The Paris International Agricultural Show is an annual agricultural show and trade fair. For the last half a century, the Paris International Agricultural Show has been the annual meeting place for all the key players of the agricultural world. The Salon international de l’agriculture (SIA) is an annual fair and exhibition held in Paris at the Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles in the last week of February or in the first week of March. It is the largest agricultural fair in France in size addressed to the general public.

The French Agricultural Show has a history dating back over a century. The Paris International Agricultural Show is the leading agricultural event, not only in France but all around the world.Breeders, local farmers, regions, professional organizations and agricultural professional syndicates, different ministries, research institutes: everybody contributes to present all the aspects of the sector and the perspectives of the evolution.

The Paris International Agricultural Show is organized around 4 sectors: livestock production and its sectors, Crops and Plant sectors, Gardening and Vegetable gardens, Products from Regions accross France and its overseas territories and from the rest of the world, Agricultural Services and Professions.

This very Parisian event, unique in its genre, invites the public and professionals alike to discover the complete range of French agriculture, including some 1,000 exhibitors from 20 countries, 1,400 breeders and 3000 animals. Every year, it welcomes nearly 700,000 visitors in the space of two weeks, who come to see the most beautiful bovine species and taste award-winning regional products. The Agricultural Show is an opportunity for its visitors to reconnect with producers who value French gastronomy.

On the program: competitions, tastings, discovering specialties from French terroirs, petting the mascots of the year, but also the many activities of this essential event in Parisian life. The three parts of the famous General Agricultural Competition (animals, products & wines, young professionals) that take place throughout the show. Educational activities such as pony baptisms or activities with dogs are organized. The young public will be able to discover the educational farm. The opportunity to exchange with breeders, veterinarians. The show also offer insect discovery workshops: the insect in all its forms; a gardening workshop.

For two weeks, more than 4,000 animalsfrom 350 breeds (dogs, goats, goats, sheep, rams, ewes, rabbits, cows, bulls, horses, ponies, donkeys, pigs, cats, fish and all farmyard animals) parade in a festive atmosphere. On the last Sunday, on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, there will see thousands of sheep, sheep and horses parading.

The International Agricultural Show has become the largest French agricultural event and the largest European event in this field, making it an unmissable event for genetics and breeding. The show has also become an exemplary showcase for agriculture in the broad sense, it illustrates producer organizations. Producer organizations are groups of farmers who produce the same type of product and who pool their technical and logistical resources, thus reducing costs thanks to economies of scale.

The fair-exhibition has become a flagship event with its international dimension. It makes it possible to show European neighbors the diversity of French agricultural production, in particular for the maintenance of the common agricultural policy. This CAP is very important because it helps French farmers financially and for some years has granted higher subsidies for farmers producing in an environmentally friendly manner.

Exhibition sectors
The Agricultural Show is organized into several areas divided by theme (cattle, sheep, canines, etc.) in the different buildings (there are eight exhibition halls available) of the Porte de Versailles exhibition center. Exhibitor stands are grouped into four universes:

Livestock and its sectors
This zone houses a representative gathering of animals from the 350 exhibited species. The most important part of the International Agricultural Show, the Breedings universe and its sectors highlights the best of the animal sectors present for the most part within the framework of the prestigious Concours Général Agricole. A real immersion is offered within these sectors from upstream to downstream.

Products from the regions of France, Overseas and the world
This sector represents the food culture of 20 different countries from around the world as well as from the different regions of France. This universe of the International Agricultural Show is an invitation to travel, an immersion in the best of agriculture around the world. Local products with exotic flavors from the islands, including specialties from the 5 continents;

Crops and plant sectors, garden and vegetable patch
Here were exhibited vegetable crops, especially from the cereal sector which is very important in France. This section also informed the public of new trends in gardening as well as providing activities and entertainment for all ages. Plants are omnipresent in our lives. From arable farming to gardening via arboriculture, the International Agricultural Show reflects this beautiful range of productions. The universe is concentrated around the Odyssée Végétale, a real educational and fun point of attraction which brings together all the main players in the French sector and which highlights a wide range of productions: fruits and vegetables, collective approaches around the wine, seeds for gardening…

Agriculture services and professions
This was run by the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agrifood, and Forestry, which is a major player in the development of agriculture and agricultural training in France. From crops to livestock, via the forest, the challenges of agriculture are constantly changing, the expectations and priorities of professionals are changing.

