On Europe 1, Julien Denormandie returned to the announcement by Jean Castex of the release of 60 million euros in emergency aid to the most troubled breeders.

Insisting on the role of manufacturers and distributors, but also on that of consumers, the Minister of Agriculture calls for "getting out of the price war".  

INTERVIEW

The government wants to help breeders.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the release of 60 million euros in emergency aid for the professionals in greatest difficulty, who earned less than 11,000 euros in 2020. Because the sector is in crisis, and breeders regularly regret having to sell their animals at a price lower than their production costs.

Invited on Saturday from Europe 1, the Minister of Agriculture Julien Denormandie insisted on the role of industrialists and players in mass distribution, as well as that of consumers, calling for "to stop the price war". 

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This fund of 60 million euros "is intended for all these men and women who work in an incredible way to feed us", he assures us.

With the coronavirus crisis, "they have seen outlets close and have incomes which have fallen sharply", continues the minister.

Hence the need to "unblock emergency aid to consolidate their income and ensure that they can live with dignity from their work". 

But on the side of the breeders, we are asking for more than aid, and we insist on the question of prices, often too low.

"I totally share the fight for the price", assures Julien Denormandie.

And to add: "The DNA of our agriculture is to make quality products. But we observe in our country the price war, with always the lowest prices. However, when you are in a price war, you can't push for better quality ”. 

The Food Law "does not work completely"

On Europe 1, the minister therefore calls for "to stop this price war".

But how ?

First of all, explains Julien Denormandie, "we must put an end to the behavior of large-scale distribution and manufacturers who continue to wage war on prices".

For that, "in my opinion, we will have to go even further" than the Food Law, because this law "does not work completely", he admits.

But Julien Denormandie also insists on the role of consumers.

"We are consumers, but also actors. When we are in the supermarket, ask ourselves the question: 'Where do these products come from? Do we want quality products or do we continue to continually importing lower quality products? "

"A quality is remunerated," said the member of the government.

Towards multi-year negotiations? 

The question of prices was on the menu of the annual commercial negotiations between producers and distributors, which took place in a tense atmosphere.

On Europe 1, Serge Papin, former CEO of Système U and mediator to the Minister of Agriculture, in particular proposed to switch to a system of "multiannual" negotiations.

Could the government follow this recommendation?

"This recommendation is progressing well and quickly," replied Julien Denormandie. 

"We will strengthen the law, strengthen practices to move for example to multi-year contractualization, that is to say give visibility on prices over several years," he adds.

And to conclude: "If it is necessary to modify the law, we will do it".