News
A look back at the 62nd Salon International de l'Agriculture: SIQO in the spotlight
From February 21 to March 1, 2026, INAO took part in the 62nd International Agricultural Show. Throughout the Salon, the SIQO (official signs identifying quality and origin), in addition to their significant presence in the aisles , were highlighted during several highlights, confirming their central role in territories, agricultural sectors and, more globally, food sovereignty.
Conference INRAE-INAO
"SIQOs, a major asset for French food sovereignty"
Thursday, February 26, INAO and the Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (INRAE) organized a conference dedicated to the contribution of SIQOs to food sovereignty.
In a context marked by geopolitical tensions, climatic challenges and changes in agricultural markets, the exchanges served as a reminder of the extent to which SIQOs constitute a strategic lever to guarantee value-adding, sustainable, quality production rooted in the territories.
After keynote speeches by Philippe Brisebarre, President of the INAO Permanent Council, and Philippe Mauguin, (CEO of INRAE), several economists and researchers shared their analyses around three main themes:
- Geographical Indications and Red Labels as a common heritage, fostering the reterritorialization and sustainability of food systems - Armelle Mazé, economist, researcher and research coordinator (UMR SADAPT, INRAE)
- The role of Geographical Indications in protecting the French agricultural model in trade agreements - Karine Latouche, economist, research director (UMR SMART, INRAE
- The contribution of signs of quality and origin to reducing input dependency - Raja Chakir, economist, research director (UMR PSAE, INRAE).
The rich exchanges with the audience testified to the strong interest of scientists, professionals and institutions in these structuring issues.
Round table on raw milk: a national plan to safeguard a living heritage
Thursday, February 26, representatives from ANSES, INRAE, INAO, CNAOL, FNPL, FNEC, as well as the administrations of the DGPE, the DGAL, the DGER, gathered for a roundtable dedicated to raw milk.
Organized following the meeting of raw milk cheese professionals on January 12 with the French Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, this sequence presented the broad outlines of a national plan to safeguard raw milk, focusing on five areas: research, risk management, training/transfer, economics/risk coverage, communication.
The discussions reiterated the need to conciliate health safety and the preservation of cheese-making traditions, against a backdrop of evolving scientific knowledge and the emergence of new risks.
The ANSES and DGAL reiterated their central role in terms of health safety and consumer protection, while stressing the need to strike a balance between preserving cheese-making traditions and health requirements. The DGER and INRAE stressed the importance of stepping up research into both the risks and benefits of raw milk, as well as data production, in close liaison with professionals.
The industry representatives highlighted the strategic importance of raw milk, nearly 70% of which is used in cheeses AOP and IGP. For INAO, safeguarding raw milk is a major challenge for the sustainability of official quality and origin signs.
Finally, the DGPE recalled the complexity of the subject, at the crossroads of health, economic, heritage and quality policy issues. The Ministry reaffirmed its mobilization, making available its tools in terms of research, health management and economic support, to make this plan a collective success.
Chefs' workshops: SIQO tastings
On the weekends of February 21-22 and February 28-March 1, visitors were able to attend culinary workshops organized on the Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Souveraineté alimentaire stand.
Chef Clément Dujardin sublimated numerous SIQO products: IGP "Cancoillotte", IGP "crème d'Alsace", IGP "Farine de petit épeautre de Haute Provence", IGP "Huitres de Normandie", IGP "Miel de tilleul de Picardie", IGP "Soumaintrain", AOP "Crème de Bresse", AOP "Farine de châtaigne de Corse", AOP "huile d'olive de Provence", AOP "Fromages d'Auvergne", AOP "Noix de Grenoble", OPA "Pomme du Limousin", AOP "Châteauneuf du Pape" and AOP "Vouvray", Noix de Saint Jacques Label Rouge and Porc de la Sarthe Label Rouge...
The SIQO were showcased through creative and gourmet recipes, enabling the public to discover or rediscover the richness of French production.
These workshops were also an opportunity for privileged meetings with producers, who came to share their passion, commitment and know-how. A convivial and educational moment, particularly appreciated by visitors.
SIQO at the heart of the Concours Général Agricole
From February 21 to 24, the Concours Général Agricole once again illustrated France's agricultural and gastronomic excellence.
With 7,472 jurors mobilized (professionals and consumers), the competition rewarded many products, a large majority of which benefit from a SIQO. INAO, a long-standing partner of the competition, continued its commitment by training jurors, as it does every year, in sensory analysis and product knowledge.
Prizes were also awarded to breeders in recognition of thebest agroecological practices (grasslands, rangelands, agroforestry), underlining the importance of approaches reconciling quality, resilience and environmental preservation.
Receipt of registration certificates for the PGIs "Pérail" and "Miel de Tilleul de Picardie"
On February 25, at the European Union stand, an official ceremony marked the receipt of registration certificates from the IGPs :
- " Perail "
- " Picardy Lime Honey "
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, personally congratulated the defense and management organizations (ODG) of the two newly-approved products.
Presented by Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle (Director of Strategy and Political Analysis), the ceremony featured committed and passionate speeches by representatives of the ODG, who emphasized the collective work, heritage and attachment to the territories that this European recognition represents.
Tastings allowed visitors to discover these emblematic products, creating a powerful moment of sharing and conviviality.
Further information
- International Agricultural Show website: https://www.salon-agriculture.com/
- Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty website: https://agriculture.gouv.fr/