Florence Becot, PhD, MS, is a rural sociologist and the Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor in Agricultural Safety and Health at the Pennsylvania State University. She also leads the Penn State Agricultural Safety and Health Program (ASH). Broadly speaking, her integrated research-extension program is intended to understand and support agricultural communities’ ability to meet their needs with an emphasis on their health, safety, well-being, and economic viability. Florence has done research and innovative solutions to support farm families’ social and economic needs in the U.S. and France. 

Andy Bater, a fourth-generation farmer, serves on the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau State Board and chairs its Wildlife and Fisheries Committee. He also advises the Pennsylvania Food Policy Council and serves on the USDA Farm Service Agency State Committee. With over 25 years of experience in communications engineering, he coordinated industry recovery operations following 9/11 and oversaw facility restorations after Hurricane Katrina. He contributes to national technology policy through the FCC’s Precision Agriculture Task Force and the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee. Dedicated to well-being, Andy is a registered yoga instructor and collaborates with the AgriSafe Network to promote universal farmer access to healthcare. Most recently he has embarked on a One Health initiative with Penn State’s Colleges of Medicine and Nursing.

Holder of a DEA (equivalent master’s degree) in International Security and Defense, Karim Cheurfa Molinier began his career in Europe, notably at the French Embassy in Norway and the Generalitat Valenciana in Spain.  ten years ago, he joined Service de Remplacement France as an advisor to support the development of structures. His role includes network support, representation with public authorities, and the management of key projects for the network, such as the creation of an ERP dedicated to the operation of the structures. He also leads communication projects, including a serious game.

With an academic background in geography, Julien has worked on issues related to the attractiveness and development of rural areas in France in the post-COVID context. For the past year and a half, Julien has been working as a project manager at Service de Remplacement France, leading initiatives to improve working conditions, enhance professional skills, and make the farmer substitute profession more attractive.

Agnes started an organic and regenerative farm operation in the southern French Alps in 2010 with her husband, Renaud. They took an abandoned family farm, brought it back to life and into production as a lifestyle change from a background in Public Health research in HIV prevention science with the University of California -LA in South Africa. In 2019, Renaud suffered from a work-related burn-out and needed to radically rest and recover for an extended period. As longstanding members of the “Service de Replacement”, the substitute labor program which was invaluable in providing labour, advice, and moral support to help overcome and weather the storm. Agnès has been the “Service de Remplacement” voluntary secretary general (board member) since 2020 and as such has trained in suicide prevention/watch and first aid for mental health.