CAFRE horticulture students completed a study tour focused on horticulture in France. The tour provided them exposure to innovative practices in organic farming and sustainability. They visited key locations such as Nantes and Angers.
Key visits included:
- Pépinières Lepage, a large ornamental and bulb producer in Nantes.
- L’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, which specializes in horticultural production and landscape design.
- Vincent Favreau’s organic market gardening operation in Saumur, where he supplies seasonal vegetable boxes.
As of early Tuesday, May 1 is a public holiday in France. It is marked by marches celebrating workers’ rights. Between 110,000 and 160,000 people are expected to participate across the nation.
The CGT union called for protests against the high cost of living. They stated, “This May 1, we are calling on all workers to protest against the high cost of living and to demand that our work be properly remunerated.” Over 320 demonstrations are scheduled in major towns and cities.
The Tour de France will host Stage 1 in the Scottish Borders on July 2, 2027. This prestigious event is broadcast in over 190 countries, reaching an estimated global audience of 3.5 to 4 billion people.
The study tour offered CAFRE students valuable insights into international best practices across production, research, sustainability, and amenity management. As Vincent Favreau noted, “The area presents challenging soil conditions and variable rainfall,” emphasizing the importance of adaptability in organic farming.