Agen Food and Gastronomy Festival

ℹ️ Event discontinued. The Agen Food and Gastronomy Festival (« Agen Gourmand, Tous à table ! ») is no longer held on the Esplanade du Gravier. Its 3rd and last documented edition took place from June 15 to 18, 2023; the event has not been renewed in 2024 or subsequent years. No 2026 edition is scheduled. This page is kept for documentary purposes.

A festival born from a territorial ambition

The Agen Food and Gastronomy Festival was launched in July 2021 under the name « Qu'est-ce qu'on mange ? » (What are we eating?), with the subtitle Festival of Food and Gastronomy of Tomorrow. Placed under the high patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture, it was initiated by the City and Agglomeration of Agen in partnership with the Institut de l'Économie Positive (chaired by Jacques Attali's Positive Planet Foundation) and the international network Chefs4thePlanet, founded by Sébastien Ripari and Anne Le More. The objective: to create a territorial dynamic around gastronomy by raising public awareness of agricultural, food, health, and environmental issues, while promoting local gastronomy and the professional expertise of the sector.

Three spaces for a complete experience

The festival transformed the Esplanade du Gravier, in the heart of Agen, into a true gastronomic village structured around three universes:

• Sales and Tasting Area: more than twenty exhibitors, local producers, and associations committed to an ethical and responsible approach presented their 100% regional products through activities and tastings.
• Gourmet Market Area: food trucks, crêperies, ice cream vendors, duck breast stands, artisanal burgers, local wines and beers made up a varied catering offer in a guinguette atmosphere with musical entertainment.
• Demonstrations and Meetings Area: show-cooking with renowned chefs, culinary workshops for children and adults, conferences and round tables with professionals from the agri-food sector.

Renowned chefs in attendance

Over its editions, the festival welcomed more than twenty established chefs from the Southwest and beyond. Among the participants from the 2021 to 2023 editions: Michel Trama (two Michelin stars in Puymirol), Éric Mariottat, Michel Dussau, Benjamin Toursel, Bernard Bach, Michel and Louis Chabran, as well as the chefs Carrade, Gallienne, Amal, and Nardy. These live culinary demonstrations allowed the public to discover the techniques and local products of Lot-et-Garonne.

From « Qu'est-ce qu'on mange ? » to « Agen Gourmand »

After the success of the first edition in 2021, the festival evolved to become « Agen Gourmand, Tous à table ! » (Agen Gourmet, Everyone to the table!) from 2022. The concept aimed to be more festive, friendly, and popular, with a gourmet village on the Gravier offering significant moments between the residents of the Agen Agglomeration and the producers of Lot-et-Garonne. In 2023, during its 3rd edition (from June 15 to 18), the festival notably hosted a stage of the French Barbecue Championship and the broadcast of the TOP 14 final, adding a festive and spectacular dimension to the event.

Conferences and civic engagement

Beyond gourmet delights, the festival offered a reflective component around three main themes:

• Eating better: food education, nutrition, short supply chains, and sustainable agriculture.
• Reconnecting with the agricultural world: understanding the production chain, valuing the farmer's profession, and sustainable methods.
• The new era of food and gastronomy: culinary innovations, gastronomic trends, and the challenges of tomorrow's food.

These conferences and round tables brought together political decision-makers, scientists, business leaders, and committed personalities to discuss the future of food.

An event rooted in the Southwest terroir

Under the banner #AgenLeMeilleurDuSudOuest (Agen The Best of the Southwest), the festival highlighted the agricultural and gastronomic richness of Lot-et-Garonne, a department renowned for its Agen prunes, tomatoes, strawberries, hazelnuts, and local cuisine. The event was part of the City of Agen's desire to make gastronomy a cornerstone of its identity and tourist appeal. Due to its discontinuation since 2023, it is no longer among the city's major annual events; if a new edition were to be organized, it would be announced by the City of Agen.