NEXUS ERGO SUM : Réapprendre à se connecter à la terre et aux vivants | Frédéric REVOL | TEDxSaclay

A farmer, organic producer, and distiller, Frédéric questions one of the grand narratives that has guided our societies for millennia: that of humanity committed to a trajectory of progress, performance, and growth, convinced of its separation from the rest of the living world and its ability to shape the world for itself, even to the point of exceeding its limits. His move to organic farming to produce his whiskies marks a true existential crisis, leading him to re-examine this Promethean stance. By distancing himself from agribusiness, he discovers that the fertility of his farm, like the quality of his whiskies, is the result of the synergy of a vast ecosystem—soils, microorganisms, fungi, fauna, and flora—of which he himself is a key player. His experience reveals to him that success arises neither from human will alone nor from the mastery of nature, but from ecological relationships and the sensitive conversations we maintain with the living world, including beings whose very existence we are often unaware of. Trained as an agricultural engineer and economist, Frédéric initially dedicated his career to studying ecological and territorial issues. Convinced that models alone are insufficient to understand living organisms, he chose to become a farmer and took over a mountain farm in the Alps. He converted it to organic farming and developed a frugal agronomic approach based on ecological balance. Founder of Domaine des Hautes Glaces, he creates exceptional whiskies crafted like fine wines, revealing the expression of a living terroir. His journey has led him to a conviction: the ecological transition hinges as much on our personal choices as on our innovations, by reconciling knowledge, sensitivity, and the living world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx