And on that farm, he had some…photo voltaic panels? Effectively, if this week’s Salon de l’Agriculture is something to go by, he does.

For these of you who don’t know, the Salon de l’Agriculture is a global agricultural present set within the unlikely coronary heart of France’s capital, Paris.

In brief, it’s the agri-place to be for anybody who’s anybody within the farming world.

And whereas it may not fairly be Glastonbury, this farming pageant nonetheless manages to attract fairly a crowd.

It’s no exaggeration to say hundreds of individuals flock to the salon from throughout France every yr.

This yr spirits have been even increased than normal because the exposition was cancelled the yr earlier than attributable to COVID. To not point out it supplied a (very welcome) temporary respite from the doom and gloom of the week. 

However that’s not all. There are additionally a whole lot of animals, from the usual farmyard buddies like cows and pigs, chickens, to the marginally extra unique likes of camels.

And with six halls filled with stands on every part from carbon farming to sampling the delights of French delicacies (together with extra cheese samples than is sensible for anybody to eat in two days), there’s a flavour to swimsuit everybody’s tastes. This consists of youngsters who received the possibility to play in a mock vet’s follow or cycle their solution to mixing a smoothie. 

Whereas everybody’s motives for coming to the salon differed barely, there was a standard theme of agricultural pleasure in meals tradition and heritage, which was, frankly, heartening to see.

In an period the place I as soon as overheard a baby reply to the query “the place does milk come from?” with “the grocery store!”, the exposition offers a welcome alternative for youths and fogeys to realize a glimpse of farm life and a greater understanding of the place the meals they eat actually comes from. 

I used to be significantly impressed to listen to one youngster, who couldn’t have been a lot older than 10, questioning a scientist on the method of water purification and fertiliser runoff.

The present additionally threw up some attention-grabbing questions concerning the trade-offs between inspiring folks and bringing them nearer to their meals with the realities of bringing a farm to Paris, similar to animal welfare. 

Most of the animals have been visibly distressed at being in an unnatural setting beneath brilliant lights and surrounded by folks. 

An on-site vet assured me that they took all potential precautions to make sure that the animals have been snug and skilled to be in such circumstances however conceded that it was prone to be a worrying state of affairs for the animals. 

In the meantime, the salon attracted an entire host of business gamers who have been all eager to point out off their sustainability credentials. 

McDonald’s (whose presence was met with protests after they first appeared on the exposition 20 years in the past) had a very spectacular stand, replete with movies on its contribution to the way forward for French agriculture, which concerned a heavy emphasis on carbon farming and native sourcing.

It was additionally attention-grabbing to notice that business gamers, generally, had, not less than on the shiny floor, modified their tune in terms of placing the facility again into farmers’ arms.

For instance, meals retailer Lidl showcased a programme whereby the grocery store big commits to purchasing produce at a worth set by the farmers themselves over a set variety of years.  

Others had even greater plans on the horizon for farmers, with many stands emphatically extolling the advantages of issues like biogas and photo voltaic panels on farms as methods for additional revenue, echoing the European Fee, who has lately positioned a robust emphasis on this in gentle of the vitality disaster stemming from the battle in Ukraine. 

Sadly, it was considerably more durable to trace down a farmer on the stands to listen to their tackle these plans.

It’s been identified to me that it’s getting more durable and more durable for farmers to take the time away from the farm to attend occasions like this, particularly as the dimensions of farming groups is dwindling.

The farmers I did communicate with demonstrated that whereas the business is eager on bringing their follow nearer to farmers, some attention-grabbing cracks stay.

One farmer I spoke to expressed issues concerning the rising emphasis for farmers to department out into schemes so as to add complementary revenues. 

“We simply wish to make meals. That’s what farmers are presupposed to do,” they stated. 

The necessity to deliver the farm nearer to the fork (or ‘fourchette‘, on this case) has by no means been clearer, and expositions like this assist bridge this widening hole. However we should always have an extended arduous take into consideration how to do that in a means that features farmers’ voices within the combine and is truthful for all concerned.

(by Natasha Foote)

Podcast

This week, EURACTIV’s agrifood crew offers you the rundown on the affect of the battle on Ukraine on the EU’s agri-food sector and are joined by EURACTIV’s Alice Taylor to listen to why it’d imply that bread is off the desk in Albania. We even have an agrifood podcast first with dwell reporting from the Salon de l’Agriculture in Paris, and for these of you with a candy tooth, we take a more in-depth take a look at sugar.

Agrifood tales of the week

Fee mulls new communication on affect of vitality disaster on the agri sector
The European Fee is contemplating a brand new, separate communication on the affect of the vitality disaster explicitly centered on the agriculture sector alongside a broader communication on the vitality disaster, in keeping with sources. Natasha Foote has the story

EU to look once more at Inexperienced deal targets in farming to make sure meals safety
The European Fee will look once more on the goals of its fundamental sustainable meals insurance policies, the Farm to Fork and the Biodiversity technique, to see if they will guarantee Europe’s meals safety within the aftermath of the Ukraine battle. Gerardo Fortuna explains all.

