Herbicide banned by the EU: last chance sowing for cornflowers

Are carrots cooked for chicory? Judging the experiments to replace Bonalan, their main herbicide, banned since Monday in the European Union due to its health impact, to be inconclusive, the endivers go so far as to fear the disappearance of their sector.

“The mass is said,” whispers to AFP Hugues Moilet, president of the Perle du Nord brand, after a meeting Thursday with the Minister Delegate for Agriculture, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, at the experimentation center of the Association of endive producers of France (Apef) in Arras.

They have just noted, together, the striking contrast between a plot treated with Bonalan, the industry’s ancestral herbicide, and a plot without, infested with tall grass. “Sixty-seven (weeds) per square meter!”, complains Philippe Bréhon, president of Apef.

Under the shade of numerous leaves of these invasive plants, lamb’s-quarters, which often measure more than a meter, endives struggle to fully develop.

Benfluralin, a molecule present in Bonalan, has been banned from use in the European Union since Monday, after a decision taken in January 2023 by the European Commission.

Ranked among the eternal pollutants (or PFAS), the molecule “presents a certain number of indications of a carcinogenic nature and an impact on human reproduction”, underlines Agnès Pannier-Runacher.

– “Not really anticipated” –

“We are just asking to get out of Bonalan, but we need time,” replied AFP Philippe Bréhon who, in addition to his duties at Apef, is a prisoner in Pas-de-Calais.

Of course, “we knew that Bonalan was going to be scrutinized again, but we thought that the authorization was going to be extended” by the Commission, recognizes Benoit Coustenoble, endive producer in Avelin (North). “We didn’t really anticipate,” he admits.

The 2024 harvest almost sounds like that of the last chance for the sector, which claims 4,000 direct jobs.

Some experiments to replace Bonalan have been launched in recent years, some with initial positive signs. Two of them are being tested on a large scale this year, including one with the help of the State, which promises emergency authorization in the event of conclusive tests.

But the first results are far from reassuring producers.

In total, under the aegis of Apef, between 20 and 30 potential substitutes for Bonalan are currently being tested or will be tested in the coming weeks, on Apef land and with endive producers.

“We will not find a molecule that will exactly replace Bonalan”, which only needs to be sprayed once, before sowing, Agnès Pannier-Runacher already warns. According to her, it will be necessary to agree to replace the herbicide with “different solutions” associated, for a probably higher production cost.

– “Very pessimistic” –

France being by far the world’s leading producer of endives and Hauts-de-France representing 90% of French production, farmers in the region know they are isolated in their quest.

Apef has set itself until September to “make decisions”, underlines Philippe Bréhon, in order to give sufficient time to producers to source the best substitute product. But “I don’t think we will have the solution by then,” he warns.

“And even if we have a good result, next year, we must advise the entire profession with just one year of hindsight?” asks Benoit Coustenoble.

He remembers an experiment carried out on his farm last year, which gave “very good” results in Avelin, for “catastrophic” results elsewhere.

The sector depends in part on producers of endive roots, subcontractors that endive producers fear will turn to production with better guarantees, notably potatoes.

A vicious circle which makes Hugues Moilet say that “the sector will no longer exist in three years. There will be a few producers left, but it will no longer be a sector”.

He says he is “very pessimistic”, and anticipates a 50% drop in his production next year.

© 2024 AFP

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