Passionate experts to guide your journey

Philippe GATE, a member of the French Academy of Agriculture, served as the Scientific Director of ARVALIS, an agricultural technical institute dedicated to field crops and funded by producers, from 2009 to 2021.
He has developed or contributed to operational tools widely used by farmers and advisors, such as decision-support systems that help adjust farming practices by combining agronomic knowledge with digital technologies (modelling, remote sensing).
He has long been involved in diagnosing stagnating crop yields and proposing ways to adapt to climate change. He promotes a “borderless agronomy,” grounded in an integrated and systemic approach, from genetics to digital technologies, aimed at advancing a multi-performance agroecological model that benefits the greatest number of farmers, as well as consumers and citizens.
As a jury member and Director of the Make IT Agri competition, Philippe GATE brings his expertise to evaluate innovative projects, advise candidates on the practical application of their solutions, and help them design impactful and realistic innovations for the agricultural sector.

Sophie VILLERS, honorary general engineer of the Corps of Bridges, Waters and Forests, is a member of the French Academy of Agriculture, where she serves as Secretary of the “Human Nutrition” section (2020–2026).
A graduate of AgroParisTech (formerly INA-PG) and the National School of Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry (ENGREF), she has built a distinguished career serving the French government, holding senior positions within the Ministries of Agriculture, Budget, and Culture.
She served as Director-General for Food, Director of the National Institute of Appellations of Origin, Technical Advisor to the Minister, and later chaired a section of the CGAAER. She also served as Secretary-General of the Musée d’Orsay.
Since 2022, as a member of the Make IT Agri jury, she contributes her expertise in human nutrition and agri-food value chains, guiding project teams on sustainability, technological innovation, and consumer benefits.

With a background in agricultural engineering, Jean-Bernard Davière is Director of Research, Development and Innovation at Seenovia, part of the Seenergi group, which supports dairy, beef, and goat farmers across France.
A leading figure in livestock innovation, he oversees major projects such as Optimir (mid-infrared milk spectrometry), Mozaë (monitoring solution), and GenoCellules® (tank-milk genotyping), all of which are transforming herd-management capabilities.
As a member of the Make IT Agri jury, Jean-Bernard Davière brings extensive expertise in innovation and animal production.

A graduate of Grenoble Ecole de Management, Stéphane Pastor has built his entire career within the TotalEnergies group, developing strong expertise in strategic marketing, innovation and energy transition.
Throughout his career, he has held various leadership positions within the marketing division, contributing to the design and deployment of projects combining technology, innovation, and sustainability. These experiences have made him a strategic leader able to connect high-level vision with operational realities.
In his current role as Marketing France & Head of Strategy, he helps drive the company’s transformation toward more responsible and digitally connected energy solutions, placing innovation at the heart of performance and long-term sustainability.
As a Make IT Agri jury member, he brings his strategic and innovation expertise to help young innovators develop impactful, viable and future-ready solutions for the agricultural and energy sectors.

A graduate of ESPCI Paris and École Polytechnique, Vincent Rachet began his career in R&D at the Saint-Gobain group, where he developed strong expertise in industrial innovation and advanced technologies.
Driven by robotics and digital technologies applied to agriculture, he later joined Exxact Robotics, a subsidiary of EXEL Industries, where he now serves as Managing Director. The company designs precision solutions for crop protection to optimize inputs, reduce environmental impact, and improve farm performance.
As a Make IT Agri jury member, Vincent Rachet contributes his expertise in agricultural robotics and technological innovation, assessing student projects, encouraging bold ideas, and guiding young talent toward practical, sustainable, high-impact solutions for the agriculture of tomorrow.

After completing a literary baccalaureate, Aurore Paillard pursued a BTS in Plant Technology, marking the beginning of a committed journey in agriculture.
She has been running a 142-hectare arable farm since 2016, following the takeover of her family’s operation through a support scheme. She also diversified into saffron production, marketed through both a cooperative and a local producers’ shop.
A member of the Young Farmers (JA) since 2015, she has been deeply involved in the organisation, serving as president of a local branch, departmental board member, then regional secretary-general, before joining the national team in 2022.
As a Make IT Agri jury member, Aurore Paillard brings a hands-on perspective, grounded in real-life farming practice. She evaluates projects with a pragmatic eye, focusing on feasibility and the concrete positive impact innovations can bring to farmers.

A mixed-crop organic farmer in the Cambrésis region, Emmanuel Leveugle has built a career combining field experience and technical expertise. After working in agricultural advisory services and the agri-food sector, he now applies this dual perspective to his public service roles.
He is an elected member of the Chamber of Agriculture of Hauts-de-France, in charge of environmental and innovation issues, where he actively supports agricultural transition. His involvement with the Avril Foundation, as a board member, further reflects his commitment to promoting sustainability and future-focused initiatives.
As part of the Make IT Agri jury, he assesses projects with the combined insight of a dedicated farmer and elected representative, attentive both to practical realities in the field and to innovations capable of transforming agricultural practices.

With more than 20 years of experience in agriculture and agri-food, he has developed strong expertise in customer relations, strategic procurement, and corporate social responsibility. He has led major sustainability-focused projects related to ethics and responsible sourcing.
He recently joined AgrOnov, an agroecology innovation hub in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, as Agricultural Innovation Project Manager. He drives agricultural innovation by bringing actors together, transferring solutions to the field, and strengthening regional engagement in agricultural and food transition.
As a Make IT Agri jury member, he evaluates projects based on impact, feasibility and relevance for agricultural stakeholders. He helps identify and support high-potential initiatives that foster a more sustainable and resilient agricultural and food system.