Viewpoints

Fruit growing maps the risks of the sector

The National Federation of Fruit Growers (FNPF) is presenting a wide-ranging study of risks, particularly human risks, in the sector at its congress this week. Find out more from its director Stéphanie Prat.

Hectar

21/2/22

The faces of Hectar

Bérénice Giot: "I always wanted to work in a rural environment with animals

Bérénice, a breeder at Hectar's Godets farm, tells us about her daily life with some 80 beautiful ruminants!

Hectar

19/1/22

What the experts say

Bertrand Valiorgue - Agriculture and the Anthropocene: giving a voice to the actors of the transition through a new webinar cycle

Hectar met Bertrand Valiorgue, Professor of Strategy and Corporate Governance at EM Lyon Business School.

Hectar

18/1/22

What the experts say

Gabrielle Halpern - Doctor of Philosophy: "Hybridization: a fashionable concept or a new project for society?

Gabrielle Halpern is a doctor of philosophy, a research associate and a graduate of the École Normale Supérieure. She deciphers for us weak signals and unlikely marriages in the agricultural world.

Hectar

6/1/22

What the experts say

Aymeric Jung - Quadia: "Every investment has an impact

"In life, there are two categories of people: those who look at the world as it is and ask themselves why, and those who imagine the world as it should be and say to themselves: why not? Aymeric Jung has made G.B. Shaw's quote his own. According to the managing partner of Quadia, a company dedicated to impact investing that favours the principles of the Regenerative Economy, a company's business model must be as close as possible to the functioning of the living world, throughout its value chain...

Hectar

17/12/21

Partner views

Florian Breton - Founder and CEO of MiiMOSA: "The farm of tomorrow will produce to feed, but not only!

Launched in 2015, MiiMOSA is the 1st participatory financing platform exclusively dedicated to agriculture and food. Beyond offering an alternative to traditional finance, MiiMOSA is a place for exchange, sharing and solidarity between a community of contributors and project holders in these sectors. Interview with Florian Breton, founder and enthusiastic CEO for whom "small streams make big rivers".

Hectar

25/10/21

We are talked about

NEW YORK TIMES - Tomorrow's French agriculture: high-tech with "off" weekends

Hectar, the school financed by Xavier Niel, wants to make agriculture more profitable, more attractive, "sexier" through technology. Others in France are already trying.

Hectar

12/10/21

We are talked about

RÉUSSIR.FR - Combining regenerative and organic agriculture, a major challenge for the Hectar pilot farm

Christophe Naudin has been appointed to head the 250-hectare mixed farming and dairy cattle farm of the Hectar agricultural campus, created by Xavier Niel and Audrey Bourolleau. He talks to Réussir.fr about his motivations and objectives.

Hectar

7/10/21

What the experts say

Grégoire Bleu - President of UpCycle: "The best waste is the one we don't produce!

Grégoire Bleu sums up what guided his choice of career path after graduating from ESCP in 2003: "Do something useful for the world". Four questions to this innovation enthusiast and bearer of solutions on the impact of waste on the environment.

Hectar

24/9/21

What the experts say

David Garbous - Founder of Transformation Positive: "Considering the agricultural enterprise in its ecosystem and its interdependencies

David Garbous is a specialist in food marketing and the creator of the B Corp training course at Hectar. He is convinced that a company that makes a commitment to its stakeholders for society and the environment enters into a virtuous circle and that a common frame of reference makes it possible to move towards sustainable growth.

Hectar

16/9/21

We are talked about

WEEKEND ECHOES - Neo-farmers shake up the farming world

"If I had to do it again, I wouldn't hesitate! Six years after leaving his job as a manager at Bureau Veritas to start raising organic chickens north-east of Rouen, Gaëtan Royer has no regrets...

Hectar

3/9/21

What the experts say

THE HECTAR INTERVIEW: For Hervé PILLAUD, "the agricultural entrepreneur of the 21st century will be creative, managerial and 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. He will have to be in a proactive position to ensure that he takes responsibility for his decisions."

