Economic catastrophe lamentation: Hazelnut growers in Lot-et-Garonne advocate for the revival of a prohibited pesticide
Take Action Alert: Farmers Demand for Lifting Farming Profession Constraints
Farmers across France are gearing up for a massive demonstration on May 26, as the National Assembly is set to evaluate a bill that aims to ease constraints on the agricultural sector. The bill, already given a green light by the Senate, faces uncertainty in the hands of deputies, with some expressing concern about potential environmental setbacks.
Water Protection in Seine-et-Marne: Farmers' Struggle
A case in point is the controversial return of a powerful insecticide, acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide infamously known as "bee-killers." This insecticide, banned in France since the 2016 biodiversity law, has been authorized in Europe and is fiercely defended by 11 agricultural sectors, citing a lack of viable alternatives.
This battle is playing out in Vares, north of Agen, where Axel Crestian, president of the National Association of Hazelnut Producers (ANPN), is pinning his hopes on the reintroduction of acetamiprid to protect his hazelnut trees. The 2023 harvest saw his farm yielding just 40% of the normal production, thanks to two notorious pests, the hazelnut weevil and the devil's bug.
"The industry is on the brink," warns Axel Crestian, estimating that over half of the more than 300 French hazelnut producers are in dire financial straits, with the rest following suit by 2026 if the 2025 harvest doesn't meet expectations.
Unfair Competition: French Farmers' Cry for Help
France is the third-largest consumer of hazelnuts worldwide and the only European country to ban acetamiprid. This restriction leaves French farmers with insufficient options, while their European counterparts have eight, Spanish farmers have seven, and the Turkish farmers, who make up 80% of the world's hazelnut production, have a whopping 240.
This situation infuriates Jean-Luc Reigne, president of Unicoque, the French cooperative handling almost all domestic walnut and hazelnut distribution. "Inevitably, it's not the same product, but consumers don't see the difference," he laments. "However, in the long run, we risk extinction."
A Persistent Challenge: Balancing Agriculture and Environment
As the debate surrounding neonicotinoids like acetamiprid continues to rage, it becomes evident that France must strike a delicate balance between agricultural needs and environmental conservation. The potential impact on bee colonies and pollinator health presents a significant concern, potentially affecting the productivity of crops like hazelnuts. However, the specificities of the French hazelnut industry's predicament in this regard remain sparse in the current search results.
[1] Sept. 2023: French Farmers Plan Protest over Neonicotinoid Pesticide Restrictions, FarmingToday.com, https://www.farmingtoday.com/news/france/french-farmers-plan-protest-over-neonicotinoid-pesticide-restrictions/
- The EU's policy-and-legislation regarding agriculture, particularly concerning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, has become a hot topic in French politics, as evidenced by the planned protests by farmers on issues such as the restricted use of acetamiprid.
- In the general-news context, the European Union's politics and policy-and-legislation are under scrutiny for their potential impact on farming sectors, such as hazelnut producers in France, who claim to have limited options due to restrictions on certain pesticides compared to their international counterparts.
