Page 56 - Biorefinery 2030 Future Prospects for the Bioeconomy (2015)

References 23

The success of this long process is a perfect illustration of how, through
innovation, a weakness can become a strength in certain circumstances: technical
progress together with necessity, in the case of “flea ridden Champagne”, made
possible by openness to progress, the creation of cooperatives to gain critical mass
when dealing with suppliers and wholesalers etc.
It is also an example of a Ricardian process, capitalising on comparative local
advantage: the Champagne Ardenne region, as we have seen, does not have so
many strong points at its disposal. Through the solidarity of its farmers and the
mutualisation of both resources and risks, the region’s farmers were able to
overcome the effects of asymmetry.
Finally, the existence of leaders, both of opinions and of men, has been a key
factor down through the generations, because it has made organic relatively inde-
17
pendent growth possible, based on local strengths. For example, M. Albert
Vecten, politician and agricultural leader, was behind the two institutions that
foreshadowed the integrated biorefinery of today: the Institut des Sciences et
Techniques du Vivant (Institute of Natural Science and Techniques—ISTV) and
the Paris-Reims Foundation, the first joint initiative between industry, agriculture
and academic research.
We will present the next stages in the development of the Bazancourt-Pomacle
biorefinery in Chap. 2.

References

Curutchet M-P (1999) La dimension socioculturelle des strate ´gies conjointes: l’exemple des agro-
industries champardennaises. The `se de doctorat en Sciences de gestion, URCA
Pope Leo XIII (1891) Rerum Novarum. Vatican Publishing House
Garnotel J (1985) L’ascension d’une grande agriculture – Champagne pouilleuse-Champagne
crayeuse. Editions Economica, p 264
¸
Mangeart R (1999) Pre ´face d’Alain Decaux de l’Acade ´mie francaise, Un sie `cle de progre `s
agricole. Ouvrage publie ´ a ` compte d’auteur, Imprimerie des Eaux Claires
Neeser P (1998) Comprendre 40 ans d’histoire agricole, T1 Les occasions perdues 1955–1981.
Editions France agricole
The ´not M (2011) The `se de doctorat “Spe ´cificite ´ coope ´rative et groupes coope ´ratifs agricoles – Le
cas CHAMPAGNE CEREALES”. Sous la Direction du Professeur A Mbengue, URCA
Vecten A, Lapie G, Yverneau J, Mangeart G (2012) En Champagne-Ardenne, une agriculture forte
de ses Hommes et de ses innovations

Sciences Po Cartographie

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne_pouilleuse
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_Harmel

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This notion of “leadership” is increasing recognised (c.f. the current strategy of NEOMA
Business School) as a key determinant of successful societies and businesses.