An increasing number of farmers will try to claim a share of France’s renewable energy sector to help cope with farm price volatility and counter environmental criticism that has tarnished their rural image. Solar, wind and biomass energy are taking off in France in the wake of national and European energy targets. Farmers see them
French Farmers Turning To Renewable Energy
Tougher Times Loom For EU Livestock Farmers
Cattle and pig farmers in the European Union, squeezed by rising feed costs and low prices, face real prospects of herd cuts and more restructuring. Soaring grain prices, fuelled by a drought in Russia that has led to a grain export ban, have triggered hikes in animal-feed prices that mean many producers are operating at
FMD Outbreaks Under Control
Japan and South Korea are controlling outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in animals and there is no particular risk of an international crisis, the head of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said. OIE director general Bernard Vallat said both countries had applied appropriate measures to control the outbreaks and OIE did not see
Paris ChampsÉlysées Turned Green Field By Farmers
French farmers transformed the most famous avenue of Paris, the Champs-lysées, into a giant strip of farmland on May 24 in a bid to generate public enthusiasm about a sector they say faces an uncertain future. The two-day event, timed to coincide with a holiday weekend, attracted huge crowds for its first day amid summer-style
Agriculture Can Meet Long-Term Food Demand
Agriculture has the scope to meet soaring global demand for food by exploiting potential for higher yields and expanded farmland in certain regions, a Societe Generale analyst told Reuters March 18. Achieving large gains in farm output would however take several years and this time lag could bring renewed tensions in food supply in the
Rice Market Skewed By Government Moves
Unpredictable government intervention in the rice sector is adding to volatility in a thinly traded market and could lead to new price swings in what is a staple food in much of the world. Rice is a politically sensitive crop as a daily essential in much of Asia and Africa, and a price spike in
OECD Agree To Reinvest In Food Chain
“Some fluctuations are normal (but) these wild swings are unacceptable.” – NIKOLAUS BERLAKOVICH Farm ministers from the world’s richest countries said Feb. 27 they would study price volatility and look at ways of boosting innovation as part of efforts to help agriculture meet food and environmental challenges. But the gathering of members of the Organization
New EU Farm Chief Seeks Middle Ground
The European Union’s top farm official said he would seek to combine market forces and support mechanisms for farmers in a debate on the bloc’s farm policy that is set to oppose countries like France and Britain. But European Agriculture Commiss ioner Dacian Ciolos said it was too early to discuss specific measures that may
France Eyes Tourism To Help Wine Sector
French authorities are targeting tourism as part of an effort to bolster the country’s wine industry against rising global competition. While France is already the world’s most popular tourist destination, with wine a major part of its appeal, the trade thinks it can go a lot further in tapping into visitor interest. The government is
French Farming Reworks Image To Lure Recruits
French agriculture is trying to boost its public image to entice more recruits to a sector hit by demographic and technological change, farm representatives said on Feb. 25. While the number of young farmers setting up in Europe’s largest food producer has risen five per cent over three years, according to Farm Ministry figures, this
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
