Antoine Dalle, Agricultural Entrepreneur: "Being Monodependent Has Become Risky"

For a long time perceived as a development tool, agricultural diversification is changing its nature. Under the influence of increasingly unstable markets, rising production costs, and declining profitability in certain sectors, it is gradually becoming a condition for survival for many farms.

The shock caused by the war in Ukraine illustrated the fragility of these balances. The surge in energy and fertilizer prices has led to an explosion in production costs, while grain prices, after a peak, have quickly receded. Current tensions in the Middle East suggest a similar scenario: a new rise in costs, without a guarantee of sustainable compensation on agricultural prices.

As a farmer himself, Antoine Dalle observes this shift from the inside. Founder of Dalle Consulting, president of CoFarming, and a member of the AgriCoaching network, he has been supporting operators in their transformation strategies for several years.

His observation is straightforward: diversification is no longer just an option to create value; it has become an imperative to secure income and rethink the agricultural model in depth.

Why is diversification at the heart of agricultural strategies today?

Twenty-five years ago, when I diversified my grain farm by launching a biomass energy activity, it was primarily a development approach. The farm was doing well, but I wanted to create value differently.

Today, the logic is completely different. Diversification has become an economic necessity. Being mono-dependent has become risky, especially in large-scale crops. Farmers are subject to global markets over which they have no control, while facing high production costs and significant regulatory constraints.

Positioned as a solution to the agricultural crisis, what does diversification really entail?

Diversification indeed encompasses very different realities. Two levels must be distinguished. On one side, change: adjusting practices, modifying crop rotation, introducing new crops. This is important, but it remains within the framework of the existing profession. On the other side, transition. Here, it involves doing something else, creating new complementary activities: processing on the farm, selling directly, producing energy, or even developing a dual activity. This is much more engaging because it enters an unknown realm. It requires learning, taking risks, and accepting the possibility of failure.

You are working on new sectors like bamboo. Why are they generating so much interest?

Because they address a key issue: profitability. Take bamboo, for example. Margins reach about 2,500 euros per hectare, compared to 500 euros for grains in good years.

Moreover, these sectors are often secured by long-term contracts with industrial players. The farmer knows who they are selling to, at what price, and for how long. This is a fundamental element: securing outlets changes the game. These crops also have the advantage of being low-input and relatively resilient to climatic hazards. The risk logic is profoundly altered.

What makes a diversification successful?

The key is not so much production as the market, the outlets.

Farmers know how to produce. The real challenge is selling. And here, structured sectors with industrial outlets play a decisive role. When an industrial player commits to buying the production, it secures the investment.

That’s why I believe strongly in the development of localized sectors, particularly around bio-based materials or energy.

Is there a typical profile of a farmer who diversifies?

No, it’s not a question of farm size. It’s primarily a question of mindset. Diversification depends mainly on the entrepreneur.

It all depends on the person at the head of the farm: their appetite for risk, their desire to undertake, their ability to project themselves.

And we must not forget that these choices also have a family impact. A diversification can profoundly transform the organization of work and personal life. This must be considered at the household level.

Does diversification also involve crops?

Yes, and it is essential to limit risks. Reducing the number of crops increases exposure to hazards. Conversely, diversifying crop rotation allows for cushioning shocks.

Certain crops, like hemp or camelina, also help reduce dependence on inputs while opening new industrial outlets.

But this remains an evolution of the existing system, not a complete transformation of the economic model.

Personally, I made this mistake in the past. Simplifying the crop rotation ultimately made me more vulnerable. Today, I integrate crops like hemp or camelina, which help reduce dependence on inputs and open new outlets, particularly in energy or industry. But this remains change, not a complete transformation of the model.

Why is diversification not happening more quickly?

There are several barriers that explain why the agricultural system is under pressure.

First, farmers often invest more in equipment or technology than in their own strategic support. They allocate few resources to reflect on their activity, clarify their objectives, or seek guidance.

Next, the overall economic system remains very constraining. French agriculture faces high costs, while consumers remain extremely price-sensitive.

Does the rise of energy or industrial crops pose a risk to agriculture's food function? Towards less food-oriented agriculture?

The risk exists, but it should not be exaggerated.

We are already seeing signals: about 20,000 hectares leave agricultural production each year due to lack of profitability.

Some farmers prioritize biomass crops or activities like methanization because they offer more stable income. The trend is real, even if it is not yet widespread.

How do you see the role of farmers evolving?

We are heading straight towards a diversification of models.

On one side, farmers who will outsource part of the work to focus on other activities. On the other side, farmers who will multiply activities to maintain their income: energy, livestock, processing.

There will no longer be a single model, but a coexistence of different strategies.

Diversifying to remain a farmer, your creed?

Yes, clearly. Today, diversifying is often a condition for remaining a farmer. Behind diversification, it is not just an economic question at stake, but a redefinition of the farmer's role. It must be thought out, structured, and aligned with each individual project.