FNSEA announced Beulin’s sudden death on Sunday at the age of 58, saying “he gave everything for the open and independent representation of farmers”. Beulin was France’s leading farmer representative since 2010 and was due to stand for re-election next month.

IFA president Joe Healy described him as "a close ally of Ireland" and said: “As president of FNSEA, Xavier Beulin has always been a strong supporter of Irish farming and stood with us in our negotiations on behalf of farm families at EU level." One recent example is the ANC review, in which the IFA and FNSEA met last week to study new maps of disadvantaged areas already issued in France and the frontloading of the first 25ha already used in France, with the IFA advocating for a similar system on the first 20ha here.

Beulin was previously a vice-president of COPA-COGECA. The EU-wide farming organisation’s secretary general Pekka Peson said that: “French, European and international agriculture is losing a great man.”

After taking over the family tillage farm south of Paris at the age of 17 following the death of his father, Beulin rose through the ranks of farming organisations as well as agribusiness. He was the chairman of Groupe Avril, an oil- and proteinseed processing giant with more than €6bn in annual sales, which he helped found and develop through his career.

French president François Hollande said Beulin’s death was “a great loss” for the country, hailing his “belief in the key role of research and innovation”.

Beulin was also a controversial figure, with his double interests as farmer representative and head of a major crop processor and feed supplier sometimes criticised by FNSEA members. Last year’s successful protests against the low prices paid by France’s leading milk processor Lactalis, however, were widely put to his credit.

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Xavier Beulin’s 2015 interview with the Irish Farmers Journal: “I pay for my friends”