A major region for livestock and processing

The French region with the largest number of food-industry businesses, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes stands out for the quality of its production, with organic farming on the increase.

Produce is also well-established, with fruit – it is the second region for fruit production,¹ vegetables and cereal crops, as well as regional specialties like lentils (with the “Lentille verte du Puy” (green lentil from Le Puy) AOP); walnuts (with the Grenoble walnut AOP); chestnuts,² which also benefit from a dedicated AOP,³ and truffles, which are grown on over 3,600 hectares (approx. 9,000 acres), for an estimated annual production of 27.7 tons.⁴

As the region with the largest number of food-industry businesses in France, the sector records annual revenue of €10 billion.⁵ The food industry has two main cornerstones: the meat sector, which generates annual revenue of €2.8 billion (including 5.3% from exports)⁶ and the dairy sector, with annual revenue of €1.9 billion (including 20% from exports).⁷

With substantial milk production,⁸ the Region supplies 42% of the nation’s tonnage in AOP and IGP cheeses (2018) and has no less than 17 appellations, including Bleu d’Auvergne, Beaufort and pressed raw-milk cheeses, like the famous Reblochon and Saint Nectaire.

With such world-renowned appellations as Côtes du Rhône and Beaujolais, which has 12 AOCs, the wine sector⁹ sells 310 million bottles a year – including 40% abroad.

Globally, the Region’s food industries export mainly to Europe, Asia and North America.

Although Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is currently the region with France’s second-largest surface of land under organic farming,¹⁰ its goal is to take over the top slot. In 2021, it expects to increase the number of organic farmers by 30%.

In order to encourage development of small- and mid-sized food-industry businesses’ presence on international markets, the Region is committed to subsidizing businesses that recruit through the Volontariat International en Entreprise network for 12 months minimum (50% of costs). Lastly, to help those businesses participate in international trade fairs individually, the Region distributes financial aid: 50% of expenses, capped at €5,000 per trade fair.

Consult the Regional specialties map

Key figures of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the first region by number of food-industry businesses with 1884 businesses.
28% of regional farms are committed to a label or other quality-driven approaches.
181 products are under official quality and origin labels : AOC, PDO, Red Label, PGI.
Wine-growing sector has 43 PDO and 13 PGI.
124 million bottles are sold abroad annually.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the second region for fruit production, with nearly 75,000 acres of orchards and 7,000 farms.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes produces half of french production of walnuts, chestnuts and apricots.
The Region produces 14% of France’s cheese (excluding fresh).
One young head of cattle out of 4 born in the Region is exported, essentially to Italy or the Mediterranean Rim countries.

1 – The Region counts nearly 30,000 hectares (75,000 acres) of orchards and some 7,000 fruit farms; Source: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Chamber of Agriculture

2 – With over 3,000 hectares (7,000 acres) and 4,500 tons of fruit grown in 2017; Source: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Chamber of Agriculture

3 – AOP Châtaigne d’Ardèche (Chestnuts from Ardèche)

4 – Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, Region Truffle Sector Plan

5 – 6^th region in France; Source: The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Business Regional Economic Agency

6 – Interbev (livestock and meat Inter-professional organization) Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Businesses

7 – Agreste (Rural) – Auvergne-Rhônes-Alpes the dairy-cow sector, June 2020

8 – 2.7 billion liters (700 million gallons) of cow’s milk a year

9 – The sector generates €586 million in revenue; Source: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Chamber of Agriculture

10 – with nearly 206,000 hectares (515,000 acres) under organic or in transition