Developing agroecology on a large scale: the AgroParisTech Foundation launches a major fundraising campaign
March 28 2025In the face of climate change, the biodiversity crisis, and food sovereignty issues, transforming our agricultural production factors is both essential and urgent, and exceptional resources must be mobilized. That is why, starting in 2025, the priority objective of the AgroParisTech Foundation, which is launching an exceptional fundraising campaign to raise €100 million over five years, will be to design and deploy a comprehensive program dedicated to agroecology for the benefit of farmers and the entire value chain. Interview with Olivier Guize, President of the AgroParisTech Foundation, and Margaux Morin Diakhaby, Executive Director, to find out more.
Hello Margaux, Olivier. Before discussing the fundraising campaign in more detail, could you briefly remind us about the history and missions of the AgroParisTech Foundation?
M.M-D: The Foundation was created in 2012 under the auspices of the ParisTech Foundation. The initial idea, born out of a shared desire between AgroParisTech, AgroParisTech Alumni, and the Maison des Ingénieurs Agronomes, was to create a tool to serve the institution, both to bring financial resources and skills from outside the school and to facilitate links with socio-economic partners.
Following its creation, several initiatives were launched: calls for projects for scholarships (social, entrepreneurial or promoting civic engagement), the creation of thematic chairs offering teacher-researchers the opportunity to carry out collaborative projects with partners on action research topics reflecting the varied themes of AgroParisTech: food, agriculture and the environment.
In over ten years, our track record has been very positive: we have supported more than 850 projects, participated in the creation and development of a dozen endowed chairs, and brought together 70 partners from all walks of life each year. Building on these achievements and after 18 months of work, in November 2023 the Foundation obtained its status as an independent public interest foundation (FRUP), the highest distinction. This status led to the creation of a new, strengthened board of directors and the appointment of a new president: Olivier Guize.
Since its creation, the Foundation has raised an average of €2 million per year. Why launch this ambitious and specific fundraising campaign?
O.G:For such a young foundation, raising such a large sum each year to fund projects is already a huge achievement in itself. But to have a real impact on issues that require profound change, such as our agricultural production methods, we need to scale up. The issues we address are of general interest. They mobilize public authorities, economic actors, and citizens like you and me. The fact that we are setting ambitious goals on crucial issues is in itself a catalyst for action. This was demonstrated by the enthusiastic response of many donors and partners to the announcement of this fundraising campaign, and we saw an immediate impact on our fundraising even before the action program was finalized.
Why agroecology?
O.G: France is Europe’s largest agricultural country, feeding its own population and those of other countries that do not enjoy the same advantages. It has leading research organizations, competent support infrastructure, and high-quality technical and higher education. However, its production seems to have reached a plateau and is facing growing technical, economic, and sociological challenges. It must find a model that is both resilient and productive. Agroecology responds to this challenge by combining, as its name suggests, agriculture and ecology (in the scientific sense of understanding ecosystems and their interactions) in a non-standardized framework that allows for the integration of scientific discoveries and technical innovations and progress through feedback. Through their research and experimentation, INRAE and AgroParisTech have developed the conviction that concrete solutions exist for the transformation of our production factors that our farmers and economic actors are calling for. Initiatives are developing in this direction in many parts of our territory, but the movement is not spreading on a large scale. The conversion of scientific knowledge into educational tools and practical methods, the development of technical support, and the contribution to economic risk coverage are insufficiently developed and coordinated. Drawing on the expertise of AgroParisTech and INRAE, in coordination with technical institutes and professional agricultural organizations, and using tax incentives to mobilize stakeholders in the sector, the Foundation plays a facilitating and catalytic role through its funding.
Who is this collection for, and what will it be used for specifically?
M.M-D: It is essential to emphasize that everyone’s support is invaluable in achieving this goal. The campaign is aimed at both individuals and businesses, with three ways to get involved:
- innovation and knowledge sharing (€50 million) to create an ambitious, large-scale agroecology research and action program,
- the rollout of economically viable pilot programs (€40 million) through technical and financial support,
- encouraging young project leaders, with a section dedicated to supporting talent (€10 million) by offering student grants.
As the foundation is recognized as a public utility, all donations are tax deductible.
O.G: I would add that many companies whose supplies depend on a bio-based economy are increasingly aware of the issue and fully understand that it is in their interest to support a program of this kind. As the government has limited resources to act, we need to be able to count on as many donors as possible, whether they are companies or individuals from all walks of life. Everyone can give, within their means, of course!
Which stakeholders are you mobilizing for these different aspects?
M.M.D: The Foundation has always been and will remain deeply connected to the school and its stakeholders. That is why we are currently conducting an inventory of everything that is being done within the school. We are building on what has already been done to gather information, learn about initiatives, and help them connect with each other more effectively.
Beyond our institution, the challenge is to connect existing knowledge across our entire territory in order to disseminate it more effectively. Today, knowledge is too diluted! We need to bring it together and rethink how it is disseminated, connecting laboratories to the field by collaborating with agricultural cooperatives and chambers of agriculture, technical institutes, and associations that have expertise and experience in the field.
Finally, within the Foundation, it is important to remember that many of our “stakeholders” are volunteers, whether they are students or members of the board of directors. We are all committed to this issue: it is by involving as many stakeholders as possible and acting collectively that we will have the greatest impact.