Valère Corréard is director of Sustainable Info (ID).
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The chaotic opening of the Agricultural Show, this Saturday, February 24, once again demonstrated that the crisis affecting the agricultural world is deep.
At the forefront of the demands are the selling price and unfair competition from neighboring farmers, who do not produce with the same rules.
A binary equation that the government has been struggling to resolve for weeks.
We will have to see if the announcements made this Saturday by Emmanuel Macron, who is particularly committed to
"floor prices"
and the recognition of agriculture as
"a major general interest of the French nation"
, will produce their effect and will be reflected in the facts.
Other measures have been announced such as an
“emergency cash flow plan”
or the principle according to which a pesticide must not be banned in France before other countries in the European Union.
Announcements which are added to all those made since the start of the year by the struggling government on this burning issue.
On the other hand, on the pedagogy necessary to make the French aware of the reasons for this crisis but also and above all of the solutions that everyone can put in place and which could be promoted: nothing.
We can all play a role at our level, by consuming seasonal, French products, if possible in a short supply chain, in order to contribute to fair remuneration for producers.
However, on this subject, not a word in the morning.
Like a taboo or a failed act.
At the heart of the crisis, the politician believes himself (or wants to be) the sole responsible, as if the only spectacle acceptable to public opinion and the forces present was that of the promise, in the voice of the leader from the top of the Fifth Republic.
Too bad if the post-crisis will undoubtedly take with it part of the reality of the announcements between the European Union and various administrations.
You have to manage directly and urgently.
At the moment, it is more endives, carrots and cabbages that grow in the fields of France.
Valère Corréard
But this is undoubtedly a missed opportunity, in a moment of collective emotion which could also have been mobilizing: a popular agricultural fair, scene of brawls and anger, of despair too.
Farmers have been strongly supported by public opinion since the start of the crisis.
We must therefore rely on the French, who are lucid about current issues.
But, these are the big absentees of the day.
However, the French have already shown that they know how to mobilize when things are explained to them.
The Covid crisis, although of a different nature, was a major illustration of this.
Because farmers are unanimous on a solution that we can all activate without delay or special concession: buy French.
This therefore implies consuming seasonal products in the majority of cases, we are not in the period of zucchini, raspberries or tomatoes.
At the moment, it is more endives, carrots and cabbages that grow in the fields of France.
And looking at a label - whether in a supermarket, a market or a grocery store - and choosing local, regional or national production means supporting our farmers and accessing products that guarantee the best production standards in the world.
One step above are the short circuits;
a sales method chosen by more and more producers looking for an alternative to the traditional model.
Because by reducing intermediaries, all farmers say it: they are paid a fair price.
In addition to having access to greater transparency and often quality, we then participate directly in the working conditions of producers.
It may take a little more time to do your shopping, but without necessarily paying much more.
Politicians would be well advised to insist on these consumption patterns which, on a national scale, could, if not solve everything, provide part of the solution in a few months.
But to dare to appeal to citizens, we must know how to talk to them and make them actors in political life, another major project to begin to rethink democracy in the 21st century.