France, "organics" need support

With 1.8% of cultivated surface and 2% farmers, organics agriculture in France grows with difficulties. That’s why on October, 2 the first national summit was held at the Ecology ministry, “sponsoring” agriculture general States. The aim of the workshop was to reach by 2012 6% of organics cultivated surfaces over the total, and 20% by 2020. Speaking during the summit, minister Michel Barnier declared his will to “protrect and renew the tax credits granted to farmers that decide to convert their fields in ecological. This in order to accelerate the development trend of organic productions, since at the current level we should wait until 2017”. However the minister didn’t agree regarding the targets toward 2020 of the workshop.
According to organics’ experts, it is necessary to solve some contradictions, such as the common agricultural policy (CAP)’s funding, which are still almost exclusively directed to intensive cultivations.
“France is forced to import organic products to satisfy the growing consumers’ demand of organics”, declared to the daily Le Monde, Elisabeth Mercier, in charge of Agence Bio, public body organising the summit along with the ministry. Insufficient subsidies for fields’ conversion into organics and the risks for not unemploying chemical products can also explain the limited development of this segment.
“Missing an economic security is discouraging for farmers”, added on the same newspaper Etienne Gagneron, in charge of the Organic agriculture commission at FNSEA (the most important agricultural French Labour Union).
The organics ministerial plan consists of a 3 million euros budget in five years for Agence Bio, formed by Agriculture and Environment ministries, the permanent assembly of Agricultural chambers, the agricultural cooperatives’ Federation (Coop de France) and the whole organic production chain.