On a visit to Bagnac-sur-Célé, the minister responsible for foreign trade, Olivier Becht, welcomes Lot’s dynamism

For his first official visit to the Lot, the minister responsible for foreign trade, Olivier Becht, has chosen to travel this Tuesday July 25 to the town of Bagnac-sur-Célé near Figeac to discover its two agricultural and industrial jewels. Expected in the heart of the Larive area, the Alsatian deputy began his journey with a visit to the Cantaveylot dairy cooperative.

“I’m sorry, we’re a little early”, smiled the minister as he got out of the car that had brought him from Toulouse. Welcomed by the deputy mayor of Bagnac, Fausto Araqué, wearing an Italian scarf on his shoulder in the absence of Lambert Bru, by the sub-prefect of Figeac and by the deputy Huguette Tiegna, Olivier Becht was the first to recall the memories of the holidays spent in the region, near Aurillac. “I am very happy to be there, alongside the dairy industry” assured the delegate minister when he met the Lotois Thierry Roquefeuil, president of the National Federation of Dairy Producers, at the origin of this invitation launched in the aisles of the Salon de l’agriculture this winter. “We need your support to continue to spread the dairy dynamics throughout the territory” repeated the manager of Lot who took the success of the Cantaveylot cooperative as an example. Started in 2010 by two local producers Jean-Philippe Vayre and Gilbert Domergue, the venture has been a great success, bringing together 26 dairy farmers and registering a turnover of 13 million euros. “Cantaveylot’s primary objective is to ensure fair remuneration for our milk producers” insisted the two managers of the cooperative, presenting their activities but also their projects to the Minister. In particular, they asked him to support their Label Rouge dossier which will be presented in a few weeks at the National Institute of Origin and Quality, and on which they have been working for several years.

Trusting his taste for dairy products, Olivier Becht did not give up his pleasure by tasting some home-made products, especially cheese, before discovering the structures and then meeting the farmers for a round table organized on a farm in Viazac. “As Minister of Foreign Trade, agriculture is really strategic, it is what feeds us. Food sovereignty is fundamental for us” underlined the government representative, insisting on the main role of the dairy export sector with almost 43% of French production sold abroad. “Cheese, milk and derivatives are recognised. I also want to send a message to the sector. We support our farmers”.

Olivier Becht continued his journey a little further, to the Matière factory. For the Minister Delegated for Foreign Trade, the industrial aspect is an important issue. “We always walk on two legs. We have agriculture on one side and industry on the other,” he said. The Matière family business was not chosen by chance. “During my travels abroad, I am very often accompanied by M.Matière who sells her bridges all over the world” greeted Olivier Becht, curious to discover the Lot site of this industrial flagship which generates 70% of its turnover from exports, mainly in Southeast Asia and Africa. The company also contributes to the reconstruction of the Ukrainian infrastructure. The Bagnac plant has been dedicated for several months to the unprecedented production of wind turbine parts for a regional pilot park deployed in the Mediterranean.