19 billion euros dedicated to “repairing” a food system that encourages obesity, diabetes and cancers

Nicolas Bricas, chercheur au Cirad et titulaire de la Chaire Unesco Alimentations du Monde. MIDI LIBRE – VM

In a report presented at the Epidaure center of the ICM in Montpellier, produced by several hands, entitled “the unfair price of our food, what costs for society and the planet ?”, the poor, birds and farmers share chilling statistics!

“The poor die earlier, birds have seen their population collapse by 36% in 30 years, and farmers have a job overexposed to suicide”.

With these words that introduce their report, researchers and associations set the tone. Malnutrition, farmers below the poverty line, reduction in the number of farmers, greenhouse gas emissions…

Exorbitant costs for society and the planet

Food entails hidden – and exorbitant costs – for society and the planet.

To answer questions about the possible evolution of food systems towards fairer and more sustainable production methods, the delegation of Secours Catholique-Caritas France of Hérault, the CIVAM network, a center of initiatives to promote agriculture and the rural environment, and the French Federation of Diabetics organized a presentation at the Epidaure center of the ICM of Montpellier, of the study that the four associations carried out jointly, with researchers and data collectors.

“From the farm to the fork, each fights daily against the disorders and deficiencies observed among their public”, indicates Jean-Marie Brugeron, president of Secours Catholic Héraultais, “that are precariousness, obesity, diabetes, the deterioration of living and working conditions of farmers”.

A cost of negative impacts of 19 billion euros

In a paradoxical system, which while organizing the conditions of a food disaster strives to repair it with billions, “it is the snake biting its own tail”,comments Nicolas Bricas, researcher at CIRAD and holder of the UNESCO Chair in World Food.

"Public spending that subsidizes and supports our food system amounts to 48.3 billion euros. 59% comes from the State, so not only do we suffer it, but we finance it,” notes Jean-Marie Brugeron.

Regarding the cost of the negative impacts of the French food system, it is around 19 billion euros. “That's what we spend to compensate for its dysfunctions, or double the budget allocated for ecological planning in 2024!”.
At the top of the list is the impact on health with 12.3 billion d'euros.

"A double punishment for the most precarious",for whom food has become an adjustment variable in relation to current expenditure. Obesity, diabetes and cancers form a trio for the future: “diabetics have increased by 160% and the WHO is talking about an epidemic for obesity", underlines Professor Jacques Bringer, dean and member of the Academy of Medicine.

Some recommendations

The report recommends some recommendations at the local and national level.
Solidarity houses
Like the MESA de Lyon is an organic grocery store, a café-restaurant with solidarity prices and a shared kitchen. It is a place to help residents eat better. Designed and validated by the people of the neighborhood, open to all. To be developed!
Common food boxes
The first was born in Montpellier in 2022. Each month, 400 citizens contribute according to their means and wishes from 1 to 250 euros and receive in exchange 100 euros in local currency for their food purchases in a network of shops chosen by a citizens' committee. The fund subsidizes part of the sum for people with low incomes.

Billions invested in advertising that encourages obesity

Obesity is however "strongly encouraged" by the billions invested in advertising. "That's 1,000 times the budget of the program that finances campaigns like the well-known 5 fruits and vegetables a day!",Nicolas Bricas points out. Faced with so many contradictory injunctions, the message falls flat.

The environmental impact is just as harmful, with 3.4 billion euros for waste management, water decontamination, etc. Here too, all the warning lights are red! Then comes the social impact, with 3.4 billion euros "to compensate for the low wages in the agricultural sector".

Choices from another time

The thick report concludes with a glimmer of optimism, demonstrating that there is no inevitability, but that everything is political will. "The choices that have been made, if they were relevant at the time, must today, radically change”.

“Let's change our compass!”

“On such a subject, we must stop pitting the actors, producers against consumers. Farmers themselves suffer health consequences, due to pesticides. Food must be part of a democratic approach. We cannot leave it to powerful industrial, economic actors to deal with these issues. Citizens must get involved. Precariousness, health and the environment are not opposed, but are closely linked. This is why we are campaigning for a global food policy”, underlines Jean-Marie Brugeron, president of Secours Catholique 34.

Levers exist! Is it possible to use these billions devoted to keeping the system running differently ? “With a different compass, which would involve social, qualitative and environmental concerns. We cannot blame the consumer, and even less the poor consumer. Prevention is interesting when it is targeted, the impact is much stronger”.

Nationally, 8 million people are food insecure and make trade-offs that are harmful to their health. Hérault is characterized by high levels of insecurity, particularly in the hinterland. The poverty rate is 19.4% compared to 14.9% in France. The median standard of living has fallen by 10% in two years, due to inflation, from 797 euros per month in 2021 to 715 euros in 2023. “The 8,500 households we supported in Hérault have 23 euros per day to pay rent, bills, food, clothes”.

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