Meet our members | Arnold PUECH d'ALISSAC: the agricultural world is very diverse and it is necessary to work together to make our point of view heard

Arnold Puech d'Alissac is a farmer, president of FRSEA Normandie (Regional Federation of Farmers' Unions of Normandy) and bureau member of the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles - FNSEA (National Federation of Farmers' Unions). He has been a member of the EESC since 2015, and is currently a member of the NAT section bureau. On 8 June 2022, he was elected president of the World Farmers' Organisation (WFO) for the 2022–2024 term.

What drives you to be an active and engaged EESC and NAT section and bureau member? How do you make the link with your work (and your life) back home?

I particularly appreciate the spirit of conviviality at the Committee and the presence of members from different European countries (In fact, my wife and I also come from different countries!). I enjoy meeting other members and interacting with them. When I was the president of young farmers at CEJA, I was told "when you deal with international affairs, you must always be with others, and not with the French", an instruction that I applied with relish!

Because of my background (the farming world), the topics covered by the NAT section are particularly appealing to me. When it comes to agriculture, a lot is happening in Brussels and I learn every day from the good examples and good practices of other countries. I try to share and disseminate all this information in my networks.

In June, you were appointed as president of the World Farmers' Organisation. What are – in a nutshell – your priorities as the new WFO president? How do you see the future cooperation between the NAT section and the WFO?

My priority is to be a spokesperson for farmers: I listen a lot, I am in contact with different audiences, and with people in various countries, and I am delighted to disseminate their messages. What I like a lot is teamwork, especially with my Management Board at the WFO. It's like in rugby, where there are different positions in the team that come together to form a whole; the agricultural world is also very diverse and it is necessary to work together to make our point of view heard.

It's like in rugby, where there are different positions in the team that come together to form a whole; the agricultural world is also very diverse and it is necessary to work together to make our point of view heard.

The organisation was created 11 years ago to represent the farmers’ voice and position itself in the face of established structures such as NGOs (Greenpeace, etc.) and the economic world (Davos). Agriculture and food are at the center of discussions at COPs and economic forums, so you have to be organized to participate in the discussions. The WFO brings together 76 organisations from 52 countries, grouped into 6 regions, and will continue to grow!

My mandate will be an opportunity to develop cooperation with the NAT section of the Committee. I am thinking, for example, of organising an event on food with the European Region of the WFO and of working together for the COP, where the WFO has an important place as a serious and organised voice of the agricultural world and where there will be the opportunity to share our messages with a much wider audience. On the other hand, I may be a little less available for the NAT section, but I am sure that other members will be willing to become rapporteurs of opinions ;-)

You have also recently been the rapporteur for the EESC exploratory opinion for the French Presidency on food security and sustainability and the EESC opinion on sustainable carbon cycles. What are the key ingredients to foster the transition to more sustainable food systems?

I think that the carbon footprint is a key element: the carbon footprint of products should be known in order to make informed purchases. We are moving towards more virtuous carbon cycles, we all have (both consumers and all actors in the agri-food chain) a role to play. Bans are not always effective! A few days ago, for example, I took part in a meeting in France on the EU programme for schools (fruit, vegetables and dairy products) where canteens are obliged to promote sugar-free yoghurts and grated carrots without a dressing, which does not work in practice. We must therefore work together with modesty and a practical spirit in order to find functional and effective solutions.