Interview: Cemalettin Kanaş
France’s largest cereal producer, Intercéréales brings together farmers, storage operators, and processors to safeguard quality, drive innovation, and promote sustainable practices across the sector. Its collaborative approach ensures French cereals remain competitive at home and in international feed markets.
Roland Guiragossian
Egypt & Middle East Area Manager
Intercéréales
France remains a leading cereal producer in Europe, standing out as the continent’s largest producer in 2020 with approximately 57.5 million tons. Behind this strong production capacity is Intercéréales, which brings together all sector stakeholders under a single umbrella, from farmers to exporters. The organization unites 14 national professional associations and three main congregations covering production, collection-marketing, and initial processing, representing the quality, diversity, and sustainable production practices of French cereals.
Roland Guiragossian, Egypt & Middle East Area Manager at Intercéréales, explains the organization’s core mission: “By strengthening dialogue between producers, storage operators, and processors, we enhance our competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.” In partnership with the Arvalis R&D Institute, the organization carries out innovative research and prepares the sector to face challenges such as climate change. Ensuring the quality and standardization of cereals for the feed industry is also a key priority.
This sector-wide structure not only coordinates production and processing processes but also promotes French cereals internationally, shaping export and logistics strategies. Guiragossian emphasizes: “Sustainability and climate change lie at the heart of all our strategies. We support research and aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the sector to ensure the long-term success of our producers.”
Can you describe Intercéréales’ main mission and how it supports the French cereal sector?
Intercéréales is the professional organization of the French Cereals Industry. It is a non-profit organization funded by the producer’s, traders, cooperatives and elevators company contributions.
Our product scope is the cereals throughout the cereals supply chain: from production to first processing, including collection and marketing.
Intercéréales regroups 14 associations and 3 congregations (Producers, Traders, Coops etc.).
Intercéréales is recognized by the French public authorities since 2003 with the objectives of developing the French cereal sector, for the benefit of all the actors in the Industry.
We also support Cereals applied research, innovation and performance by funding the Arvalis R&D Institute. We are also responsible for the promotion and the communication on French Cereals in the World.
How does Intercéréales collaborate with the feed industry to ensure quality and consistency of cereals for animal feed?
- Intercéréales coordinates stakeholders and works closely with French and European public authorities on the issue of the sanitary quality of cereals produced in France and used in France/the EU.
- Initiates and leads certain projects with the ARVALIS technical institute, from field to laboratory.
- Conducts upstream research, bringing together numerous stakeholders, and provides support to economic operators, ensuring the widest possible dissemination and communication of information.
- Monitors quality and sanitary issues: crop monitoring, risk management in the supply chain, emerging contaminants, and anticipation of regulatory changes.
- Recently: resumption and implementation of a monitoring plan at the cereal sector level.
- Intercéréales is a forum for dialogue, consultation, and coordination. A supply chain approach is essential for practical risk management.
What role does sustainability play in your strategies, particularly regarding climate impact and emissions?
Intercéréales fully integrates the challenges of sustainability and climate change. We conduct studies on the impact of climate change on production and co-finance research projects to help farmers adapt and maintain their ability to produce cereals sustainably. The interprofessional organization has launched a project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, called the “Sector Decarbonization Roadmap”: establishing a diagnostic assessment at each stage of the supply chain, defining reduction targets, and identifying common levers. The goal is to reduce emissions while maintaining sustainable economic objectives for all stakeholders in the cereal sector: producers, collectors and storage facilities, French processors, and exporters.
How is French cereal production evolving to meet both domestic and international feed demand?
The challenge for us is to maintain cereal production at the current level through adaptation to climate change and regulatory developments. Our efforts are oriented in the research of new resistant varieties, developing new processes and technologies to be able to meet the environmental regulations (storage, utilization of inputs etc.).
What are the biggest challenges facing the cereal sector today and how is Intercéréales addressing them?
As mentioned above, it is essential to maintain cereal production in sufficient quantity and which meets the quality expectations and sanitary requirements of manufacturers!
How do you see the role of French cereals in the global feed market over the next 5–10 years?
France intends to maintain its role as a supplier to the animal feed market. It supplies, and will continue to supply, European feed manufacturers with the three main feed grains: wheat, corn, and barley. In particular, its feed barley production is recognized on the international market (China, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, etc.). As for wheat, French wheat is primarily dedicated to the international milling industry but can sometimes be of interest to feed manufacturers depending on the year and customer requirements.
Are there any innovations or technologies you’re excited about that could transform cereal production or feed quality?
Nothing to add in this matter.
