CAFRE horticulture students completed a study tour to France, gaining insights into innovative practices in horticulture from April 20 to April 28, 2026. The tour focused on sustainability and organic farming, featuring visits to key sites in Nantes and Angers.
Key visits included:
- Pépinières Lepage, a large-scale ornamental and bulb producer in Nantes that produces around 3 million perennials and grasses annually.
- L’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, known for its expertise in horticultural production and landscape design.
- Vincent Favreau’s organic market gardening operation in Saumur, where he has been supplying seasonal vegetable boxes for the past 20 years.
Students also explored L’Arboretum Gaston Allard, which showcases approximately 1,000 mature trees from an 18th-century collection. This experience allowed them to witness firsthand various aspects of sustainable agriculture and amenity management.
Meanwhile, significant protests are planned across France on May 1, a public holiday that has been observed since 1947. The CGT union has called for demonstrations against the high cost of living.
Expected participation includes:
Between 110,000 and 160,000 people expected to join the marches nationwide. and A total of 320 demonstrations scheduled to take place in major towns and cities across the country.
The protests aim to advocate for workers’ rights and better remuneration amidst rising living costs. As the Tour de France approaches its Stage 1 event in the Scottish Borders on July 2, 2027, these demonstrations highlight ongoing social issues within the country.