Hectar

2/9/21

Campus Life

The accelerator of startups in pictures and figures

On February 16th, Hectar accelerator kickoff took place during a day of pitching, workshops and networking at the Hectar Campus... A look back at this inauguration in numbers and images!

Hectar

10/3/22

The faces of Hectar

Marie-Laure Wavelet: flowers made in Marseille

Flowers are a powerful ally not only for biodiversity, but also for farmers, who can use them to diversify and make their business model more solid. In 2022, Marie-Laure Wavelet took part in the Tremplin program to build her flower farm project in Marseille. A project she has successfully completed, since she now grows and distributes her flowers locally.

Hectar

29/1/24

The faces of Hectar

Martin Ullmann, AI for farmers

AI is being integrated into many aspects of our daily lives, but in agriculture, what is its concrete application? To demonstrate the usefulness of AI in agriculture, we interviewed Martin Ullmann, founder and CEO of Ullmanna, a startup accelerated in season 4 ofaccelerator Hectar. Ullmanna is an AI-based solution for weeding fields without using pesticides or damaging crops.

Hectar

10/1/24

The faces of Hectar

Kikleo raises 1.5M and accelerates its fight against food waste

Kikleo, a tool for reducing food waste in collective restaurants, has just completed its first round of funding following its acceleration at Hectar to speed up their commercial development and enable new restaurants to save money and reduce their impact. We spoke to Vincent Garcia, co-founder of Kikleo, to find out more about the issues surrounding food waste.

Hectar

14/11/23

The faces of Hectar

Maddly and Julien, a change of life from north to south

Both engineers in the Oise region, Maddly and Julien decided to change their lives: they headed for the Dordogne to take over the family farm and set up a local dairy sheep and pig farm. Following the Hectar Tremplin program, they agreed to give us their impressions and share with us the details of their project and its evolution.

Hectar

9/8/23

The faces of Hectar

Caroline Payen, well-made, well-thought pasta

After a career in agri-food marketing, Caroline set up on a farm to create her own brand of artisanal pasta, Papote. As a participant in season 2 of Hectar's Farm'Her program, dedicated to female leadership, Caroline told us about her beginnings as an agricultural entrepreneur, the creation of her brand and of a product with impact.

Hectar

4/8/23

The faces of Hectar

Violette Bouyssou: diagnosis for better durability

Violette Bouyssou, a student at AgroParisTech, used the IDEA4 method to diagnose the Hectar pilot farm. The aim? To assess the sustainability of the arable and livestock farming operations, while simulating the economic, environmental and social impact of a floriculture operation. To find out more about this method, we asked Violette about her mission and the lessons she learned from it.

Hectar

20/7/23

The faces of Hectar

Jean-Baptiste, farm stores to showcase farm work

Jean-Baptiste, founder of Ispiri, wants to bring consumers to the farm. By creating boutiques selling artisanal products on farms, he aims to showcase the work of farmers. To consolidate his project, he drew on the Tremplin program at Hectar, and was able to challenge his business plan and find solutions to adapt to farmers' needs.

Hectar

6/7/23

The faces of Hectar

Testimonial - Hortense, from movie dresses to whisky dresses

Last week, Class 7 of the Springboard program began at Hectar.

Hectar

22/5/23

The faces of Hectar

Éliot, a major reconversion

More than a year ago, Eliot left his daily life as a cook to completely reorient himself. In the Sauternes region, he found his vocation through a training on the vine and became an agricultural employee in a wine château. From why he decided to change his life to the specificities of his new job, discover his testimony.

Hectar

11/5/23

The faces of Hectar

Kim, an agricultural project to reappropriate the know-how of herbalist

In France, 20,000 tons of dried plants are imported per year, even though some of them could be grown in France. But passionate agricultural entrepreneurs like Kim are starting to produce local medicinal plants and are taking action to reclaim the know-how of herbalists and the knowledge of plants.