Highlights

AGRI EXPO
An exhibition dedicated to bio-sourced products, to find solutions that respect nature and make it a common issue accessible to all. Today, the agricultural sector is one of the players in the circular economy and contributes to the preservation of the environment. It encourages a sustainable production model through the recycling of agricultural waste, conversion to organic, the optimization of phytosanitary products, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the development of agroecology, etc.

It is in this context that the International Agricultural Show is presenting the 3rd edition of AGRI’EXPO with ADEME and Groupama at the heart of pavilion 2.2, an exhibition dedicated to biosourced products. Products made from materials derived from renewable plant or animal resources. Agriculture feeds, but also provides the raw material used in the manufacture of these products. These products offer an alternative to products derived from fossil resources and contribute under certain conditions to the ecological transition.

Crafts and Rural Heritage of France
The agricultural world has always been intimately linked to the life of French rural areas which, like our agriculture, are rich and diversified. For this, the International Agricultural Show offers a space: “French Crafts and Rural Heritage”. Craftsmen, recognized for their know-how combining modernity and ancestral practices, introduce visitors to products that bear witness to our rural, artisanal and popular heritage.

Behind the scenes of the cereals
For a better understanding of the entire chain and the origin of our food. Visitors can prepare their boots, rake and magnifying glass to set off to discover the plant world and meet the Show’s experts. From sowing to sowing, to transformation into bread, sugar, flour, oil or even bioplastics and biofuels, the public will be able to follow the professionals of the plant sector through the various events and become familiar with all these crops present on a daily basis!

With the help of a professional in the sector, young and old alike will be able to discover the importance of cereals in the balanced diet of the animals they wish to feed, by making a feed adapted to the animals. At the end of this fun and family workshop, the young participants will symbolically offer a “good meal” to the animals of the breeders present at the International Agricultural Show. This is an opportunity to become aware of the links between cereal farming and livestock breeding, which are much closer than they seem.

The crop bakery
During the Salon, young and old alike become bakers and bakers’ ovens to discover the behind-the-scenes of the jewels of French gastronomy: bread. Through wheat, corn or spelt flour, in baguette, boule or loaf form, cereals are expressed here with flavour and delicacy.

On the bakery, all day long, the bakers bake French bread (traditional French baguette, regional breads, pies…) and world breads (Italian focaccia, Moroccan bread, pita bread, Spanish bread) in front of the visitors. With daily demonstrations of how to make French and foreign breads from flours made from French cereals, and every hour the children can make their own bread and discover the “soft wheat, flour, bread” sector.

Urban agriculture
As its name says, urban agriculture consists in practicing an agricultural activity within a city. These new types of culture aim to respond to the current problems of our cities and our society by taking on the subjects of improving the food autonomy of cities, the relationship of citizens to the living or the recycling of waste, air or water. Urban agriculture is mushrooms in your basements, vegetable crops on your roofs, edible walls in your offices and much more.

Agri Recrute
Agri Recrute providing young people with guidance from school right up to engineering college; hiring them, providing information about schemes and financing for professional training for employees, company managers, job-seekers or young people continuing with their studies… as well as information on rights in the workplace, etc.

There are still many people setting up as farmers in France. The agricultural sector is the second biggest employer in France. There are many jobs in agriculture. People from all walks of life can take on temporary work, part-time work or seasonal work, and increasingly, highly technical jobs or jobs with high levels of responsibility are available. Partners which are specialised in the employment-training sector are getting involved and will be at the Paris International Agricultural Show in a special employment-training area. Visitors will be able to get advice and support, as well as accessing services for all jobs in agriculture.

