AGRI-FOOD CLUSTERS: IS FRENCH POLICY IN LINE WITH REAL SPATIAL DYNAMICS?

This paper attempts to ascertain to what extent the selected agricultural and agri-food cluster policies rely on a spatial dynamic involving real agricultural and agri-food activities in the relevant geographic area. An explanatory spatial data analysis (ESDA) is used to detect the spatial structure and dynamics of agri-food activities and to connect them to the cluster policies’ locations. Results show that some cluster policies are not based on real agglomeration dynamics of agriculture and agri-food production. Those clusters develop specific collaboration, often strategic ones, with other cluster policies.