150 years of higher education in horticulture in France: drivers for evolution

The history of higher education in horticulture in France began after the 1870 war, at the start of the Third Republic, when the government was concerned to provide the country with the professional agricultural education needed for rural production.
It was thanks in particular to pressure from professional nurserymen that the “Ecole Nationale d’Horticulture” (ENH) opened its doors in December 1874 in the “Potager du Roi” adjoining the Château de Versailles, a place of innovations in horticulture since the 17^th century and its creator J.B. La Quintinye.
The aim of this paper is to analyze, in parallel, the political changes that have led to a reconfiguration of horticultural higher education establishments over time, and the redefinition of teaching approaches in line with professional and societal needs, which have seen practical teaching give way to more theoretical and conceptual teaching coupled with research activities.
These continuous and sustained developments likely explain why France is one of the few countries with a dedicated horticultural higher education establishment, offering very high employment rates to its graduates across various sectors, including production, plant breeding, experimentation and consultancy, trade and distribution, professional organisations, training, and research.

EHC2024: International Symposium on the History of Horticulture in Europe

E. Geoffriau, V. Le Clerc, M. Delaire, V. Soufflet-Freslon, O. Leprince, S. Sakr, D. Vollet, F. Le Tohic, L. Vidal-Beaudet, A. El Ghaziri, V. Malécot, R. Gardet, B. Gohard, N. Dorion

horticulture education, training, horticulture history

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1438.13