu ? » – Blast – Interview de Pablo Servigne par Paloma Moritz (FR)  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP_mZQy2djg
-Emission c’est dans l’Air « Eau, déjà l’alerte ! » – France 5 – Esther Crauser-Delbourg (FR) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_4js8X7xSs

Documentaries & Books
-ARTE - Documentary « Roots » – Pierre Girard – EN/FR – https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/107211-002-A/roots/
-ARTE - Documentary « Un Monde Nouveau » – Cyril Dion & Thierry Robert – EN/FR – https://www.cyrildion.com/films
  -Documentary « Kiss The Ground »  EN – http://www.kisstheground.com/ 
-« Manger Demain– Fake or Not » – Frédéric Wallet – Book  (FR)
-« Comment tout peut s’effondrer » – Pablo Servigne – Book (FR/EN)
 

Articles & Other
-20 minutes – Landes : Après dix ans de galère, un agriculteur « sans terre » a réussi à s’installer grâce à l’épargne citoyenne (FR) – https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/4035370-20230504-landes-apres-dix-ans-galere-agriculteur-terre-reussi-installer-grace-epargne-citoyenne
-PressLib – Une épargne citoyenne pour financer les exploitations agricoles de demain (FR) –https://presselib.com/article/epargne-citoyenne-financer-exploitation-agriculture-bio-landes-bordeaux-ferme-feve
-Shift Project – Agriculture (FR) – https://theshiftproject.org/plan-de-transformation-de-leconomie-francaise-agriculture-et-alimentation/
-Guides « Greniers de l’abondance » (FR) – https://resiliencealimentaire.org/page-telechargement-guide/ et https://resiliencealimentaire.org/#guide2
-Scenario Afterres 2050 (FR) – https://afterres2050.solagro.org/decouvrir/scenario/

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