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Aveyron is a department with a long tradition of livestock breeding. The agricultural activities are still very active and offer products of great quality, such as the Roquefort, the oldest AOC. Based on this agricultural tradition, the agro-industry of Aveyron is a major sector in Midi-Pyrénées. Major companies are present in the fields of the milk and cheese industry (Lactalis and SODIAAL groups), the salted meat industry (SACOR), the industrial bread and viennoiserie (Les Fromentiers de France), the tinning industry and the production of pre-cooked meals (Raynal et Roquelaure), research and seeds production (RAGT)...
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The industrial fabric of the Aveyron agro-industry: 530 companies, a diversified production and a balanced structure, linking major companies and small businesses. |
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Performance statistics |
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| Aveyron Turnover |
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Jobs |
| Aveyron is the leading departement in the Midi-Pyrénées region in the agro-industry sector. |
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The agro-industries of Aveyron represent 20% of the jobs within the sector in the Midi-Pyrénées region |
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| Source : SOCIETE.com/Infogreffe/Aveyron Expansion- chiffres 2006
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The importance of the sector
The Aveyron offers unrivalled access to the major consumer markets in south east and south west France, plus food export opportunities (91 million € euros of agricultural and agroindustrial products exported in 2007), as well as exports of live animals to Spain and Italy.
The Aveyron’s agro-industry turnover is 2.2 billion € : more than 30% of the agroindustrial turnover of the Midi-Pyrénées Région. |
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Productions |
Aveyron, quality agricultural production in a natural setting.
Already present in Aveyron
| Milk production |
| ewe milk |
1 413 700 hl. |
| cow milk |
3 293 000 hl. |
| goat milk |
256 000 hl. |
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| Livestock |
| lambs |
1 079 000
head |
| bovines |
475 650
head |
| pigs |
220 200
head |
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| Source : AGRESTE - 2006 |
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A dynamic environment |
Agro-industry education and training
VOCATIONAL TRAINING QUALIFICATION - CERTIFICATE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE)
The largest training centre in the Midi-Pyrénées region (Chambre de Métiers de l'Aveyron training centre) gives vocational and technical training in food trades, agro equipment, processing food-laboratory analysis, quality control laboratory and food processing industry
BACCALAUREATE
One of the highest pass rates in France
Several Secondary School Vocational Diplomas (including food trades, processing food bio industries, agro equipment).
HIGHER EDUCATION
An assortment of degrees (Level-baccalaureate + 2 years up to + 5 years), there are several courses offered by the Jean-François Champollion university, IUT, colleges, Consular Training Centre.
- BTS : biological and bio-technological testing (ANABIOTEC), food industry, engineering development of food industry specializing in meat industry, technical and commercial within food industry, technical and commercial specializing in
agro-food products and supplies, quality within food industries and bio-industries, animal products
- Professionnal degrees : Management of measurements, control and sensors within the food industry, Trades recovery products of the food chain, Specialized sale of local products and quality-labeled products, trades council option dairy sector, quality manager.
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Research and development
RESEARCH CENTRES:
- RAGT (seeds)
- Roquefort Société (ewe milk)
ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE:
- The Departmental Analysis Laboratory with a regional scope
- A meat Research Centre La Roque with a top level management team : hall technologique salt-meat of the college, CTV, CTCPA
Moreover, the département is situated within a network, close to numerous 'Centres of Excellence' :
- ECOLE DES MINES - Albi
- INRA (butchery department) – Clermont Ferrand
- AGROMIP Toulouse, AGROPOLIS Montpellier
- Technical Centers (CRITT) : agro-food at Auch (CTCPA), bio-industries at Toulouse (CTBM)
- Areas of expertise: food and hygiene safety at Toulouse, meat at Clermont-Ferrand (ADIV…), milk and cheese at Aurillac (LIAL…), pre-cooked dishes at Auch (CTCPA…).
AGRIMIP INNOVATION is a competitive business cluster (pôle de compétitivité) specializing in the development and control of agricultural and agro-industrial products with "character", thanks to work done on the both the agro chains' engineering and the control of product character. |
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A policy of quality, widely recognised |
| Cheese |
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AOC/AOP
- Roquefort
- Laguiole
- Bleu des Causses...
