“An unacceptable setback”: the suspension of the Ecophyto plan announced by the government scandalizes environmentalists

Le ministre de la Transition écologique va devoir justifier la mise en pause du plan Ecophyto. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

La suspension du plan Ecophyto ne passe pas ne passe pas chez les Ecologistes, très remontés. Réactions.

Christophe Béchu, ministre de la transition écologique, a stigmatisé jeudi "sometimes extremely harsh and violent criticism against the agents (from the French biodiversity office, Editor's note) who , police the environment".

He also denounced "the minority actions which targeted numerous establishments of the French biodiversity office. Attacking those who enforce the rules does not seem to me to be a way to advance the debate". Before we believe that "we have to find new ways of working together."

Two announcements from Christophe Béchu

Speaking after the Prime Minister's speech, Christophe Béchu also announced that "departmental communities must be able to participate in the financing of hydraulic security systems". Before wishing "to decide on funding trajectories with water agencies".

But it is for announcements that he did not deliver himself that he could face a round of reproaches, in his capacity as Minister of Ecological transition.

"A poisoned gift to the agricultural world"

Because on the side of the Ecologists (ex-EELV), the pause of the Ecophyto plan obviously does not work. Barely disclosed, Marie Toussaint, the head of the party list in the next European elections, castigated "for ecology as well as for public health", a"unacceptable setback. The government has just given the agricultural world a poisoned gift" she asserted.

"By announcing a pause, the government is choosing the path of duplicity and ambiguity: the essential reorientation of our agricultural model ;rsquo;will not happen if we do not wean agriculture from its dependence on toxicants" continued Marie Toussaint.

According to whom, "refusing to initiate this transition without delay is preparing for future social, environmental and health disasters" .

"Completely counterproductive decision"

"The government can decide to no longer protect water, land, biodiversity and even our health. But with that our farmers will not earn more", reacted for her part on X, the boss of the Ecologists, Marine Tondelier.

Same feeling among Manu Raynaud (Les Écologues), municipal councilor and deputy mayor of Montpellier: "We would have rather liked a break for aid to the public; agro-business, we would have preferred a break from free trade agreements. That would have made sense. This decision is completely counterproductive, and not at all up to the challenges".

"We continue to fatten the multinationals"

As for the Peasant Confederation, it also rose to the occasion to regret a "diversion of what is required on the ground! So we will continue to deteriorate the health of farmers, our soils and our environment. And we will continue to fatten the multinational pesticide manufacturers…"

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