INTERVIEW
The government is rushing to the aid of the French sugar beet. Alerted by producers facing the ravages of green aphids, which carry the jaundice virus, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Thursday its intention to obtain "a legislative change this fall" to waive the ban on certain neonicotinoids , at the latest until 2023. These insecticides were banned from all phytosanitary use in September 2018. For beet growers, this is a victory that will save the industry. But for environmental associations, this is a regrettable step backwards.
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Yields down by 30 to 40% and factories threatened
"It is a satisfaction to have been heard by the government", rejoices Guillaume Gandon, vice-president of the General Confederation of beet planters (CGB), interviewed by Europe 1. "It will save the industry because today you have fields that are turning yellow. This year's harvest is very affected, especially south of Paris. There is talk of yields that are 30 to 40% lower than last year, which is almost 'a million tonnes of sugar less,' he explains. "The risk is that, without a solution, the farmers who suffer this situation will turn away from beet. And behind, there are 21 factories threatened with closure."
Guillaume Gandon also wishes to reassure public opinion on the use which will be made of the neonicotinoids authorized by way of derogation. In this specific case, it is a "beet seed lightly coated with a micro-dose of insecticide". "It's the same principle as for dog flea collars, with the same product. The aphid bites the beet, takes a small dose of insecticide and dies. But we do not spray insecticide in the fields." , explains the vice-president of the CGB.
"A step backwards" for environmental associations
Arguments that are refuted by environmental defense associations. "If we continue in this direction, we are heading towards catastrophes. The insect population is drastically decreasing and bees in particular are in a very difficult situation. We are on the brink and we are told 'take another step forward. before '. It's not serious! ", protests at the microphone of Europe 1 Jean-Claude Bévillard, national secretary" agriculture "of the association France nature environment (FNE).
READ> Bee mortality: why are five neonicotinoids banned?
"France had been exemplary and there, we are backing down," for his part lamented, to AFP, the president of Future generations François Veillerette. "We cannot accept a step backwards", also maintains the National Union of beekeepers (Unaf). Authorizing neonicotinoids would be "catastrophic for the beekeeping industry and for all the pollinating insects already highly weakened in France." "It's like glyphosate. It is banned and then added that it will be necessary to provide for exemptions. The government wants to authorize neonicotinoids for two years. Which tells us that in two years there will be no new a derogation? ", despairs Jean-Claude Bévillard, of FNE.
"We are well aware of the fear of environmental associations. But beets do not produce pollen or flowers. We have no fear as to the sustainability of bee populations because they do not come to our fields. 'is committed to carrying out precise monitoring,' replied Guillaume Gandon, from the General Confederation of beet growers. "Somehow these coated seeds are even better for the environment than what we do today when we use ineffective neonicotinoid substitutes."