French Agriculture Minister Unveils Measures to Ease Burden on Farmers
Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard announced a series of measures designed to alleviate the “burdens” she says are impacting the agricultural sector. The announcement came on Saturday during a visit to a dairy farm in Loiret, amid growing discontent within the agricultural community.
Addressing roughly twenty farmers, Genevard emphasized that dialogue was essential.
Angst and discontent have been mounting in the agricultural sector, with many feeling overburdened by regulations and struggling to remain competitive.
“In this time of crisis and doubt, I want to be at your side,” she said, “We are making farmers lose the very meaning of their profession, it is urgent to renew the dialogue.”
A key element of Genevard’s plan involves creating a “Council of Guidance for Crop Protection”. This council, established by decree and chaired by the minister, will bring together stakeholders including farmers, research institutes, and manufacturers of crop protection products to prioritize requests for authorization of input use by the Health Safety Agency (ANSES).
“These are truly burdens which have accumulated to the point of weakening the competitiveness of farms,” Stressed Genevard.
This means moving requests to place certain products on the market to the top of the pile in order to meet the needs of sectors facing crises, ensuring that ANSES prioritizes its work to respond to these crucial needs.
Crucially, the council aims to streamline the process for authorizing certain products, with an emphasis on “orphan or poorly provided uses.”
“We are asking ANSES to work as a priority on orphan or poorly provided uses,” Genevard explained, noting the need for technical expertise in the approval process. “Plant protection companies will be able to contribute this expertise directly because they are the ones who develop these products.”
The minister further asserted lever recognized “I think that the path towards less pesticide use is a path that no one will return to, but for the sectors which are in crisis, we need ANSES to prioritize its work to respond”.
Genevard’s plan also instructs ANSES to improve transparency, keeping ministries better informed of its draft decisions.
Genevard acknowledged the concerns surrounding ANSES, which has faced criticism for its role in banning or restricting the use of certain pesticides before similar restricitions were adopted at the European level.
Addressing Farmer Concerns Regarding the Biodiversity Office
Genevard’s travels took her to a dairy farm, highlighting the on-the-ground concerns the government was aiming to address. The Minister announced further measures aimed at addressing concerns surrounding the French Biodiversity Office (OFB). Farmers at the Loiret farm voiced concerns about OFB agents who occursionally license the carrying of weapons during field visits, arguing this was causing unnecessary tension in these interactions. Generating further ire among farmers,
In response, Genevard instructed the OFB director general to immediately ensure discretion in the use of these weapons during controls, emphasizing that it’s a major irritant for farmers.”
To improve transparency and transparency, the government is aiming for “progressive deployment on an experimental basis (…) of wearing pedestrian cameras by OFB agents.”
The announcement comes as the OFB board requests reversals to the planned reductions
in staffing for works in 2025. The Minister announced other measures, including a circular to prefects to expedite agricultural project approvals, streamline paperwork, and favor educational rather than punitive controls.
Additionally, setting dates for agricultural work will be handled locally to ensure flexibility, and a new measure aims to prevent repetitive paperwork requests from mingling different administrations.
Eager to maintain an active dialogue going forward, Genevard indicated that she plans monthly meetings with agricultural unions. “These ‘Simplification meetings’, designed to overcome all the obstacles to production, are intended to be a means to overcome the challenges facing the sector.”
Reacting to the announcements, Jean-Louis Lefaucheux, secretary general FNSEA 45 said, “Overall, these announcements are in line with our demands, but what will count is the implementation.” He added, “We expect a little more.”
schrieb AFP – JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER)
What are the main concerns French farmers have that Minister Genevard is aiming to address with these new measures?
## Interview with Agriculture Expert on New Measures for French Farmers
**News Anchor:** Welcome back! Joining us today is agricultural expert, Dr. Marie Dupont, to discuss the recent announcement by French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard regarding new measures aimed at easing the burden on French farmers. Dr. Dupont, can you give us an overview of these measures?
**Dr. Dupont:** Certainly. Minister Genevard announced a multi-pronged approach to address the growing discontent within the agricultural community.
**News Anchor:** What are some of the key elements of this plan?
**Dr. Dupont:** One crucial aspect is the formation of a “Council of Guidance for Crop Protection”. This council, led by the Minister herself, will bring together farmers, researchers, and manufacturers to expedite the authorization process for crop protection products. The aim is to help farmers access necessary tools while also promoting sustainable practices.
**News Anchor:** That sounds like a valuable initiative. What other concerns did the Minister address?
**Dr. Dupont:** The Minister also acknowledged concerns about the French Biodiversity Office (OFB).
Farmers have expressed discomfort with OFB agents occasionally carrying weapons during field visits, finding it unnecessarily confrontational. Minister Genevard has instructed the OFB director general to address this issue promptly.
**News Anchor:** This announcement comes against a backdrop of growing discontent among farmers. Do you think these measures will be enough to quell these concerns?
**Dr. Dupont:** It’s a positive step. It shows that the government is listening to farmers’ concerns and taking concrete action. However, the success of these measures will depend on their implementation and the willingness of all stakeholders, including ANSES, to work together effectively. It’s a crucial moment for the French agricultural sector, and these new initiatives could play a vital role in its future.
**News Anchor:** Dr. Dupont, thank you for providing your expert insights on this important issue.
