Preserving the environment
A growing concern amongst consumers and the general public, the environment is at the heart of practices and investments in the agri-food sector. Public policy on the environment, which relies heavily on research, is ambitious and has very specific objectives. Well aware that increased respect for the environment and the animal welfare helps to ensure the future of their activities and their long-term ability to meet the needs of their fellow citizens, farmers and agri-food firms are investing more and more in this critical issue, with support from public authorities.
Respecting animal welfare
Day after day, professionals in the farming, transport, trade and slaughter industries are concerned with the health and comfort of the animals under their responsibility in order to spare them of any avoidable suffering or stress. They rely on specifications and good practice guidelines and comply with the abundance of French and European regulations in the field.
A few figures (Ania)
- € 141 million invested by food industries to protect the environment in 2006
- 55% of this spending was devoted to wastewater and 20% to air protection
- 198 sites certified ISO 14001 in 2007 (+15% compared to 2006)
An ambitious policy
A major debate to shape the future of the environment and sustainable development took place in France in 2007 at the Environment Round Table. The State, local authorities, Non-Governmental Organisations, farmers, trade unions and firms came together at this one-of-a-kind conference. Together, they formed an action plan with some twenty concrete, quantifiable measures, obtaining the broadest support possible from the participants.
As a result, farmers came to a consensus: reducing the use of pesticides is a key component of sustainable farming practices. To meet this aim, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is currently implementing an action plan (€ 206 million over 3 years) aiming to progressively eliminate the 53 most dangerous active substances and cut pesticide use in half by 2018. Public research efforts are being ramped up and geared towards designing and developing farming practices with minimal inputs.
As well, the environmental aspect of sustainable agriculture also means tripling the organically farmed surface area by 2012. Finally, a plan for sustainable, environmentally responsible fisheries (€ 310 million over 3 years) will help to preserve the marine environment and its resources.
Responsible farmers
French farmers make every effort to work in a sustainable, integrated way that strictly complies with the country’s latest laws and guidelines on agriculture. Such efforts aim to meet the new requirements of today’s world, namely to preserve the environment and use rural areas in harmony with Mother Nature. They strive to implement good farming practices (hermetical storage of fertilizer on farms; sustainable, limited use of phytosanitary products and irrigation, etc.) in order to preserve water reserves and avoid polluting them. As well, the energy balance of their farms is to be systemized in order to curb direct consumption of energy (by tractors, greenhouses, livestock buildings, etc.) and of inputs (because 1 tonne of nitrogenous fertilizer is the equivalent of 0.75 tonnes of petrol!).
Committed firms
Well aware that their activities can be harmful to the environment, agri-food firms are also taking concrete steps to minimize their impact. They constantly increase spending in order to improve their environmental performance. They voluntarily commit to ISO 14001 certification in order to better manage environmental concerns in their operations. Finally, they are continuing their drive to even further develop environmentally friendly packaging, from both a qualitative and quantitative standpoint, and to propose concrete action plans to prevent waste and recycle any that does occur.
Fore more information:
The Environment Round Table www.legrenelle-environnement.gouv.fr/grenelle-environnement
French Environment and Energy Management Agency www2.ademe.fr/servlet/getDoc?id=38480&m=3&cid=96