Hectar

14/2/23

The faces of Hectar

TESTIMONIAL OF AN AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEUR - Taking over and transforming the family farm

With her sister and brother, this marketing professional is thinking of taking over the family wine estate in Fronsac. The passage through Hectar Tremplin gave them the key to an economically fair and socially viable project

Hectar

26/9/22

The faces of Hectar

PORTRAIT OF AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURS - The path of an agricultural project

Théo and Hilaire have joined forces to set up an agricultural project. Yes, but which one? Starting with a piece of land, they questioned themselves, thought, explored, discussed, studied... That's the life of an agricultural entrepreneur! But in the end, what will they do on their farm? We let you discover it in video!

Hectar

30/8/22

We are talked about

ON PARLE DE NOUS - Report on Hectar in the 19/20 of France 3 Parie Île-de-France

France 3 Paris Ile-de-France came to Hectar! If you missed their report, find it here.

Hectar

28/2/22

We are talked about

NEW YORK TIMES - Tomorrow's French agriculture: high-tech with "off" weekends

Hectar, the school financed by Xavier Niel, wants to make agriculture more profitable, more attractive, "sexier" through technology. Others in France are already trying.

Hectar

12/10/21

We are talked about

RÉUSSIR.FR - Combining regenerative and organic agriculture, a major challenge for the Hectar pilot farm

Hectar

7/10/21

We are talked about

WEEKEND ECHOES - Neo-farmers shake up the farming world

"If I had to do it again, I wouldn't hesitate! Six years after leaving his job as a manager at Bureau Veritas to start raising organic chickens north-east of Rouen, Gaëtan Royer has no regrets...

Hectar

3/9/21

We are talked about

"Hectar offers agricultural training with a project approach", according to its director

"We are careful to ensure that the projects meet three criteria: the students will be strongly aware of the social, economic and environmental issues. On this last point, even if we let the candidates choose their mode of production, we make them aware in particular of soil regeneration agriculture."

Hectar

31/8/21

We are talked about

REUSSIR.FR - The co-founder of BlaBlaCar at the head of Hectar, Xavier Niel's agricultural school

The co-founder of BlaBlaCar at the head of Hectar, Xavier Niel's agricultural school.

Hectar

31/8/21

We are talked about

GROSS. - Hectar wants to train tomorrow's farmers for free

Brut. went to meet HECTAR "When you want to feed yourself in quality and quantity, you have to pay attention to the soil.

Hectar

2/7/21

We are talked about

Discover "Le grand entretien" with Audrey Bourolleau directed by Edouard Bergeon, the founder of CultivonsNous.tv

"HECTAR does not provide any technical education but accompanies entrepreneurs! (...) HECTAR is complementary. "Audrey BOUROLLEAU

Hectar

25/6/21

We are talked about

LES ECHOS - "Yvelines: students from the 42 school are going to train in agricultural artificial intelligence".

Xavier Niel's Ecole 42 is to set up an innovative training module, Agritech IA, on the Hectar campus in Lévis-Saint-Nom. The aim is to teach young people how to use artificial intelligence to support the agricultural transition.

Hectar

24/6/21

We are talked about

LES ECHOS - "Land, the new horizon of billionaires".

From Bill Gates to Xavier Niel, why billionaires are putting their feet up.

Hectar

22/6/21

We are talked about

MADDYNESS.COM - Hectar: Francis Nappez' tech ambitions for agriculture

Presented last February, Xavier Niel's new large-scale project is taking up residence in the fields of the Vallée de Chevreuse.

Hectar

9/6/21

We are talked about

LA FRANCE AGRICOLE - "Audrey Bourolleau, from the Elysée to the fields

At the age of forty, she has decided to change her life. Audrey Bourolleau, a former adviser to President Emmanuel Macron, is putting on her farming boots to create, with billionaire Xavier Niel, a vast campus near Paris designed to train the "agricultural entrepreneurs of tomorrow".

Hectar

5/5/21

Read for you

The choice of regenerative agriculture

Regenerative agriculture includes all practices that improve the capture and storage of carbon in the soil in the form of organic matter, restore soil biodiversity and improve the water cycle.

