France's SPACE livestock salon opens amid agricultural crisis

The international livestock salon, SPACE, opens in Bruz near Rennes amidst a significant crisis for French farmers. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard is scheduled to visit the event on September 15, 2026, to engage with industry stakeholders, including unions, agricultural chambers, and researchers.

The sector is currently facing severe economic, climatic, and sanitary challenges. Following a summer marked by extreme heatwaves and drought, livestock producers are struggling with high mortality rates in poultry and increased mortality among pigs and calves. Dairy production and quality have also been impacted by thermal stress in cattle.

A critical concern is the shortage of forage and cereal crops, such as corn, used for animal feed. Grass growth in late August was reported to be nearly 40% below the 1989-2018 average. While the government has announced a support plan exceeding one billion euros to assist farm cash flows, farmers expressed concerns regarding insufficient aid and the potential for skyrocketing import prices if European forage must be sourced to survive the winter.