Sixth generation at the head of the family farm, the professional is adapting her farm to climate change.
Taking over the family farm in Lauragais (Occitanie) in 2011, when her father retired, was obvious to Cécile Imart. Nevertheless “very happyAt PwC, this graduate of Sciences Po and Essec therefore resigned at the age of 28. Previously, a first experience had taken her to Chile, where she was finance manager of a subsidiary of the Bolloré group.
Equipped with her professional agricultural business manager certificate (BPREA), passed by correspondence, she represents the sixth generation of farmers at the head of the 240-hectare farm. The young woman continues the activity in conventional agriculture, cultivates cereals (durum wheat, sorghum), oilseeds and multiplies the seeds (alfalfa, corn…).
She uses conventional fertilizers, such as certified organic compost. “I try to have the best actions to preserve cultures“, she assures. To adapt to climate change, it proceeded to “two essential changes“. It lengthened the crop rotation and increased the number of crops. “It allows you to be less dependent on inputs, and to have more resilience in the face of somewhat violent weather episodes“, she specifies.
Hill reservoir
These measures being insufficient in the summer, it has developed irrigated crops. In winter, Cécile Imart stores water in a hill reservoir, and releases it when the weather is very hot, thus maintaining the low water level and therefore biodiversity. “This water security allows me to preserve local cultures. My wheat, sold to Panzani, is used to make pasta.»
Cécile Imart is not content to be a food producer, and will also become an energy producer. In the next few days, the photovoltaic panels covering a renovated barn will be put into service. “My goal is to be useful, so it’s not for self-consumption, but to inject into the network. My job responds to environmental challenges, and I am proud to provide solutions», assures Cécile Imart.