VOSGES&CO

The agri-food sector in the Vosges

Building on a well-structured agricultural sector and an already dense industrial base, the Vosges agri-food sector provides a particularly favourable environment for the establishment and development of industrial projects. The sector plays a key role in the local economy, with around 160 agri-food establishments and nearly 4,000 salaried jobs, reflecting an industry that is mature, high-performing and resilient.

Abundant agricultural resources

The Vosges have a robust agricultural base, with 3,200 farms – the majority of which are livestock-based – and 5,600 people employed in agriculture. The region is particularly notable for the importance of its dairy sector: 20% of farms are involved in dairy production, making the Vosges a leading department within the Grand Est region.

This specialisation in dairy farming is reflected in a herd of 60,000 dairy cows (20% of the regional herd, ranking first in the Grand Est region), supplemented by 27,000 suckler cows and a total of 241,000 head of cattle. The department is also home to 35,000 ewes. This concentration is a major asset for manufacturers seeking consistent volumes, local supply and traceability.

The extensive agricultural land – 220,410 hectares registered under the Common Agricultural Policy – combined with a high proportion of permanent grassland (57% of utilised agricultural area), promotes sustainable, high-quality production that meets the current expectations of food markets.

A diversified and well-established agri-food industry

The Vosges agri-food sector covers a broad spectrum of industrial activities: dairy processing, infant nutrition, meat products, industrial bakery and pastry production, confectionery, milling, ice cream and frozen foods. This diversity reflects extensive industrial expertise and the region’s capacity to accommodate projects with a variety of market positions.

In terms of employment, the dairy sector remains dominant with 1,759 jobs, followed by beverages (1,095 jobs) and meat (436 jobs). This breakdown reflects both a long-standing specialisation and a diverse industrial base that facilitates new business set-ups.

The presence of recognised industrial players – such as Nestlé Waters (Vittel/Contrexeville waters), Lactalis, B.G. Bongrain, Thiriet and Nestlé Bébé, to name but a few, helps to shape a reliable ecosystem, with available skills, established service providers and supply chains that are already up and running.

Skills and a workforce rooted in the region

With nearly 4,000 employees in the agri-food sector and 912 full-time equivalents in agriculture, the Vosges region benefits from a pool of skills that can be drawn upon immediately. The long-standing presence of agri-food activities fosters the transfer of know-how and the stability of teams – key criteria for industrial projects seeking operational reliability and continuity of production.

The sector is also experiencing a wave of renewal: 49 young farmers set up their own farms between 2015 and 2016, mainly in the dairy sector, demonstrating confidence in the sector’s long-term viability.

Transport & logistics in the Vosges

The Vosges have everything to attract transport and logistics companies: a strategic location at the heart of Europe, efficient infrastructure and a dynamic economic landscape. This is partly why the department ranks as the fifth-largest industrial department in France. Over the past ten years, 34 warehouses exceeding 5,000 m² have been built, providing property solutions tailored to modern needs

A location at the heart of European distribution

At the centre of major European transport routes, the Vosges lie directly on the East–West and Rotterdam–Marseille corridors. This makes it an ideal location for businesses targeting Germany, Belgium or Luxembourg.

The road network, which is particularly extensive, comprises 51 km of motorway (A31 and A33), 150 km of national roads and 3,243 km of departmental roads. The department also boasts 73 km of waterways and 359 km of railway lines, 192 km of which are electrified. The main regional airports (Metz-Nancy-Lorraine, Épinal-Mirecourt, Basel-Mulhouse) round off the picture.

A well-established and diverse business network

With 315 businesses and over 6,000 employees, a genuine ecosystem has been established. These businesses offer a comprehensive range of services: conventional road transport, cold storage, freight forwarding and express courier services. Major players such as Mauffrey, MGE Transports & Services, Stef Transport Épinal and SEL Labastide underscore the sector’s strength.

A well-established skills ecosystem

The Vosges region offers a structured range of courses for careers in transport and logistics: from the CAP to the BAC+3. At the Épinal Hubert Curien University Institute of Technology (IUT), students can study for a BUT (University Technical Diploma) in Industrial Logistics Quality and Organisation (QLIO). The LOUIS GESLER Regional Industrial Sixth Form College offers a Vocational Baccalaureate in Logistics, whilst prospective drivers can undertake a CAP training programme at the P.G. de Gennes Vocational College.

Since late 2023, the provision has been further strengthened. The Mauffrey Academy in Éloyes and Passeport Prévention (due to open in late 2024) offer an additional specialisation, directly tailored to the needs of the sector.

Bioeconomy & Wood Chemistry in the Vosges

Set amidst a forest massif covering more than half of the region, the Vosges boast a unique strategic asset: an abundant and diverse supply of timber. This natural wealth forms the basis of a new ambition: to develop the bioeconomy and wood chemistry by meeting the growing demand for natural cosmetics, biostimulants and biocontrol for sustainable agriculture, bio-based adhesives and resins, additives for composites, and biomaterials for functional packaging. All whilst replacing fossil-based resources with bio-based molecules, natural ingredients and innovative biomaterials.

An exceptional natural resource at the service of innovation

The Vosges bioeconomy is underpinned by a comprehensive and well-structured timber sector, encompassing the entire value chain within the region, from the raw material to industrial applications. With a forest cover of 49% and 285,436 hectares of woodland, the Vosges is the most forested department in the Grand Est region. This abundance of raw material is complemented by a dense network of sawmills, primary and secondary processing sites, and Europe’s largest paper mill.

A comprehensive value-creation strategy

The Vosges’ strategy is based on maximising the value of timber and biomass by covering the entire value chain:

• Molecules of interest: extraction of natural compounds from bark, sawdust and knots for use in cosmetics, the agri-food sector, animal nutrition and biocontrol
• Biomaterials: development of polymers and substitutes for fossil-based products for construction, panels and packaging
• Circular economy: integration of co-products into recycled and bio-based packaging; recovery of residues as heat and electricity via combined heat and power (CHP)

The 7,632 employees in the timber sector, working across forestry, timber harvesting, sawmilling, furniture manufacturing and paper and board production, ensure close links with producers and recognised expertise.

An ecosystem of innovation and technology transfer

The region boasts a comprehensive network of stakeholders capable of supporting projects at every stage, from proof of concept to industrialisation. Structured programmes, supported at regional and European level, enable innovative solutions to be tested, validated and scaled up:

• CRITT Bois: supports the industrialisation of processes, access to raw material sources and the setting up of collaborative projects
• WoodInChem: a collaborative platform enabling start-ups and manufacturers to test and scale up their projects by pooling equipment and expertise
• ENSTIB: the only public engineering school in Europe dedicated to timber, providing a pool of engineers and researchers as well as a state-of-the-art technology centre
• Fibois Grand Est: a regional inter-professional organisation supporting the sector’s development and industrial projects
• Research laboratories (LERMAB, CRAN, IJL) and national and European networks: high-level expertise in green chemistry, materials and processes

Research programmes geared towards the market

Several pioneering programmes place the region at the forefront of the bioeconomy:

• ViBioCi-GE (2023–2025): co-funded by the Grand Est Region and the ERDF, this programme develops circular value chains for non-food molecules of interest, notably via bark extracts
• ExtraBark: a flagship project by WoodInChem aimed at valorising under-utilised wood bark by extracting bioactive compounds (polyphenols, tannins, antioxidants, antimicrobials) for use in cosmetics, nutrition and agricultural biocontrol
• Mycorem: is developing new processes for the decontamination of end-of-life creosote-treated timber to enable its recycling, illustrating the region’s commitment to the circular economy