On South Franceforeign trucks with food products were emptied on national route 7 on Thursday, January 25, by angry farmers. In France, which has long prided itself on being the breadbasket of Europe, today a third of food is imported. International trade is seen as disaster for farmers in great difficulties. Just like the cattle breeders, who have been losing ground for ten years now.

The movement began in the southwest among livestock farmers who are now struggling with a new problem – an epizootic disease. French production Fruits and vegetables it’s the same In free fall. This decrease is offset by an increase in imports. The same applies to poultry farming. Every second chicken comes from abroad. In the coming years, France may even become a net importer of milk.

Competence

The main competitors of the French are the Europeans.Poles, Germans and Spaniards– because they are more competitive. In these times of inflation, the French consumer, whether from a modest home or a restaurant company, prefers price over quality or product in France. Sanitary and environmental standards are the same throughout Europe, notes Sandrine Levasseur, an economist specializing in European issues. Talk about unfair competition It’s redundant in this area.

First of all, new suppliers to France have a different economic model, the economist emphasizes. A more integrated, more productive model. For example, the exploitation of 1000 cows, widespread in Northern Europe, but rejected in France. The liberalization of European agricultural exchanges has also weakened some industries, favoring hyperspecialization. For example, France exports veal to Italy and Spain and imports beef from Northern Europe. “In the early 2000s, one kilogram of beef consumed in Europe contained 200 grams of imported meat, and today this figure has doubled,” says Sandrine Levasseur. A heresy for the environment and one ruthless organization for the weakest links.