Philippe Choquet: "Less Inputs, More Intelligence: Agriculture Becomes a Data-Driven Profession"

What if the agriculture of tomorrow relied less on inputs and more on the intelligence of systems? A fundamental shift that Philippe Choquet, a former student of the Beauvais school, believes in, who has led the merger of several agronomy engineering schools within UniLaSalle, and advocated for a vision based on interdisciplinarity and openness to technologies. At the helm of an institution that is part of a global lasallian network present in over 80 countries, Philippe Choquet has supported the profound transformation of this engineering school specialized in life sciences. Originating from an ancient agricultural tradition, the institution has gradually structured itself into a hybrid model, integrating agronomy, environment, health, and digital technology to meet the new challenges of food systems.

In a context of accelerating agricultural changes, he shares his insights on this transformation and the challenges it poses, both for farmers and for the training of engineers.

Bloom Agritech: "Less Inputs = More Intelligence": What does this equation concretely change for agriculture?

Philippe Choquet: Every time the use of inputs decreases, the intelligence injected into the agricultural system increases. Reducing inputs does not simplify agricultural systems; it complicates them.

Drones, sensors, simulation, artificial intelligence: behind these technologies, a reality is gradually asserting itself. Producing better is no longer just about producing more, but about producing with greater precision, knowledge, and anticipation. Observing more, understanding phenomena more finely, intervening in a targeted manner: this evolution requires more data, more sensors, more precision.

In very intensive and standardized models, practices can remain relatively simple to reproduce. But as systems become more sustainable, they require a systemic approach and broader skills to understand them.

Are French farmers ready for this technological shift?

Yes, clearly. French farmers, especially in large-scale crops, are already very advanced. They are adopting technologies in quite an impressive manner. There is no particular resistance. On the contrary, this technological advancement is a direct consequence of the changes in the agricultural model.

" French farmers, especially in large-scale crops, are adopting technologies in quite an impressive manner. There is no particular resistance."

If farmers are ahead in technology, how do you explain the loss of French competitiveness? Is the size of farms to blame?

The diversity of French farms is a strength. The real issue is not size, but the adaptation of models to territories and the recognition of the services provided, particularly environmental ones.

The loss of competitiveness in French agriculture can be explained by several factors, but the administrative burden is clearly a major hindrance. Delays and constraints can significantly slow down projects. Moreover, some European countries have managed to develop more agility in the organization of their sectors, like Spain in the pig sector.

What is your vision of European agriculture today?

Agriculture is evolving in a rapidly changing framework, influenced by societal expectations and environmental challenges. There is a growing demand for healthy food produced in an environmentally respectful manner.

But this also requires regulatory coherence. It is not possible to impose strict constraints on European producers while importing products that do not comply with the same rules.

" It is not possible to impose strict constraints on European producers while importing products that do not comply with the same rules."

Beyond this issue of coherence, what are the main obstacles to this transformation today?

There is notably a significant administrative burden that can slow down projects and harm competitiveness. Some regulatory inconsistencies also exist at the European level.

But beyond these obstacles, the dynamic is indeed present. Through this, one idea emerges: agriculture is not only becoming more technological, it is becoming more complex, more systemic, and more interconnected. An evolution largely driven by the rise of data and artificial intelligence.

Is artificial intelligence a real break or a continuity?

In the life sciences, work on data is longstanding. What we now refer to as artificial intelligence is actually part of a continuum: from statistics to quantitative methods, then to data management, up to AI.

The real break is the acceleration. The ability to process gigantic volumes of data and identify previously invisible phenomena profoundly changes research, health, and agriculture.

" In the life sciences, work on data is longstanding. What we now refer to as artificial intelligence is actually part of a continuum."

What are the concrete impacts of this acceleration?

They are multiple. First on professions: the engineers we train today will perform very different functions in ten years. Then on research: certain tasks that used to take months can now be completed in a few minutes. Finally on education: we have entered a profound transformation of pedagogies, with immersive tools, simulation, and new ways of learning.

In the face of these transformations, how do we train the agricultural engineers of tomorrow?

This is the whole question. We can no longer train solely in fixed technical skills. We need to train for adaptation, understanding complex systems, and interdisciplinarity.

The role of the teacher is also evolving: they will be less about transmitting knowledge and more about supporting.

Is it in this context that the model of UniLaSalle has evolved?

Yes. This transformation is not new. Historically, UniLaSalle is an engineering school in agriculture. But as early as the 2000s, we anticipated the need to evolve the model.

The European harmonization of diplomas has created new competition. We chose to structure ourselves to reach a critical size and remain visible internationally. This has resulted in the merger of several schools and the gradual construction of a strong entity today with several thousand students.

Your model relies heavily on interdisciplinarity. Why has this become essential?

Because the major agricultural challenges are no longer solely agricultural. We started with an agriculture–agri-food backbone, to which we added two essential dimensions: health and the environment.

Understanding food means understanding its impacts on health. Producing sustainably means integrating environmental constraints. This requires crossing disciplines: life sciences, geology, environment, sociology, digital.

How do you concretely integrate technologies into this model?

We have gradually strengthened this dimension. In the 2010s, we accelerated on technologies, particularly by integrating skills in digital and energy.

We also work with industrial partners on topics such as digital twins, simulation, or virtual reality applied to life sciences. The goal is always the same: to intersect technologies with the challenges of life.

In the face of an increasingly complex and interconnected agriculture, what do you see as the main challenge for training tomorrow's engineers?

Between technological revolution and transformation of societal expectations, agriculture is entering a new era. The challenge is clear: to train engineers capable of navigating this complexity, combining life sciences, digital, and understanding of systems. An educational challenge, but also a strategic one for the future of European agriculture.

" Agriculture is entering a new era. The challenge is clear: to train engineers capable of navigating this complexity, combining life sciences, digital, and understanding of systems."