Hectar

26/4/21

Read for you

Grass productivity

Did you know that dynamic rotational grazing was invented by a French agronomist in the 1960s?

Hectar

5/4/21

Read for you

Regeneration Agriculture, by Mark Shepard

The reference manual of the American pioneer of regenerative agriculture

Hectar

29/3/21

Read for you

Holistic Management Handbook

This book on regenerative agriculture and animal husbandry by an American specialist details holistic management applied to a cattle farm.

Hectar

15/3/21

Read for you

Richard Perkins: Regenerative agriculture

How to design, manage and develop a farm according to the principles of regenerative agriculture?

Hectar

1/3/21

Partner views

Compass and Hectar create a low-carbon restaurant

Hectar and Compass have created a low-carbon pilot self-catering facility on the Hectar campus. From starter to dessert, a menu that limits greenhouse gas emissions. With 1 million meals served every day in France, Compass is a key player in the transition to a low-carbon diet. We spoke to Sabine Maillot, Director of Sustainable Development, CSR and Communications at Compass Group, to find out more about this initiative and their commitments.

Hectar

31/5/23

Partner views

Florian Breton - Founder and CEO of MiiMOSA: "The farm of tomorrow will produce to feed, but not only!

Hectar

25/10/21

Partner views

Allon ZEITOUN - Managing Director of Naturalia

"To help French organic champions emerge".

Hectar

9/7/21

Partner views

Christine Kolb - Founding Partner & Head of Development Sycomore AM: "Our mission: to humanise investment

"Sycomore's teams can see themselves in HECTAR's ambition".

Hectar

9/7/21

Partner views

Nicolas HAZARD - Founder and President of INCO

"We are very happy to be associated with HECTAR!"

Hectar

8/7/21

Partner views

Fabien BALAGUER - French Association of Agroforestry: "The proper use of trees in agriculture".

A meeting with an enthusiast, who reminds us that although the term "agroforestry" was coined in the 1970s, it covers a range of practices on all five continents that emerged in the early days of agriculture.

Hectar

31/5/21

Partner views

Marie DESMAISON - ITK: "Technology for sustainable livestock farming and the ecological transition

HECTAR has entered into a partnership with ITK, a high-tech company that explores and offers agricultural monitoring solutions to facilitate livestock monitoring and decision making.

Hectar

3/5/21

Partner views

Marie-Astrid Raoult - Director of the Carrefour Foundation

"The ambition of this innovative campus resonates with the Carrefour Foundation's desire to support the food solidarity transition on a large scale."

Hectar

Partner views

Pierre BOU - Operational Director of the Danone Ecosystem Fund

For more than 10 years, the Danone Ecosystem Fund has been developing inclusive and sustainable agricultural models, accessible to all through projects that promote job creation, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and skills development. In order to amplify HECTAR's impact on future generations of farmers, we wanted to join the project by providing both our expertise in creating agricultural projects with social impact and our financial support.

Hectar

What the experts say

Elmehdi Amid, VC at Techmind: "Agriculture is both an impactful and ever-changing sector."

Last Tuesday was Impact Day at Hectar: a day dedicated to startups in the accelerator to pitch and meet with agricultural cooperatives and investment funds of the Hectar ecosystem. On this occasion, we met Elmehdi Amid, VC at Techmind, who explained how a fund specialized in agritech works and gives valuable advice to entrepreneurs who want to launch the impact.

Hectar

27/3/23

What the experts say

Javelot, the startup that keeps an eye on grains

In 5 years, the startup Javelot has become the reference in digital monitoring of grain storage. This is a sensitive subject that affects both the health and economic risks that storage organizations must manage. Félix Bonduelle, sponsor of season 4 ofaccelerator Hectar and co-founder of Javelot, tells us about this entrepreneurial adventure.

Hectar

20/3/23

What the experts say

Gaëlle, from the open space to the henhouse

Before leaving to raise chickens in Calvados, Gaëlle Bonnieux was an executive in impact finance. In 2019 she changed her life and co-created Gonne Girl, a diversified farm with 1000 laying hens, 2000m² of market gardening, a gite and a horse boarding house. She explained to us how she organizes their many activities and adopted the "lean" method to manage the farm.

