Regular analyzes by consumer protection associations show that many organic food products are more loaded with phytosanitary products than others that are not organic!
Green elected officials learn with horror, despite a healthy and organic diet, that analyzing their hair reveals high levels of pesticides and other herbicides.
In short, the concept of "Bio" is dying ...
Now it's the label HVE (High Environmental Value (French Environmental Label)), announced with strength and conviction by our new Minister of Agriculture on the move, who will carry the flag of (finally) healthy food. We are saved!
Towards action-oriented “positive agriculture”
While Emmanuel Macron launches “One Planet Lab”, a laboratory of international ideas sponsored among others by the British economist Nicholas Stern and the former CEO of Unilever Paul Polman, the agricultural world met as usual at this time of year Porte de Versailles for the Agricultural Show.
A real showcase of French agricultural know-how, all sectors and territories combined, it is a place of exchange between the rural and urban worlds, each responding to different lifestyles, uses, temporalities and different geographies.
If one word should sum up the 2019 agricultural fair, it's optimism. From the Minister of Agriculture, Didier Guillaume to the players in the sector (interprofessions, associations, players in mass distribution), including the operators themselves, all agree on the need to develop "Positive Agriculture". It is now a question of concretely changing things in good intelligence, of liberating the chain of discourse by promoting action.
Tipping point towards a new form of sustainable, responsible and sustainable agriculture, the “High Environmental Value” making, an extremely rare thing, unanimity both in the agricultural sectors, environmental NGOs and among distributors, could be one spearheads. Because, beyond its normative aspect, the HVE designates a new way of thinking, a new architecture of choice, the future of agriculture.
Make "High Environmental Value", the label brand of the agro-ecological transition
Like organic, HVE is a public label. It corresponds to the 3rd level of environmental certification of farms. This official sign is not a competitor but complementary to the Bio. Coming from the Grenelle de l'Environnement, presented by public authorities as the future 2nd major quality sign alongside organic, HVE has so far been carried by pioneers: the NGO FNE (France Nature Environment) and the Movement Independent Winegrowers of France.
But after the States General of Food and the government commitments in terms of biodiversity and the provision of collective catering, the HVE approach appears today to be the only one allowing to respect the ambitious commitments made by the government.
Democratization underway
After viticulture, new agricultural sectors are becoming more numerous every day: arboriculture, market gardening, horticulture, cereals ... which allows Intermarché to announce the launch of its first HVE certified products from next April, thus anticipating its competitors who all are also working on this subject.
For many, HVE will become as important a segment as organic and will eventually represent 1/3 of the food market. This will make it possible to reach the objective of 50% of French agricultural production under the sign of environmental quality, for the greater good of both biodiversity on our territories, but also the remuneration of our farmers who have made strong commitments to this regard.
To unite all market players.
The HVE approach will make it possible to unite all the approaches of marketers or distributors who have hatched for several years in an anarchic and therefore ineffective manner.
This HVE certification is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture with the active support of its Minister Didier Guillaume and by the association for the development of HVE, created by the Vignerons Indépendants de France movement. This association, created under the aegis of the Secretary of State, Brune Poirson, has now become the place of meeting and coordination between the sectors, the processors, the NGOs and the distributors.
To meet strong societal demand
The HVE approach will restore consumers' confidence by ensuring that the products offered, at an affordable price, come from an environment-friendly agriculture and produced in France.
Thus, this will allow, as the Minister indicated, to respond to "Our fellow citizens who ask us for more transparency, more security, less phytosanitary products and more animal welfare".
To defend French know-how
The HVE approach will finally shed light on the artisanal dimension of agriculture, that which combines manual know-how and technological expertise, led by an entrepreneur, animated by a sustainable and responsible vision of its trade. "My job and my art is to live" said Montaigne; this way of life, that of many operators will continue with HVE.
To move towards positive, authentic and sustainable agriculture at the service of industry players, farmers and consumers, let's democratize High Environmental Value. Let us build on the current dynamic to act and build after the ecological transition.
Jean-Jacques Jarjanette - Managing Director of the Independent Winegrowers of France
Okay, well ...
If it is the new Minister of Agriculture who says so!