Organic farming in France emphasizes sustainable practices, eschewing synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. It prioritizes soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare. Organic farming aligns closely with several United Nations sustainability goals, including: Zero hunger and climate action. The government offers subsidies and support to encourage conversion to organic farming, reflecting a national commitment to environmentally friendly agriculture.

We visited an organic farm accompanied by Mrs. Lea Romeu and Mr. Christophe Groell near to Theza in Perpignan. We explored apricot and peach orchards, learning about the farm's unique characteristics and management. He planted the soldane and pincot variety of apricot in his field. He was following drip irrigation practice with sensor-based automation. We learned about the farm's history and the journey of its owner, who started with fragmented land in 2019 and had since seen significant growth through contract farming with a large firm, Veritas. Discussed the transition to organic farming since 2021 and the annual rotation of farmland into fully organic production.

Gathered insights into production costs, profit margins, and required treatments for maintaining the farm, including the use pattern of 7:3:10 NPK for soil nutrition in the inorganic vegetable field. We explored soil and water conservation practices employed on the farm, such as the use of dry barks, woods, and animal skins for manuring and soil fertility enhancement. He also had 3 ha of vegetable gardens where crops like artichoke, french beans and spinach were grown. He had a grading machine for the grading of apricot and peach. He also recruited 4 part time workers for the maintenance of the field.

• Overall, the visit provided valuable insights into sustainable agricultural practices and the economic dynamics of organic farming. The day was filled with hands-on learning experiences and meaningful discussions, contributing to a deeper understanding of agricultural sustainability and innovation in France.