Ukraine battle places EU meals safety into highlight, agri sector informed to brace for affect
The battle in Ukraine has thrown the thorny challenge of meals safety within the EU to the fore because the European Fee warns the EU agri-food sector to brace itself for affect, each now and in the long run. Natasha Foote experiences.

EU sanctions on Belarus goal key fertiliser amid rising enter costs
The EU has banned all imports from Belarus of potash, an necessary fertiliser that’s largely poor in Europe, in a transfer that places additional strain on the agriculture sector already battling an enter worth hike. Be taught extra.

Romania submits CAP strategic plan, solely Belgium nonetheless lacking
Two months after the deadline set by the European Fee, Romania submitted its Widespread Agricultural Coverage (CAP) nationwide strategic plan, its agriculture ministry stated on Tuesday (1 March). This brings the grand whole of nationwide submissions to 26, with solely Belgium lacking. EURACTIV Romania’s Bogdan Neagu has extra.

Local weather change places rising strain on meals manufacturing, finds IPCC
Ongoing international warming will seemingly put a significant pressure on meals methods and will make hundreds of thousands worldwide topic to meals insecurity, a brand new report printed at the moment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Local weather Change (IPCC) finds. Julia Dahm experiences.

In case you missed it, hearken to our particular version of the agrifood podcast the place EURACTIV’s agrifood crew takes a more in-depth take a look at information sharing within the agricultural sector – why is that this so necessary, what challenges do farmers face in exchanging info on modern approaches, and what initiatives exist already to assist them overcome these? 

Information from the bubble

Seed oil warning. The battle in Ukraine may have penalties on EU provides of sunflower seed oil because the roughly 200,000 tonnes per thirty days provide from Ukraine has stopped being shipped to European ports, warns the European vegetable oil affiliation Fediol. Between 35 and 45% of sunflower oil refined within the EU comes from Ukraine and there’s no speedy resolution to the disruption in sunflower seed oil, as it’s unclear if and the way commerce will have the ability to resume, continued the affiliation.

Antibiotics – just for people? The European Medicines Company (EMA) issued scientific recommendation this week with suggestions for antimicrobials to be reserved for human use solely. This declaration has been welcomed by plenty of business gamers, who at the moment are calling on the European Fee to suggest an implementing act following this strategy.

Agri statistics: 79 organisations throughout Europe, together with environmental and well being associations, beekeepers associations and commerce unions, wrote to the Fee and different ministers and key gamers to their issues relating to the continuing EU reform of agriculture statistics. Particularly, the letter units out that organisations are involved concerning the restricted availability of knowledge on the usage of plant safety merchandise and different poisonous chemical compounds in agriculture. 

Extra letters: Greater than 70 environmental and marketing campaign organisations have issued a joint assertion on their issues concerning the lack of ambition within the proposal on the sustainable use of plant safety merchandise, attributable to be launched by the European Fee on 23 March, saying it’s “excessive time for the Fee to introduce a proposal which can drive the transition in direction of agroecological meals methods that shield biodiversity and human well being”. 

AGRIFISH assembly: Agriculture ministers held a rare assembly through videoconference this week to debate the chance of great pressures going through the agriculture and agri-food sectors within the wake of the Ukraine invasion. Following the assembly, the Commissioner for agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski stated the EU government will contemplate the introduction of outstanding measures beneath the Widespread Market Organisation (CMO) regulation aimed on the sectors most affected by the rise in enter prices. He really helpful adopting measures geared toward securing and releasing up Europe’s manufacturing capability in 2022, similar to utilizing fallow land for protein crops. These measures might be mentioned by the upcoming Particular Committee on Agriculture in addition to on the subsequent Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 21 March. Learn extra.

Forest technique: On 28 February, the European Parliament’s agriculture committee held a public listening to on the brand new EU Forest Technique for 2030 the place MEPs assessed learn how to reconcile financial potentials of forestry with environmental targets. MEPs additionally adopted tips for the 2023 EU finances and an opinion to the Worldwide Commerce Committee (INTA) on EU-India future commerce and funding cooperation. 

Meals security information: The European Meals Security Authority (EFSA) has reassessed the feed additive ethoxyquin and couldn’t conclude on its security for sure teams of animals, shoppers and the setting. Ethoxyquin was authorised within the EU as a feed additive for all animal species and classes till 2017, for its antioxidant properties. As well as, it’s used to stop spontaneous combustion of fish meal throughout transportation by sea.

Agrifood information from the CAPitals

ALBANIA

Russia-Ukraine battle: Bread might be off the menu in Albania. The value of wheat is ready to rise in Albania attributable to sanctions imposed on Russia when reserves are already at a low. The nation imports a majority of its wheat instantly or not directly from Russia. Wholesalers presently have sufficient wheat in reserves for 45 days, whereas authorities reserves are empty. Learn the total story right here.

