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When she took over her family farm near Lille, Bérengère CHOMBART (who graduated the Grande École Program in 2000) set herself quite a challenge! Despite the difficulties facing the agricultural sector, she decided to stay true to her convictions and make them her starting point. It would take more than that to discourage our graduate. To run her small business, she draws on her family heritage, the knowledge gained from her studies at IÉSEG and her previous professional experience.

How did you go from studying at IÉSEG to working in agriculture?

After graduating, I spent fifteen years working for companies such as Camaïeu and Becquet, in roles covering business control, auditing, marketing, communication and project management. In 2015, I completed an online training program and earned a diploma in agriculture – that’s when I decided to take over my family’s farm. Even though I come from a family of farmers, the beginning was tough. I was lucky to have my parents’ support, especially my father’s, who taught me every aspect of the job. Even now, I still turn to him for advice and help. As I often tell him, there wasn’t any mechanical training at IÉSEG!

Can you tell us more about your farm?

It’s rather small, due to urbanization and real estate pressure. I grow wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, corn, and peas on about 65 hectares. I work almost exclusively with industrial partners and local cooperatives, delivering my production within a 25-mile radius. I mostly work alone, but I sometimes hire seasonal workers during busy periods.

How do your past experiences help you in your daily operations?

They help me a lot, especially given all the red tape we have to deal with in the agricultural sector. As the head of my small business, I wear many hats. Being familiar with accounting, business management, certification audits, and regulations is essential. This background allows me to approach my work with a broader perspective.

Which one of these hats suits you best?

When I’m driving my tractor, I feel like I have the best office on earth! I love working in my fields, using new technologies to practice precision farming while enjoying the sunrise and sunset. I also love being the head of my company — it gives me the freedom to make my own decisions and do my own thing.

What piece of advice would you give to all those interested in agriculture?

You don’t become a farmer overnight. I would encourage them to think it through carefully — it’s a very demanding profession. Coming from a farming family is an advantage, but the best way to learn is by experiencing a farmer’s daily work firsthand. The sector will face numerous challenges in the coming years, the biggest being how to meet environmental expectations while maintaining productivity, competitiveness and innovation. Above all, working to feed my fellow citizens is deeply rewarding. Farming is a profession as beautiful as it is essential.

This article was written by Luna Créations for #IÉS, the IÉSEG Network magazine.