Hectar

15/3/23

What the experts say

Esther, a family history in the Bordeaux vineyard

Esther is an executive in the marketing department of Campari Group and has a fulfilling professional life. Nevertheless, she has a project to take over the family wine business in the Bordeaux region and has participated in the Hectar Entrepreneur program. Between fears, doubts and ambitions, she confides in us about this life project that will shake up her daily life and that of her family.

Hectar

2/3/23

What the experts say

Yoan, a developer at the service of farmers

Yoan is a coder... in the agricultural sector. Hired after the Agritech program at Hectar in one of the startups of the accelerator, he works with 5 other developers at Aptimiz, a startup that measures, analyzes and optimizes the working time and the equipment of farmers. What role do coders and tech have to play in agriculture? What technological issues and challenges are facing the agricultural sector today? What is the role of a coder in the agricultural sector?

Hectar

28/2/23

What the experts say

Émilien, a balanced breeder

Breeder in Burgundy Franche Comté, Émilien Claudepierre is at the head of a dairy cow farm on 145 hectares. His priority in his work is serenity. Being a farmer and having time for oneself, one's family and one's hobbies is possible. With a well thought organization and a search for added value in his dairy production, Émilien succeeds!

Hectar

27/2/23

What the experts say

Too Good To Go, the anti-waste impact

40% of the food we produce is thrown away. Faced with this alarming fact, Lucie Basch decided, 7 years ago, to create Ton Good To Go. Behind the waste, there is also the value we give to what we eat, and to those who produced it, leading to a reflection that no longer impacts only the final consumer but the entire value chain.

Hectar

27/1/23

What the experts say

Yacon & co: the startup that wants to accelerate healthy sugar

"I made the discovery of this new healthy 'sugar' that grows in Peru and I think the French deserve to hear about it." These are the words of Raphaella Nolleau, co-founder of Yacon & co, a startup that just finished its acceleration at Hectar and raised funds to accelerate the construction of their French yacon industry.

Hectar

16/12/22

What the experts say

Bilberry, the startup that is revolutionizing the use of herbicides, acquired by Trimble

A few weeks ago, we learned that Bilberry, a startup alumni ofaccelerator Hectar, had been acquired by the American giant Trimble. From the beginnings of the R&D in France to the development in Australia and the acquisition by Trimble, Guillaume Jourdain, co-founder and CEO of Bilberry, tells us about this international entrepreneurial adventure.

Hectar

22/11/22

What the experts say

Caroline de Champs, a double activity in the service of the agricultural transition

Farmer and coach? It is possible, and Caroline de Champs proves it: after studying agricultural engineering and a specialized master's degree at Emlyon, she worked at CERFRANCE before becoming a farm manager. In 2020, she resumed her activities as a consultant in parallel with her farm and offers professional coaching and training for the agricultural transition.

Hectar

17/11/22

What the experts say

Fabien Perrot, an example of family farm takeover and diversification

Fabien Perrot chose the life of an agricultural entrepreneur in 2018 when he took over his father's farm in Germainville, in the Eure-et-Loir. In 4 years, he has transformed the farm into a sustainable operation that is financially viable and employs 5 people full time. In an interview, he tells us about his entrepreneurial journey and gives us some advice on how to succeed in setting up his business.

Hectar

15/11/22

What the experts say

Alexia Rey, founder of NeoFarm: from Sciences Po to market gardening, an inspiring entrepreneurial journey

With a double degree from Sciences Po and a BPREA, Alexia Rey founded NeoFarm in 2018. Her atypical profile between entrepreneurship and agriculture allowed her to take advantage of the best of both worlds: she tells us about her journey and slips in some advice to start her professional adventure in the living sector well.

Hectar

20/10/22

Let's keep in touch!

Stay informed about HECTAR news.

Thank you for your interest! You will soon receive all our latest news :)

Oops! The form could not be sent.