Elections to the Gers Chamber of Agriculture: what future for renewable energies?

“Food sovereignty must take precedence over energy sovereignty”, this is undoubtedly a feeling shared by all agricultural union representatives, and more broadly throughout the profession. However, agriculture must play its part in the development of renewable energies. Under certain conditions obviously, which differ from one union to another. What do their managers think?

PEASANT CONFEDERATION. Sylvie Colas, national secretary and spokesperson for Gers.

We want a local energy diagram. What do we need, what is the vocation of the Gers? For us, it's about producing local food, nourishing, rather than sacrificing our land to produce energy. We cannot put the sovereign production of food in competition with the production of energy. We have never been opposed to photovoltaics on the roofs of agricultural buildings. On the contrary, if it brings autonomy.

On the other hand, we are completely opposed to ground-mounted photovoltaics to the detriment of agricultural land. This goes against the installation of young people, in particular by increasing prices, killing the landscape…

In addition, we are very worried about the development of methanization projects. There is a regional plan, which provides for between 30 and 40 projects in the Gers. So there will be factories every 7 km. Because they are gas factories, literally and figuratively. We are completely in competition with food production to produce energy.

YOUNG FARMERS. Clément Souques (renewable energy manager).

For us, photovoltaics is a way of being more resilient on farms. We would like everyone to be able to benefit from a solar building for storage, to improve their working conditions, etc. Let the added value remain with the farmers. If we occupy all the agricultural roofs, we will meet the objectives set by the government.

On the ground, agrivoltaism, if the project complies with the law, free enterprise takes precedence. But we say that good soil must remain food-producing.

On methanization, the charter of the Chamber of Agriculture supports methanization as a new sector, for the valorization of intercrops. We don't make corn to put it in a methanizer, unless it's a secondary crop. If it's to do like in Germany and make corn that will go 100% into a methanizer, that's a definite no.

RURAL COORDINATION. Lionel Candelon, departmental president.

We are rather in favor of equipping agricultural roofs, with the resale of energy for agriculture. And not like it is done today. This will serve to secure cash flow, with a financial income. We want one solar building per farm. Agrivoltaism is more complex. There are areas that need it, where the land will end up fallow anyway. We must try to master agrivoltaism with a real agricultural project.

Methanization requires developing certain projects, on a small scale, for farmers. We do not want super methane digesters, monopolized by large groups. We are talking about 30 to 40 projects in the Gers, but we must remain lucid, it is too much, we need 5 to 10 projects. But it remains a question of income. If cereals were better paid, if they brought real income to the farmer, there would be no need for this type of project. It is therefore necessary but reasonably.

MODEF. Lucie Lafforgue, departmental president.

We are in favor of the development of renewable energies, if of course this does not require agricultural land. Like everyone else, we encourage the installation of signs on agricultural buildings rather than on arable land.

We try to defend that, the goal of agriculture is to sell the product of one's land.
On anaerobic digestion, we are quite in favor of it, provided that we only put waste into it, not food, for both humans and animals. The issue is there, we remain in favor, but we fear that this will lead to a loss of cereals for farmers who will have to buy them. Farmers will seek income where they can, we understand that, even if it worries us.

FDSEA. Marianne Dutoit (renewable energy manager).

We first defend production agriculture that is economically viable, livable and sustainable. Our primary mission is to nourish. But it is possible to earn additional income from our operations.

We say yes to development, we are not going to let the train pass, but in a controlled manner and by securing collective issues, namely feeding, renewing generations, having access to land, and having remuneration for our food production. The priority is professional roofs and artificial spaces. The added value is today captured by third parties and does not return to farmers.

For us it is important to say yes to this development if this added value returns to farmers and the territory. It's the same thing with methanization. In the Gers, what we want is for it to continue like the first projects that already exist by recycling our waste.

All of these projects need real planning because it is out of the question that first come is first served, because today we already know that this blocks the installation of new farmers.