The French government recently selected 22 projects from a 2006 call for tenders for combined heat and power generation (“cogeneration”) using biomass; the feedstock included straw, corn stover and energy crops (for nine of the projects).
After heavy rain over recent weeks, ORAMA and IRRIGANTS de France* are focusing attention on the importance of water for farming and the need for an efficient policy on water storage.
As part of the “Grenelle de l’environnement” consultation process in France, ORAMA[1] is now actively embarking on the development of environmental certification of farms specialising in grain and oil & protein seed crops.
After the vote by the European Parliament in October 2007, the European Agricultural Council, under pressure from irrational fears stirred up by certain NGOs, may soon validate regulations that would be the first step on the way to banning many different groups of plant protection products which are essential to farming.
The proposals made by the European Commission for future development of the CAP show an attitude that is dangerously divorced from reality, casting doubt on systems – of intervention and direct aid – designed to help grain producers and oil and protein seed farmers cope more efficiently with market fluctuations.
The French Council of State [Conseil d’État] has turned down the application made by AGPM, the General Association of Maize Growers and member of ORAMA, to suspend the decision banning the production of MON810 Bt maize. The judge ruling on the application used the complexity of the regulations as a shield to avoid a situation that might cast doubt on the ministerial decree, even though it is clearly of an illegal nature. The judge thus gave no consideration to the urgency of the matter which had been presented as a further argument by the maize growers because of the negative impact. Just as sowing is about to begin, such negative effects on finances, plant health and the environment are very real indeed.
This morning, the General Association of Maize Growers (AGPM), co-partner in ORAMA with AGPB and FOP, lodged two appeals with the Conseil d’Etat, one being an application to set aside the ruling handed down on February 7 and modified by a second ruling on February 13, and the other being a summary application for an interim order to suspend the same ruling which bans the use of MON810 Bt maize for crops in France.
The European Commission has just given official endorsement to the EC draft directive on energy from renewable sources. AGPB, AGPM and CGB have expressed satisfaction with the confirmation of the target of 20% renewable energy in Europe by 2020, which will require the use of biomass to produce heat, electricity and fuel.
AGPB, AGPM and CGB have expressed approval, in particular, of the proposal by the Commission for a compulsory minimum of 10% biofuel by 2020, considering that the level is realistic and that the regulatory framework anticipated is reasonable, and specifically for the criteria for the environmental sustainability of biofuels. In the light of agricultural and industrial data reported to date, it should be possible for France to meet the requirement of a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for all biofuels.
The European Commission’s position on the biofuel issue is in stark contrast with the recent about-turn by public authorities in France. It can be noted that when running for election, Sarkozy, the candidate, had wanted to have all taxes taken off biofuels; now the tax on them has just been increased and flexfuel vehicles are not granted any credit under the “ecological bonus” system, even though they are environmentally friendly.
AGPB, AGPM and CGB are appealing to the public authorities in France to redirect the actions they are taking on global warming so as to give proper and serious consideration to the urgency of the situation and the interests of the general public, as has been done by European authorities. Contacts : AGPB - Pascal HURBAULT, tél 01 44 31 16 25 AGPM - Sophie MARQUIS, tél 01 44 31 10 92 CGB - Carine ABECASSIS, tél 01 44 69 41 36
Observing the current increase in grain and oil-seed prices, the Minister of Agriculture has concluded that the CAP Health Check will be an opportunity to cut off support to field crop farmers and transfer the benefit to other sectors. The minister has now made explicit reference to the regulatory changes needed to achieve this.
Logically, he now has to make an equally clear and firm statement to grain growers, specifying what resources should be earmarked for times when markets are less buoyant so as to protect them from a decline in income as dramatic as the drop experienced between 1998 and 2005.
The level of grain production is by definition subject to contingencies and, even in a context of strong demand, weather conditions could easily generate surpluses which would be stocked, causing markets to collapse. This is a parameter of agricultural policy no one can afford to ignore.
Instead of being a relevant analysis of the mass of scientific evidence available on the subject, the report is more like a catalogue of statements with some arguments more compelling than others. The alleged doubts in the report had already been addressed in the course of other assessments of MON810, both in France and Europe, and which had all concluded that MON810 maize was not harmful to either health or the environment. The fact is that this ruling has no new scientific data and contains no “serious doubts”; the summary presented in the speech by Chairman Le Grand is deliberately incorrect and had quite obviously been “prefabricated” to order.
