Béziers University of Technology

EDEC CONFERENCE AND PANEL DISCUSSION

Published on in News

Viticulture and Agriculture in Occitania: Struggles and Challenges

The response from two researchers

Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the IUT in Béziers

On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., the Béziers University Institute of Technology (IUT) will host a conference and discussion focused on the challenges and changes currently affecting viticulture and agriculture in Occitania, against a backdrop of climate change and its economic, social, and regional consequences.

Entitled “Viticulture and Agriculture in Occitania: Between Challenges and Anger, ” this event aims to shed light on contemporary issues facing the Mediterranean agricultural sector through scientific and forward-looking analyses. It is part of a series of conference-debates organized jointly by the ÉDEC Association and the Béziers University Institute of Technology (IUT), long-standing partners in fostering public debate and critical reflection on major economic, social, and environmental changes.

The conference will be led by two leading researchers in the field of agricultural and rural sciences:

  • François Purseigle, director of the National School of Agronomy in Toulouse (ENSAT),
  • Jean-Marc Touzard, research director at INRAE, the French National Institute for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research.

Through their presentations, the speakers will provide context for the protests and concerns expressed by stakeholders in the agricultural sector, while analyzing the structural changes currently underway and potential strategies for adapting the wine and agricultural sectors in Occitanie.

Chaired by Jean-Claude Gayssot, the ÉDEC Association is dedicated to fostering collective reflection on major contemporary economic, social, and regional issues by bringing together academic perspectives, expert insights, and public concerns. The conference-debates it organizes aim to make in-depth analyses accessible and to foster dialogue between researchers, decision-makers, and the general public. Admission is free starting at 5:30 p.m. The conference will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the IUT in Béziers.