Carbon Economy Day 2025

This meeting, organised on the initiative of Research Strand 4 of the FairCarboN programme – ‘Economic and social issues: drivers and impacts of change’ – by Cathie Laroche Dupraz, Hervé Guyomard and Stéphane De Cara, highlighted the need to better integrate research, training and action in order to develop strategies that are both effective and sustainable.

Key findings from the day:

1️ - The stakes are high and time to act is limited.

2️ - Whilst food supply and distribution are key, the majority of emissions occur upstream, at the production stage. It remains crucial to take action on supply, demand and the sharing of costs throughout the value chain.

3️ - The low-carbon transition requires a coordinated effort by all stakeholders – producers, processors, distributors, consumers and citizens – supported by regulation and public policy.

Thank you to the speakers and participants for the fruitful discussions and their contribution to this collective reflection. Special mention goes to the students and alumni of the Agroeconomics and Public Policy specialisation at the Institut Agro Rennes-Angers.

Programme for the day

Introduction, welcome addresses from the organising institutions:

Mr Olivier DEHAESE, Vice-President of Rennes Métropole responsible for Climate and Energy; Romain Jeantet, Director of the Institut Agro Rennes-Angers; Pierre Barré (CNRS), Director of the PEPR FairCarboN project.
 

Morning: What measures can promote a low-carbon diet? Demand-side measures

The morning was devoted to analysing dietary behaviour and the tools that can facilitate the transition:
 

Afternoon – Differentiating and promoting low-carbon food consumption: pilot schemes and the perspectives of major retailers

Discussions centred on the role of the retail sector: an ally or an obstacle to the food transition? Following a presentation of the Climate Action Network’s report on this topic, a round-table discussion – organised and chaired by a student from the Institut Agro Rennes-Angers – brought together several representatives and stakeholders from the retail sector.
 

Round-table discussion: Changing consumer behaviour to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the food system