On June 4, in the verdant setting of the former Habitation Dillon, a new page in Martinique agriculture was written. In announcing that the Brahman cattle breed will represent the Salon International de l’Agriculture in Paris in 2026, Salon director Jérôme Despey made more than a symbolic choice: he recognized Martinique as a legitimate, strategic and innovative agricultural player.
The announcement was made thanks to the commitment of Sandrine Hayot, president of the Union des éleveurs de bovins Brahman, genetic coordinator Jessica Perrette, who has been on the payroll for over six years, and breeder André Prosper.
The Salon International de l’Agriculture 2026 will be held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, as every year, from February 21st to March 1st 2026.
A hardy breed with recognized Caribbean know-how
The Brahman, a cattle breed emblematic of the French West Indies, is adapted to tropical conditions: undemanding, naturally resistant to parasites, and suitable for extensive outdoor rearing. “It’s a very endearing, spectacular animal, ideal for our territories”, confides Jessica Perrette.
In both Martinique and French Guiana, genetic selection programs help maintain the breed’s diversity and quality, promoting local, healthy meat produced with respect for the environment.
Regional cooperation in tune with know-how
André Prosper sets out the regional vision: “There’s a real need for inter-island development. We’re still in the embryonic stage, but we need to go much further. Links are being forged with Saint-Martin, Dominica and Guadeloupe. Visits from Caribbean delegations to his farm have revealed the potential of the Martinique model.
Conversely, cooperation with French Guiana is already well advanced: the Brahman breed’s herd book is shared there, structures are actively collaborating (SEBOG cooperative, UEBB), and skills are circulating between breeders. It’s a tangible integration that promises a promising Caribbean dynamic.
Territorial influence and collective ambition
For the Salon de l’Agriculture, 600,000 visitors, 4,300 journalists, 88 official debates… The visibility is immense. By choosing a Brahman cow from Martinique, the whole island will be highlighted: its respectful agricultural practices, its committed breeders, its young people in training, all mobilized to accompany the event in Paris.
The project is collective, deeply rooted and a source of pride. As Sandrine Hayot sums up: “It’s a great showcase for Martinique’s agricultural sector, one that innovates, cooperates and inspires.”
In Paris in 2026, it’s a whole: an animal, a breed, a know-how, a culture, an agriculture, a territory and its riches that will be represented. The Brahman crystallizes much more than a local success story: it embodies a demanding, inventive, forward-looking Martinique. This choice of muse is a strong signal that Martinique’s agriculture is radiant, seductive and attractive.
It is also becoming a lever for tourism and economic visibility. Through it, an entire island proudly asserts its place on the map of future agriculture.
