FARRE Newsletter – 29 October 2013

LOGO FARRE basse def newNational news

  • Press coverage of the symposium co-organised by FARRE/UNIFA/AXEMA on fertilization, held on 22 October, is available here (French). Striking facts were given during this symposium:
  1. Mr. Lejeune, former Director of cabinet of the DG of FAO:
    “Without nitrogen fertilizer, grain production would be reduced by 50%”.
    “About 40% of the fertilisers sold in Africa are not in line with the nutrient value expected and this leads to farmers not buying them anymore, which is a great danger for the food safety of this continent.””
  2. Mr. Loyer, President of UNIFA:
    “We need to stop pitting mineral fertilisers against organic fertilisers; they are both useful and complementary.”
  3. Dr. Demarque, nutritionist:
    “Nitrates are in fact beneficial for human health. The threshold of nitrates in drinking water of 50mg/l is based on a study that was misinterpreted then, and the fact that it is still the current regulation costs between 0.5 and 3€ / inhabitant depending on the EU country.“
  4. Mr. Balny, rapporteur on the better use of nitrogen:
    “It is important to highlight the efforts made by farmers: since 1990, nitrogen inputs by farmers have decreased by 24% and yields have increased by 30%. This already corresponds to what the government calls “double performance”!”
  • An Extraordinary General Assembly of FARRE will be held on 27 November to adopt the adjustments in the Statuses (name, logo, object of the association).

Local news

  • Videos to discover this week:
    – The portrait of Michel and Benoît Déhu, Champagne producers. Watch here (French)
    – A focus on their practices and notably how to reconcile organic and integrated farming on the same vineyard. Watch here (French)