Paris (AFP)
An angry little bee, fist raised, replicated by dozens on signs: opponents of the temporary reintroduction of neonicotinoids made their anger heard on Wednesday on the Esplanade des Invalides in Paris.
In the midst of the smoke blown by beekeepers' smokers, this happening of "577 bees", the number of deputies in the National Assembly, aimed to try to convince elected officials not to vote the bill wanted by the government to save the beet industry.
"The government's choice goes against everything that society is asking for today: an evolution in agriculture which must be more in line with ecosystems," said Stéphen Kerckhove, head of the NGO Agir pour the environment, at the origin of the gathering.
Alongside the NGOs (Générations Futures, Greenpeace, foodwatch ...) were present the representatives of beekeepers, certain agricultural organizations such as the Confédération paysanne, or even elected officials from the left and environmentalists.
"It is unacceptable to want to reintroduce these poisons," Dominique Cena, secretary general of the National Union of French beekeeping (UNAF), told AFP.
"We are once again sacrificing the beekeeping industry which has suffered for more than 20 years", he added, referring to "300 to 320,000 colonies (of bees) on the carpet each year".
Neonicotinoids, which target the nervous system of insects, disorient pollinators, contributing to the dramatic decline of colonies.
After banning them in 2018, the government agreed to grant temporary exemptions from next year, as in a dozen other European countries, in order to curb the "beet yellows" which has undermined this summer returns.
In question, a green aphid, vector of the virus, which develops on the cultures not protected by an insecticide.
"Overall, in my fields I need insects, so as soon as neonicotinoids are used, they will kill aphids but also the large family of insects, some of which are absolutely useful for my production system", explained Guillaume Riou. , President of the National Federation of Organic Agriculture (FNAB), calling for the development of the organic beet industry which today only counts 1,500 hectares.
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