Agri 4.0
Agriculture 4.0 area showcases start-ups in the farming sector. In this agricultural world in perpetual motion, the Show has created in 2016 the AGRI’4.0 aera. Farmers, sector professionals and the general public are in for a unique experience when they visit this area, brimming with innovative products and services for agricultural enterprises. They will leave with a sound understanding of all the ways in which digital technologies are helping to safeguard high-quality farming in France.

The milk and dairy product area
The “France, land of milk” stand will teach you anything you don’t know about the dairy sector and plunge you into a world of dairy delicacies. As in previous years, the dairy sector will be fulsomely represented with one particular area completely given over to milk and dairy products. It will feature joint cow and goat areas, a dairy product area, representatives of dairy companies and a general event in the show’s milking parlour.

The areas of the CNIEL (France’s joint trade association for the dairy economy) and the ANICAP (the joint trade association for goat products) will be gathered together under the “France, Land of milk” banner, with three aims: help the general public understand the dairy sector (all types of livestock together), promote milks and all transformed products among consumers and facilitate relations and contacts among sector professionals.

A milking parlour simulator will show visitors everything they need to know about the milk production process – from rumination to milking, as well as feeding, animal well-being and what livestock farmers need to do to ensure that everything goes smoothly. There will be a series of events all about dairy breeds and landscapes, farms, milking parlours and dairies. Visitors will be able to enjoy a completely original virtual reality experience, workingon a farm alongside a dairy farmer.

Agri’Relaxation Spaces
For a better visit comfort, spaces are at your disposal for a few minutes of rest and games, with entertainment offered every day. Find around these 4 “Agri’Détente” spaces, a rest area with an entertainment area next to it to satisfy the little ones.

Pavilion 6: Pony baptisms – Every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., the French Riding Federation offers pony baptisms. On site, a touch terminal and the teams of the FFE will be at your disposal to help you find a club near you, a family hike, a stay or a course for children…

Pavilion 4: Ynsect and COMPO, partners of the AGRI’DETENTE of Pavilion 4 offer workshops to discover insects: the insect in all its forms. An educational space that will answer all the children’s questions: the role of insects in nature, their breeding…

Pavilion 5.2: Farms of the world – located near the farms of the world, the Agri’Détente area will allow children to approach dromedaries, camels, Somali goats, llamas, young Watusi…

Animal areas

The Goat House
The Goat House which will be showcasing goat livestock farmers and producers of goat’s milk and cheese, as well as the companies involved in transforming it. Meet livestock farmers, sample numerous varieties of goat’s cheese with a cheese-maker who has been recognised as one of the finest cheese-making craftsmen in France, attend educational and culinary workshops to learn about the various stages involved in producing cheese and different ways of making goats cheese.

The public is expected at the goat house, the exhibition space dedicated to the French goat sector, to discover 6 of the 14 recognized national breeds.. An opportunity to show visitors just how diverse breeds of goat are in France and to demonstrate the internationally recognised selection procedures involved in rearing them.

The Equine Hall
There will be a pop-up pony club set up in hall 6 – the equine hall – to showcase all the work done by pony clubs and equestrian centres, work that is both fun and educational. The Société Française des Équidés de Travail (SFET) will feature various breeds of French draught horse, as well as donkeys, mules and other regional horses in its area, showcasing these animals and showing visitors what they can be used for.

The French Equestrian Federation will be giving children (accompanied by their parents) opportunities to try out pony riding. Use your family visit to the Paris International Agricultural Show to introduce your children to this fun and educational activity. You and your child will be supervised by a state-qualified teacher as you make your way along a specially marked out course in teams of two – to everybody’s delight. What an excellent idea to have ponies at the show.

The SFET is an umbrella society for 24 French draught horse breeds. Its brief is determined in agreement with France’s Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-foods and Forests – it implements a global policy designed to encourage and promote breeding in order to improve the offspring of the French breeds in question. The SFET – an umbrella society for French breeds of draught horses, donkeys, mules and other regional horses – will be presenting draught horses around the large horse and donkey ring, where competitions, demonstrations, presentations and other events will take place.