ITALY

Italians concern the affect of battle on their beloved staple foodstuffs. The battle state of affairs in Ukraine may have severe implications on Italy’s meals manufacturing because it impacts the manufacturing of bread and the liv, in keeping with farmers’ affiliation Coldiretti. Specifically, the lowered commerce in wheat can have an effect on the manufacturing of bread and biscuits, whereas the scarce maize will increase the prices of feeding livestock. In keeping with the affiliation, Italy is obliged to import agricultural uncooked supplies and maize specifically due to the low remuneration paid to farmers, who’ve been pressured to cut back nationwide maize manufacturing by virtually 1/3 within the final 10 years and maize can have an effect on the manufacturing of bread and animal feed. For a similar motive, one discipline of wheat out of 5 has additionally disappeared, with the lack of virtually half one million hectares beneath cultivation.

GERMANY

German supermarkets accused of benefiting from exploitation. German grocery store chains revenue from “extraordinarily low wages” and “catastrophic” working circumstances additional down the worth chain, a brand new report launched by Oxfam on Tuesday (1 March) claims. In keeping with the organisation, a few of the pineapples and grapes bought in Germany come from plantations in Costa Rica and Southafrica the place employees are paid under minimal wage and steadily must work greater than twelve hours a day. Oxfam additionally cites employees who stated they have been uncovered to poisonous pesticides with out enough safety and didn’t have entry to bogs or water on-site. Some additionally reported sexual assault by superiors. “Based mostly on their market energy, grocery store chains put huge strain on suppliers and producers: Solely merchandise which might be low-cost to purchase make it to the grocery store cabinets,” Oxfam’s Tim Zahn stated. (Julia Dahm | EURACTIV.DE)

AUSTRIA

Austria launches “equity workplace” for farmers struggling unfair buying and selling practices. Farmers who expertise unfair enterprise practices can now flip to the “equity workplace” anonymously for “quick and free help,” agri minister Elisabeth Köstinger stated. Among the commonest practices classed as “unfair” that farmers expertise when promoting their produce embody unilateral adjustments to the circumstances of sale or short-notice cancellations for perishable items. “Massive retailers more and more put strain on our household farms,” Köstinger stated, including the brand new workplace might help these affected by giving authorized recommendation or placing them involved with an arbitrator. The transfer comes after nationwide laws to implement the EU’s directive on unfair buying and selling practices had come into pressure firstly of the yr. Whereas Austria thus missed the mid-2021 deadline for transposing the directive, its nationwide laws goes past the EU’s minimal necessities by way of defending producers. (Julia Dahm | EURACTIV.DE)

GREECE

Greek minister guarantees assist in the face of excessive manufacturing prices. On account of exterior elements and particularly the vitality disaster, manufacturing prices have elevated, the nation’s meals and rural improvement minister Georgios Georgantas stated chatting with parliament. To deal with the issue, he promised to announce particulars on a potential refund of excise obligation on petrol throughout the coming days. “We are going to deliver clarification in relation to the 7% introduced for animal feed,” he added. Georgantas additionally stated he would contemplate continued help for the agricultural sector within the face of rising electrical energy costs. (Georgia Evangelia Karagianni| EURACTIV.gr)

CROATIA

Monetary assist for Croatian farmers, fishermen to deal with vitality worth hikes. A 4.8 billion kuna (€ 640 million) help package deal drawn up by the Croatian authorities to buffer vitality worth hikes consists of 200 million kuna (€ 26 million) for farmers and 50 million kuna (€ 6,6 million) for fishermen. The measures are anticipated to cowl 88,000 household farms and a pair of,000 fishermen and fisheries. In addition they envisage assist for the procurement of synthetic fertiliser. This set of measures is likely one of the most complete within the EU, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated at their unveiling on Wednesday, including that it’ll successfully and considerably mitigate the expansion of costs of gasoline, electrical energy, meals and different requirements. The set “can even contribute, for the third time in our time period, to job retaining and buying energy,” Plenković stated. What is very necessary, provided that we count on an increase in final yr’s GDP, is that this set of measures should contribute to the continuation of that development – sturdy financial restoration and the competitiveness of the Croatian economic system, agriculture and fisheries, he added. (Željko Trkanjec, Euractiv.hr)

ROMANIA

Romania submits CAP strategic plan as second-to-last nation. Two months after the deadline set by the European Fee, Romania submitted its CAP nationwide strategic plan on Tuesday. Nevertheless, the plan has been met with criticism for slicing younger farmers’ help and forest safety funds. Get the total story right here.

Occasions

7-10 March | European Parliament’s plenary in Strasbourg

7 March | EU Council’s Particular Committee on Agriculture (SCA) assembly

8 March | Debate on the EU soil technique for 2030 on the European Financial and Social Committee

10-11 March | Casual European Council assembly in Versailles