Published on 31/10/2024 21:06
Reading time: 1min – video: 3min
Agriculture: the French Biodiversity Office under pressure from farmers
A farmers' union recently called for the dissolution of the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), an environmental police force. Relations between OFB agents and farmers continue to deteriorate.
(France 2)
A farmers' union recently called for the dissolution of the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), an environmental police force. Relations between OFB agents and farmers continue to deteriorate.
Jérémie Ripaud is head of department at the French Biodiversity Office of Tarn-et-Garonne. Three weeks ago, he attended a meeting at the Chamber of Agriculture with the prefectural services, farmers and union representatives. At midnight, when he got back into his car, he noticed that the OFB vehicle had been vandalized. Could this gesture be linked to the agricultural world? The president of the Chamber of Agriculture and the unions immediately condemned the act of vandalism. A complaint has been filed and an investigation is underway. In the meantime, safety instructions have been sent to OFB agents.
For several months, the agricultural world has been demonstrating against the OFB almost everywhere in France. At the heart of the crisis, the instructions from the prefects were to stop the checks. On the farmers' side, there are too many controls, absurd standards and sanctions.
Watch the full report in the video above.
