New approach should bring peace back to French beet growers

A few weeks ago tractors drove through the center of Paris for the first time in years. The reason for this was the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) of 19 January 2023, which ruled out the use of neonics for sugar beet seed. That ban has been in effect in the EU for two years, but a derogation has allowed French beet growers to use seed treated with neonics for the past two years. France had the plan to grant a derogation for the very last time, but the European judge drew a line, according to reports on Agroberichts Buitenland. Plan with three pillars A week after the protests, French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau sat down with the beet sector to present the principles of a support and action plan. This should guarantee sufficient beet production in 2023 and the supply of the French sugar sector. The plan stipulates that France will ensure that the decision of the Court of Justice is applied in the same way in all EU countries, to ensure a level ...