Agri-Food Accelerator Grant

About this grant

The Agri-Food Accelerator is an 18-month Bpifrance programme for managers of French agri-food SMEs and mid-sized companies (ETI) who want to rethink their strategy and adapt to current and future challenges. It responds to three pressures: the need to innovate as uses, markets and social expectations change quickly; the squeeze on margins, climate hazards and resource shortages; and upcoming regulatory changes that companies should turn into development opportunities. The support combines individual and collective components. The individual part is 38 consulting days: 12 days of a 360° diagnostic and 26 days of complementary missions on themes chosen by the company, such as strategy and growth, organisation and HR, CSR and climate, IT and digital, commerce and marketing, international and innovation. The collective part includes 6 training days delivered by KEDGE Business School on business models, commercial development, financing growth, governance, HR and employer brand, and leadership. It also includes 6 sector days built with industry partners, promotional and inter-cohort events, and networking with peer executives and the wider Bpifrance community of more than 5,500 accelerated companies. The programme is co-financed by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty and Bpifrance, with support from the Direction Générale des Entreprises, ANIA, La Coopération Agricole and FEEF. The total programme cost is 75,600 EUR excluding VAT. Public funding covers 36,600 EUR excluding VAT per company, about 48% of the total. The company pays the remaining 39,000 EUR excluding VAT, in six direct-debit instalments of 6,500 EUR excluding VAT per quarter. The stated launch date is 4 November 2026.

Eligibility

The programme is open to cooperatives, SMEs and ETIs in the agri-food sector, covering first and second-stage food processing. Companies must belong to the IAA sector under NAF codes 10 and 11, and must carry out food-processing activity even if it is not their main activity. The recommended thresholds are annual turnover above 8 million EUR and more than three years of existence. The page says applications that do not meet every criterion will still be reviewed case by case to assess fit. The offer is aimed at French companies, given its link to the French Ministry of Agriculture and Bpifrance.

Key requirements

• ✓Must be a French agri-food SME or mid-sized company (ETI) with managers seeking strategic transformation
• ✓Company contributes about 39,000 EUR excluding VAT in quarterly instalments of 6,500 EUR, with public funding covering the remainder of the 75,600 EUR excluding VAT total
• ✓Programme launches 4 November 2026 and runs 18 months, including a 360° diagnostic and complementary missions chosen by the company

Relevant sectors