Unlike Mathurin, I chose a career in agriculture very quickly. I wanted to work in preserving biodiversity and conserving natural environments. It was through activism that I became aware of the issues surrounding food. I realised that this was my path. To me, working on food necessarily involves preserving ecosystems as well as considering the social aspect. Food encompasses all of these things. Our association, ‘Nous voulons des coquelicots’ (We want poppies), is based in Mouans-Sartoux, and we are becoming increasingly involved with the local council.

I want to bring a multifaceted project to life. It's not just about having land for production; it's about creating an open and dynamic educational space. This would provide an opportunity for reflection and perhaps help us find a collective answer to the question that has always haunted me: how can we limit our impact on the beauty that surrounds us as human beings?

I am 23 years old, and the BP REA will give me access to grants for young farmers and enable me to expand my knowledge of business management. At the same time, the work-study programme will enable me to gain practical experience in the field. This year, I will be doing my internship with a citrus farmer, as it was impossible to find an internship with a market gardener on the coast.

At the BPREA, we focus on organic market gardening and respect for living things in our practices. This is a much more committed approach than that advocated by some unions. Compared to other agricultural colleges throughout France, which tend to be very closed-minded because the people who run them are union members themselves, it's very pleasant here. Here in Antibes, however, we are somewhat fortunate, as this is not an intensive agricultural region. In the Alpes-Maritimes, there are only small-scale producers. Once we leave here, we will have to consider how and with whom to ‘ally’ ourselves.

There are many ideological disputes, position-taking and power games. I know that my militant side will not allow me to make certain concessions by aligning myself with organisations whose values or operating methods I do not share. I must stand by my ideas, and I will, no matter what obstacles I encounter. This is complicated, especially if you want to start an organic farm. There is increasing violence in the discourse within the Chambers of Agriculture, particularly during the municipal election period. I hope that this kind of discourse belongs to previous generations. I have hope for the younger generation; I think they are heading in the right direction. For example, there are about twenty of us in our class and we all have a very alternative view of agriculture. Those involved in agriculture today have strong values, which is reassuring. At the same time, however, we'll have to fight.

What fascinates me is that agriculture causes a lot of damage, yet it can also be the solution to many problems. We are rediscovering many exciting practices and bringing them back into fashion with different names. There are so many exciting things: MSV (market gardening on living soil), syntropic agriculture and agroforestry, to name a few.

In fact, we are not inventing anything new; we are simply rediscovering ways of thinking that were lost due to historical circumstances. Essentially, we need to deconstruct the last century. This model was useful at one time because we had no alternative, but now it is obsolete and no longer meets our needs. This is clearly evident in the increasing number of diseases and the pollution of the soil, water and air. It is action that keeps me going. We mustn't give up. I want to fight. Here in France, I want to create the kind of society I want to live in. Firstly, for my own personal happiness, and then it can spread everywhere…

Nathan