Arnaud Rousseau was unsurprisingly re-elected as president of the FNSEA, France's main agricultural union, for a second term. The 52-year-old grain farmer, the sole candidate, intends to continue his work in a context marked by international tensions and debates on the future of European agriculture.
The leader wants to place "food sovereignty" and production capacity at the heart of discussions, at a time when the guidelines for the future Common Agricultural Policy are being drawn up. Since his arrival in 2023, his discourse focused on competitiveness and the "act of production" has gained traction in a sector facing a persistent crisis.
A controversial but influential profile
Arnaud Rousseau, who runs a large farm in Seine-et-Marne and is president of the Avril agribusiness group, is regularly criticized for his profile, which is considered too far removed from traditional farmers. His detractors denounce a vision too close to agribusiness, while he defends an entrepreneurial approach to farming.
Although heavily criticized, the FNSEA remains a central player in the dialogue with the State, even if its hegemony was weakened during the 2025 professional elections, marked by a rise in competing unions.
Faced with rising production costs and economic uncertainties, Arnaud Rousseau champions a "competitive" French agriculture, rejecting both positions deemed too radical and those advocating degrowth. He insists on the need to provide concrete solutions for farmers, while also calling for a move beyond simply expressing anger. In a changing agricultural landscape, his re-election confirms the FNSEA's commitment to maintaining a reformist and influential stance as major political deadlines approach.
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