“We want to maintain a favorable public opinion”: the agricultural world remains under pressure before the opening of the show

Le ring, lieu où sont présentés les animaux devant une forte affluence. MAXPPP – xavier de torres

Les actions se multiplient, notamment dans  les centres commerciaux. L’Occitanie se prépare pour monter à Paris ce samedi et présenter son savoir-faire dans la plus grande ferme de France.

Nothing to do, the pressure doesn't go down. Despite calls for calm and speeches from the Prime Minister, anger remains high. A few hours before its opening, the 60th edition of the International Agricultural Show promises to be very demanding. Certainly, in many territories, such as Hérault, we decided to suspend the movement for the duration of the show: "It’s our showcase, it’s a show made by and for farmers. We must keep public opinion, which is 91% behind us, explains Jérôme Despey, vice-president of the FNSEA, the majority agricultural union.

🚜💚 Le compte à rebours est lancé pour le #SIA2024 ! Les équipes s'activent à Paris Expo pour vous offrir une expérience agricole mémorable.

Prêts à plonger au cœur de la 60e édition du Salon International de l'Agriculture ? 🤠👩‍🌾#Agriculture #PassionAgricole pic.twitter.com/AAzTyp66Qy

— Salon International de l'Agriculture (@Salondelagri) February 22, 2024

But the pressure is maintained until the early hours of opening this Saturday.  In Occitanie, where the anger started, many shopping centers are still the subject of visits from visitors. rsquo;farmers to protest deceptive marketing practices.

Educational visits

The Hérault prefect, François-Xavier Lauch, warned supermarkets and merchants against the presence of foreign wines in shelves where they have no business. The Leclerc center in Pézenas received a delegation this Thursday in a calm manner. This Friday afternoon, it will be the turn of the Carrefour de Balaruc-le-Vieux. "We do education to show them the inconsistencies and we want to work with the stores for better practices", underlines Jean-Pascal Pelagatti, winemaker and representative of the FDSEA.

Emmanuel Macron expected in the ring

The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, will open the International Agricultural Show this Saturday, February 24. He opted for a formula that he masters: the great debate. The same as that done during the Yellow Vest crisis.

The president chose to answer questions from around a hundred people from the agricultural world, union representatives and even mass distribution… The place could not be other than the ring, the one where the animals taking part in the general agricultural competition usually parade and where the medals are awarded.

Several hours of discussions are planned. At the end of this exchange which promises to be vigorous, the presidential visit will take a more classic form with the traditional stroll between the numerous stands of the Show where the President has planned, in particular to visit the fishermen.

Actions which are multiplying everywhere in France. Several blockades are organized as in the Oise or in the North. In Isère, the logistics center of the Leclerc group was blocked as was the headquarters of the dairy giant Lactalis in Laval in Mayenne before the CRSn’intervened to dislodge the farmers of the Confédération Paysanne. The discontent should continue until the arrival of President Macron, expected from the opening of the show.

L’Occitanie in force

But beyond the legitimate demands, the professionals also intend to show themselves in their finest attire on the largest farm in the world. And in this area, Occitanie and its 134 regional producers represented in all their richness and diversity will extend over a stand of more than 2,000 m². The president of the regional institution, Carole Delga, will be on site on February 27 and 28 to "continue to (fight) tirelessly to defend quality agriculture that does not fall not in poverty". She will also present the regional monitoring committee for government commitments. To, here too, maintain pressure on a profession that is struggling to make a decent living from its work.

L’Occitanie will also be able to count on its breeding breeds: 250 animals will be transported to Paris, including nearly 120 for the General Agricultural Competition. It is also a very high expectation for regional viticulture which arrives with its 441 candidates for 2,773 samples presented in the competition and 91 candidates and 256 samples for the products.

Because a medal at the show means gaining notoriety but also the certainty of securing additional income. And that remains the crux of the matter.

Find our special 20-page issue dedicated to the region's agricultural sectors in Midi Libre on Tuesday February 27.