Is the French beef production model in danger?

Beef cattle – Trade negotiations between distributors and manufacturers are in the home stretch with an essential revaluation of agricultural products to cope with the soaring prices of 2022. The survival and destiny of many SMEs are linked to the agreements which will be passed. The context is quite complex with an increasing drop in numbers and increased competition from imported meats in the face of consumption that is holding up quite well. Despite general inflation having affected household purchasing power, French beef consumption in 2022 did more than resist. This deceptive resistance, on the other hand, hides major disparities, as it is largely linked to the lifting of covid restrictions for RHD in 2022. Domestic consumption of VBF fell (-5.4%) and the volumes of fresh ground beef sold in supermarkets fell by -8%, while at the same time the share of imports (for out-of-home catering) rose sharply to approach 30% at the start of the year. The Minister of Agriculture, by ...