"The agricultural entrepreneur of the 21st century will have to put himself in the position of a business creator and not of a farm buyer. He will have to be in a proactive position to ensure that he takes responsibility for his decisions."
Consultant and author of "Growing the future together (re)reconciling agriculture and society"(LFA éditions, 2021), Hervé Pillaud likes to define himself as an "active activist for the agricultural cause". "I believe in man's capacity to surprise the future", he explains. "I vibrate and feed off the experiences and knowledge of everyone... sometimes even their ignorance. I love a world to be perfected, but I hope in a world to be admired. I believe in these young talents that I am so proud to accompany from my native Vendée to the heart of Africa. They give me as much love and recognition as they do trouble. We sent him the HECTAR questionnaire...
1. In your opinion, the agricultural entrepreneur of the 21st century will be... ?
Creative - manager - committed! The agricultural entrepreneur of the 21st century will have to put himself in the position of a business creator and not of a farm buyer. They must be proactive in order to ensure that they are responsible for their decisions. Commitment to their territory and value chain, and communication with their ecosystem, will be the key to success. Performance in agriculture, more than anywhere else, is never achieved alone but in interaction with the surrounding environment: this is how the notion of environment (natural, economic and human) takes on its full dimension.
2. What do you think are the 3 indicators of responsible and sustainable management of an agricultural project?
The responsible management of a farming project must be approached in a systemic way, taking into account economic, environmental and labour indicators. In economic terms, controlling production costs is, I believe, fundamental. Of all the environmental issues, the carbon footprint must be the first to attract our attention. Lastly, the calculation of arduousness (if it can be quantified at all) is surely one of the most important indicators for measuring the company's efficiency over time. Calculation of production costs, carbon footprint and assessment of drudgery are therefore, in my opinion, the three most important indicators to be taken into account.
3. What is a key economic ratio for good farm management?
A good ratio must take into account an ecosystemic analysis of the company capable of strengthening the company over time and avoiding misalignment with the objectives set for all components: economic, environmental and social. It is not easy in these conditions to quote a ratio without falling into a Manichean analysis. A ratio combining EBITDA and carbon footprint is an interesting approach, provided that it is recognised and valued, which requires valuing the positive externalities of agriculture in environmental terms.
4. If you had one piece of advice to give to a candidate for the agricultural professions, what would it be?
Don't expect to discover a garden of Eden, nature is often ungrateful but if you know how to give it the best of yourself and collaborate with what surrounds you (starting with people) it will sometimes know how to give it back to you and the satisfaction will then be beyond your hopes. In agriculture, success is never solitary!
5. Name an inspirational person you have met on your journey / a mentor?
My life has been made up of nothing but beautiful encounters, no doubt because time makes us forget the others, but if I had to mention only one person, it would be my friend Vincent Blanchet, with whom, in the 1990s, we moved not mountains but masses of water thanks to a very innovative system of recharging natural environments, which allowed us to ensure irrigation (and profitability) on 30 farms in our commune while preserving the environment. He left us on 11 November 1997 and his memory has never ceased to guide me.