Donkey Village
There will be numerous special events to celebrate the 23rd time donkeys are making an appearance at the Show, with presentations and demonstrations in the equine arena. Every day, you will be able to watch shows featuring French donkey breeds – including Pyrenean donkeys and mules. The village will also be hosting the National Donkey Awards.

Dogs and Cats
Go to Hall 7.1 and see some of the finest examples of major dog and cat breeds, just like every year, families will be able to enjoy numerous events and workshops. The Central Canine Society is joining forces with the LOOF (official register of dog and cat pedigrees) to create the first ever “Dogs & Cats” hub in Hall 7.1. Sports demonstrations put on by young students from professional farming colleges, and many other highlights will be on show every day in this area which is particularly popular among the general public.

As you make your way through the hall, you’ll be able to admire the finest specimens of various cat and dog breeds, and get information about them from their breeders. Cat breeders will be at the show, and you’ll be able to find examples of the most popular breeds, such as Maine Coons, British Shorthairs and Persians. There will also be dog demonstrationson the presentation stage: police dogs, guide dogs, agility dogs, herding dogs and many others will put on a show for the delight of children and adults alike.

In Hall 7.1, numerous stands all focused on pets’ well-being (food, accessories, information from LOOF, France’s official register of cat pedigrees, the Reproducers’ Awards and the central canine society), as well as seeing the finest cat and dog pedigrees.

For everything there is to know about cats and the numerous breeds that there are, just visit the professional cat breeders in the L.O.O.F. (France’s official register of cat pedigrees) area. This is a body approved by the Ministry for agriculture, agrifoods and forestry which manages cat breeds and publishes genealogical documents (pedigrees) in France. Every day, breeders and their cats will come and meet members of the general public, showcasing the wealth and the sheer diversity of feline breeds. An opportunity for everyone to find a breed that best suits them.

Events

General Agricultural Competition
The General Agricultural Competition was first held in 1870 to select and recognise France’s best regional products and breeding animals. It is an age-old event with an eminently cutting-edge mission: to showcase the exceptional biodiversity in French breeding and gastronomy. Competitions include prizes for the best wine tasters and best livestock judges for students from agricultural schools.

It serves as a unique launching pad for local products, dairy products and wines, and a showcase for the excellent qualities of French breeding. Candidates participating in the General Agricultural Competition benefit by acquiring more legitimacy within their profession and in the eyes of the general public. It also raises awareness and singles out up-and-coming young professionals who are committed to agriculture.

The products competition covers more than 23 categories divided into two main families: dairy products and local products. The products are submitted to a panel made up of professionals from the sector, producers, members of the food and wine trades, merchants, distributors and knowledgeable consumers.

Prizes are awarded on the basis of sensory characteristics and taste. Included in the local products category are slaughtered poultry, poultry pieces, foie gras, dairy products, olive oil products, nut oils, honey products, Espelette chili peppers, vanilla, brandies, fortified wines, pommeau and apple brandy, oysters, smoked trout, fruit juices, apple and pear ciders, beers, rums and punches, aperitifs, cured meats, sausages jams and saffron.

Ovine Olympics for Young Shepherds
The Ovine Olympics for Young Shepherds are an opportunity to find out what being an ovine livestock farmer is actually about through discussions with professionals and students actually getting their hands dirty: sorting ewes using a smartphone, assessing a ewe’s health, handling a sheep and assessing its physique, trimming its toenails, assessing the fattening of lambs and selecting a breeding ram.

The Olympiades des Métiers (world skills competition), which is the world’s biggest competition for young people and professional training, seeking to showcase professional teaching and technical jobs. Six young people competing in the Ovine Olympics for Young Shepherds will go through to the finals in Paris and will qualify to take part in the national Olympiades des Métiers finals.

The Ovine Olympics for Young Shepherds are evidence of the sector’s willingness to get people interested in it so that new ewe livestock farmers can set up throughout France, ensuring that there will be people to take over from the current generation. The Ovine Olympics are also a collective competition. This trial, which tests both students’ sheep rearing ability and their communication skills, is an opportunity for students from the same school to put their heads together and think about a different topic every year, and to demonstrate their creativity.