Agronomist Damien Cariou posits that the shift towards agroecology is necessary due to the decline of the intensive agricultural model.
Take a gander at the predicament plaguing French agriculture today – escalating energy bills, loosened environmental regulations, heightened worldwide competition, dwindling incomes... Some folks are calling for self-sufficient food production as a barrier against environmental pressures. A roundabout way of saying: "Our backs are up against the wall, let's produce more and faster, just like everyone else."
Chasing self-sufficiency through this route is a dead end. Establishing food sovereignty on the shaky foundations of racing versions of agricultural practices that are already cheaper elsewhere is a bit like giving up and tailing the competition.
Let's get down to basics – the cost of wheat production – for example. In France, it hovers between €170 and €190 per tonne. In the U.S., it's typically around €120 to €140. This gap showcases some distinct realities that have established the U.S. as a superpower – large farms, fewer environmental and social constraints, and optimal use of overburdened land.
Food sovereignty can't be built on the shaky ground of a worn-out, intensive agricultural model. That's like surrendering what sets our model apart – its diversity, its close proximity, its ability to offer numerous benefits to society: reduced pesticide use leads to cleaner water and soil, and replanting hedgerows improves biodiversity and the aesthetic appeal of rural landscapes.
Some Extra Insights:
-Scale and efficiency play pivotal roles in contending wheat production costs. Large-scale U.S. farms, with stable or increasing acreage for wheat, take advantage of economies of scale, as well as efficient machinery use and streamlined logistics. In contrast, France, with smaller farms and higher labor costs, primarily focuses on premium quality markets.
-U.S. government support through crop insurance, direct payments, and other subsidies contribute to lower risk-related costs for farmers. Compared to France, operating under stricter environmental and sustainability mandates through the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, these added compliance costs can impact production costs.
-Market dynamics affect the competitiveness of US and French wheat. The U.S. focuses on high-volume exports, while France prioritizes local supply chains and quality standards over cost reduction. However, this emphasis on domestic focus can make French wheat more expensive.
While the U.S.'s cost efficiency further cements its position as a potent grain supplier, France's approach highlights the necessity of accepting higher production costs to preserve agricultural diversity and environmental standards, aligning with self-sufficiency principles.
- The escalating competition in worldwide agriculture, particularly in wheat production, is fueled by the cost efficiency of larger-scale U.S. farms, which benefit from economies of scale, efficient machinery use, and streamlined logistics.
- French agriculture, with its focus on premium-quality markets, rural diversity, and environmental standards, exemplifies a different approach to food production that prioritizes these aspects over cost reduction.
- The U.S. government support for farmers through subsidies and insurance cushions them from financial risks and thereby helps in reducing their overall production costs. In contrast, France, with stricter environmental mandates and sustainability policies, faces added compliance costs that impact production costs.
- The focus on domestic supply chains and quality standards in France can lead to higher wheat production costs, as compared to the U.S., which primarily concentrates on high-volume exports.
- The concept of self-sufficiency in agriculture needs to be built on foundations that uphold the unique benefits of diverse agricultural models, like reduced pesticide use, improved biodiversity, and healthier rural landscapes.
- Instead of rushing toward self-sufficiency by replicating intensive and cheaper agricultural practices, it is crucial to preserve and nurture the advantages of our agricultural models in terms of cost, environmental sustainability, and society's overall well-being.
