Chestnut production in France is around 8,500 tonnes each year. Cantal barely exceeds a hundred tonnes and remains a niche. But Cantal producers, supported by the Region, the Department and the Cantal Chestnut Grove, want to develop. A study shows that the creation of an interprofessional union is an essential step. Is this the next step?
“Let us be Gauls. The union must be created as quickly as possible. Right away. The only question that needs to be asked is “will the partners be able to hunt in groups?” If yes, then the future will be bright. Because competition is with others. Not between us.” Without a microphone, with the voice of a captain motivating his soldiers in the storm, the president of the community of communes of the Châtaigneraie Cantalienne visibly marked this first day of the Chestnut Festival, Saturday October 19, in Mourjou.
What he verbalized was in fact the conclusion of a study carried out over a year, between March 2023 and March 2024, jointly by the Chamber of Agriculture via its project manager Léa Dubois, and the consulting firm of ‘Olivier Beucherie. This study, for which a homogeneous working group had been created, enabled a diagnosis to be carried out. Then a phase of reflection and finally proposals. Which was presented as a preamble to the Mourjou chestnut fair yesterday morning, in front of around forty people.
It is necessary to define a strong visual identity, rationalize production costs, professionalize production and the organization of the sector.
Olivier Beucherie (empty)
The inventory. The AuRA Region is launching a plan to revive chestnut cultivation in 2013. But only for Ardèche. Cantal integrated this plan in 2017. The same year, the four communities of communes in the south of the department merged into a community which took the name of Châtaigneraie Cantalienne. From its first year of existence, elected officials are banking on an action plan. In 2022, two workshops are created. One is private, Bogue du Cantal, which today welcomes 19 producers.
The other association, Castanhaïres bio, welcomes 18 producers. According to Léa Dubois, in a normal year, production is around 90 tonnes per year. “With the planting program in place, we can estimate production in 2030 at around 125/130 tonnes.” The recovery plans aimed, essentially, to support the planting of new chestnut trees and to clean up existing chestnut groves.
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The reflections. “Does the Cantal chestnut have an identity? » asked Olivier Beucherie. At the national level, it does not exist. It is neither recorded nor included in total production. It actually represents less than 1% of the total annual chestnut production. “And it’s not really highlighted at points of sale either.”
The future. Several “weaknesses” must therefore be remedied to support the development of the Cantal chestnut industry. “We must define a strong visual identity, rationalize production costs, professionalize production and the organization of the sector,” explained Olivier Beucherie, specifying that these were avenues for reflection and not obligations. The creation of an IGP? (protected geographical indication, editor’s note). “No, it’s too early. What is needed, quickly, is a union. We met and discussed with other unions at the national level, this is the best immediate solution,” underlined Olivier Beucherie.
A spotlight
But why? “This makes it possible to bring together all the partners without any notion of competition, to integrate independent producers, and to be able to exist at the national level.” This union could be accompanied by precise specifications, which seem to be desired by the producers. There is also an avenue to study, according to Olivier Beucherie, it is the “mountain product”, because the whole of Cantal is classified as a mountain production zone”. The union would also allow the maintenance of a network of strong actors and partnerships.” Yet reserved in her presentation of the different points of the study, project manager Léa Dubois explained that the “interprofessional union, the basis is laid. She is there. All that’s left to do is…”.
“For the moment, chestnut production in Cantal is a niche, we all agree. But the creation of a union would put Cantal on the map of France for producers.” Joël Piganiol, vice-president of the Chamber of Agriculture, confirmed: “This rich and emblematic fruit of Cantal has potential and obstacles that will have to be corrected. This is work to continue.” Like the dynamism described by Michel Castannier, mayor of Cassaniouze: The dynamism is there, and must continue with the union. We, with the Châtaigneraie Cantalienne, supported the planting of 2,500 trees for €58,000. We’d like to spend double that.” Another expenditure planned for the Cantal Châtaigneraie, €14,000 over two years via an agreement signed with the Chamber of Agriculture for the “development of a local sector”.
Bruno-Serge Leroy
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