Food democracy and rural territories: a day to draw inspiration from the realities on the ground

On 30 May, let’s talk about food democracy in rural areas during a day of study, exchanges and meetings on the subject. How to implement it? What involvement of the inhabitants? What levers should you use when you are a local authority?… Thanks to the many testimonies and presentations of concrete tools, come and sketch the current face of food democracy in our territories! The day takes place in Angers, but you can also register for the morning by videoconference. An event in partnership with Resolis, Terres en Villes, Un plus Bio, the Federation of Regional Natural Parks and the TETRAA programme.

Food democracy: a multifaceted approach

Enabling citizens to regain power over how to access their food is the ambition of food democracy. But beyond the simple question of eating better, the notion invites us to rethink the food system as a whole, by reconnecting food and agriculture, for a fairer, more united and ecological society.

The implementation of food democracy is multiple, as they depend on the specificities of each territory. Associative fabric, involvement of residents, presence (or past) of agriculture, … Food democracy is tailor-made.

On the program: a morning (on site or by videoconference) devoted to four cross-testimonies of field initiatives or inspiring studies. The afternoon (only on site to facilitate exchanges) will be dedicated to a round table with exchanges with the audience on the theme “Food democracy in rural areas, from proven difficulties to potential levers”. Discover the full program at the end of the article.

Register for this study day to testify about your realities on the ground and be inspired by the experiences of other participants!

Giving a voice to those who make

Anaïs Sinoir is in charge of food at the Community of Communes of the Val de Drôme, a rural territory between plains and mountains, with a strong agricultural presence. It participates in the implementation of food democracy in connection with the strategy adopted by the Community of Municipalities by 2026. An experimental approach and in co-construction with the local associative fabric, food democracy intersects with services dedicated to food but also to culture, as agriculture is an inherent part of the territory’s identity.

Anaïs will share her feedback on Thursday morning during a joint testimony with Louise Galipaud, Coordinator of the TETRAA program (program of which the Community of Municipalities of the Val de Drôme is a part) on the theme ” The levers of local authorities to implement food democracy”.

Practical information

Meet at La Terrasse in Angers. It is a 10-minute walk from the Angers St Laud SNCF train station and a 1h30 train ride from Paris.

Register here for the videoconference morning.

Program

9:15-9:45 am: Welcome coffee

9:45-10 am: Introductory remarks and presentation of the day by Benoît Mounier, Executive Director of the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation in France.

10am-12:45pm: 4 feedbacks on food democracy

• 10 a.m. : ” The participation of residents in Territorial Food Programs (PAT) “, with Alioune Dabo, scientific manager at Terres en Ville, Oriane Marcadet, food project manager at the Pays des Châteaux and Nicolas Orgelet, vice-president of the Blois agglomeration in charge of the ecological and energy transition;
• 10:40 a.m. : ” These communities that invent food democracy “, with Inès Revuelta, facilitator-coordinator at Un plus bio and Yves Delcroix, municipal councillor in charge of the ecological transition in Chambray-Les-Tours;
• 11:20 a.m. : ” The RESOLIS observatory, a support for promoting inspiring food democracy initiatives ” with Brigitte Picandet, program manager at Resolis and Lucile Dumoulin;
• 12:00 p.m .: “The levers of local authorities to implement food democracy” with Louise Galipaud, coordinator of the TETRAA program and Anaïs Sinoir, food project manager at the Community of Municipalities of Val de Drôme.

12:45 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Lunch on site (offered for in-person participants).

2pm-4pm: Round table “Food Democracy in rural areas, from proven difficulties to potential levers”

Moderator: Julien Noël, researcher and consultant for the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation

Discussion with Alioune Dabo, scientific manager at Terres en Ville, Stéphane Veyrat, director of Un plus bio and Brigitte Picandet, program manager at Resolis, followed by exchanges with the audience

4pm-4:20pm: Astonishment report and concluding elements by Patrice N’Diaye, Lecturer in Public Law at the University of Montpellier.

The speakers of the day

Session 1 “The participation of inhabitants in Territorial Food Programmes (PAT)”

• Alioune Dabo, scientific manager at Terres en Ville
• Oriane Marcadet, food project manager at the Pays des Châteaux
• Nicolas Orgelet, vice-president of the Blois agglomeration in charge of the ecological and energy transition

Session 2 “These communities that invent food democracy”

• Inès Revuelta, facilitator-coordinator at Un plus bio

• Yves Delcroix, municipal councillor in charge of the ecological transition in Chambray-Les-Tours

Session 3 “The levers of local authorities to implement food democracy”

• Brigitte Picandet, Program Manager at Resolis
• Lucile Dumoulin

Session 4 “The levers of local authorities to implement food democracy”

• Louise Galipaud, TETRAA Programme Coordinator

• Anaïs Sinoir, food project manager at the Community of Municipalities of the Val de Drôme

Photo credits:

©Antoine Boissonot

©Anaïs Sinoir

©TETRAA