- Rocamadour
- Cantal
- "Pérail de brebis"
on going
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| Salaisons |
LABEL ROUGE
- Dried sausage and charcuterie...
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| Wine |
AOC
- wine of "Marcillac"
AOVDQS
- wine of "Entraygues-le Fel"
- wine of "Estaing"
- wine "Côtes de Millau" |
| Other products/quality label |
CCP
- Farine Epidou on going
IGP
- Aligot de l'Aubrac on going
LABEL AB
bio volailles Aveyron (volailles "poulet100"), bio élevage Sud Massif Central (Beef, veal, lamb and pork), Roquefort cheese
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| Meat |
IGP Identification Géographique Protégée
- Veau d’Aveyron et du Ségala
(veal)
- Agneau de l'Aveyron (lamb)
LABEL ROUGE
- Veau d’Aveyron et du Ségala
(veal)
- Agneau fermier de l’Aveyron (lamb)
- Bœuf fermier Aubrac (beef)
- Porc fermier du Sud Ouest
(pork)
CCP
- Génisses fleur d'Aubrac (heifer)
- Veau des Lucs (veal)
- Porc saveur gourmande (pork) |
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Leading figures in the industry testify
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Alain Fabre, President of the Monitoring Council - RAGT - (Seeds producer)
"Our company is a European leader in seed for large scale farming. We are active in over 40 countries, and our research services employ nearly 200 people in 13 research centers throughout Europe.
The decision to locate our headquarters in Aveyron shows our attachment to this area, and is also proof that one can play on an international level from Aveyron. The road and airway networks support our region's ambitions, and they have top priority in our political outlook.
Aveyron is our home, close to farming and farmers. We have international ambitions and traditional farming culture." |
M. FABRE
RAGT
Seeds producer
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Thierry ZURCHER - Director General of SOCIETE DES CAVES DE ROQUEFORT - (Cheese)
"The Lactalis AOC division has united the vast majority of the Lactalis group's AOC cheeses since January 1st, 2001. Aveyron produces such brands as Roquefort Société « 1863 », Roquefort Société « Baragnaudes », « Lou Perac » and « Bleu des Causses ». We manage over 20% of France's AOC cheese production and employ over 1,000 people in the département - Euronews, October 2005 " |
M. ZURCHER
Société des Caves de Roquefort
Cheese
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Jean-Paul TOURNOIS - CEO of SACOR - (Meat curing)
"My commitment to SACOR comes from the joys of living in Aveyron. European policy aims to encourage regional development, and Aveyron is perfectly in line with this philosophy, both in terms of the quality of its environment and the special character of its production - of which we are an integral part.
But the real strength behind this region's success lays in the men and women who are so profoundly attached to the traditional values of their land" |
M. TOURNOIS
SACOR
Meat curing
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André VALADIER - President of the Syndicat de Défense et de Promotion du Fromage de Laguiole and member of the INAO - (cheese)
"The reputation of a locality stems from that of its products, breeds, and manufacturing - which is to say its people, their know-how and work ethic. The Aubrac has never forgotten this. Tradition doesn't mean inertia!
Quality products like Laguiole AOC cheese, Aligot de l'Aubrac (a potato and cheese dish), the Aubrac breed of cattle and Laguiole knives embody the values that help us meet the consumer demands and social aims of the new millennium." |
M. VALADIER
President of Laguiole AOC
Cheese
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Norbert Glemet, Director General of RAYNAL ET ROQUELAURE - (Pre-cooked meals)
"Our reputation is solidly built upon the high quality of cuisine and produce in Aveyron. Our company is heir to the know-how developed over 130 years ago by Théophile Raynal and Ernest Roquelaure. We are a national leader in pre-cooked meal canning, and, as such, we hope the Raynal et Roquelaure brand can be one of the ambassadors for Aveyron and its very special character." |
M. GLEMET
Raynal et Roquelaure
Pre-cooked meals
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