Pause of the Ecophyto plan, unfair competition... After the farmers, the beekeepers are mobilizing

Noémie Loiselle / Photo credit: Thibaut Durand / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 10:09 a.m., February 5, 2024

One anger chases another. That of farmers was appeased, among other things, by the announcement of the “shutdown” of the Ecophyto plan, which ultimately will be a three-week break. But this sparked the ire of beekeepers, even though pesticides are responsible for the death of at least 30% of bees. They are mobilizing this Monday in Lyon and will exhibit a thousand hives on Place Bellecour. Beekeepers also denounce unfair foreign competition.

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This is the case of Pierrick Marnat. This beekeeper in the Loire has still not sold his stock from last year: he has ten tonnes of honey left. He denounces unfair competition from imported honey. "There are countries like Ukraine, China, which export a lot of honey at less than 2 euros per kilo to France, which are far from our production costs, which are at 6-8 euros, so we do not "can't compete. The problem arises with many agricultural products, particularly honey where there is labeling that is not very clear," he denounces.

“Helping farmers in this ecological transition”

Beekeepers are also worried about the suspension of the Ecophyto plan. “It would be good if there was another type of agriculture set up in France to try to reduce these treatments. But there must be a real desire on the part of the government to help farmers in this ecological transition.” continues Pierrick Marnat.

This Monday morning, farmers will place a thousand dead or empty hives on Place Bellecour. A strong image to alert them to their financial difficulties.