December 2, 2020

 

France to boost its protein crops by 40% from 2022

 

Julien Denormandie, France's Agriculture Minister, said France aims to increase the area it sows with protein crops by 40% from 2022 and double it over 10 years, in efforts to reduce its dependence on soybean imports from South America, Reuters reported.

 

France and other countries in the European Union import tonnes of soybean and soymeal from Brazil and Argentina to feed their livestock. This makes them reliant on global prices, trade relations, and overseas environmental practises.

 

The French farm ministry said a 40% increase in protein crops would result in an additional 400,000 hectares of land to be harvested by 2023.

 

2.2 million tonnes of soymeal were imported by France between July 2019 to June 2020. 1.95 million came from Brazil, which makes France the biggest Brazilian soymeal importer in the EU according to official data. Soybean imports in 2019/2020 reached 658,000 tonnes.

 

France aims to double its total protein crop area to 2 million hectares within 10 years, lowering its dependency on imports by 10 percentage points.

 

To encourage French farmers to allocate more land towards protein crops and boost research, Denormandie said the government will invest EUR 100 million (~US$119.8 million; EUR 1 = US$1.21) over the next two years. These crops include soybeans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, and beans.

 

France is the biggest crop grower in the EU.

 

The other issue Denormandie brought up is related to the environment. He said soybean imports from South America contribute to deforestation.

 

Brazil's Amazon rainforest is severely affected by deforestation to raise livestock or grow crops, with its deforestation reaching a 12-year high this year.

 

France has objected to a trade agreement between EU and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries because of environmental issues.

 

Denormandie also said French farmers will receive additional subsidies approved under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy's proposed reform, to boost competitiveness against cheaper imports.

 

An Agriculture Ministry official said the plan will not support plant-based proteins like alternative meats.

 

Arnaud Rousseau, head of FOP, a French oilseed and protein crop growers' group, said while this plan by the government has a political dimension and everyone is aware that soybean imports will continue, the government's ambition is realistic and achievable.

 

- Reuters