“A polluting union”: the FDSEA and the Young Farmers are up in arms after the comments of the FSU general secretary

Dans le cadre des élections à la Chambre d’agriculture, la FDSEA et le syndicat des Jeunes agriculteurs portent une candidature commune. Centre Presse – Philippe Henry

Aveyron union leaders said they were “stunned” by comments made on Totem radio by Véronique Caraco-Giordano, general secretary of the national environmental union – FSU. They are reacting and “are not ruling out taking action in the coming days".

“Some agricultural unions, FNSEA, […] are productivist agricultural unions, often polluters and who would like to be able to produce more and more […] we must preserve the land for healthy agriculture and food that preserve public health and that are for all citizens. […] They would like to be able to use even more pesticides without any consideration for their fellow citizens […] When we are stopped on the road by a road check, we are also checked by national police or gendarmerie officers who are armed. Do we feel attacked ? If we do not commit any mistakes, we have no reason to feel attacked, there are no cowboys among us.”

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These are the words of Véronique Caraco-Giordano, general secretary of the national environmental union – FSU, on the airwaves of our colleagues at Totem radio on Friday, January 31, 2025. They sparked a black anger among the FDSEA and JA unions in Aveyron. In a press release, published this Saturday, February 1, the latter say they are “stunned by so much defamation and do not rule out reacting in the coming days”.

In the meantime, they indicate that “These comments are completely false, unacceptable, harsh and gratuitous. They take on a particular dimension after a year of mobilization and demands, in a sufficiently tense climate. This interview is in line with the comments made by an OFB agent, member of the National Union of Environmental Personnel (SNAPE)-FO, who explained, on France Inter on January 15, “to have the feeling that what farmers want is to no longer see us on their farms. It's the same as if dealers asked the police to no longer come to the estates”.

“Unfounded accusations”

“Farmers do not understand such unfounded accusations that do not correspond in any way to the realities on the ground. The consumption of phytos has dropped by almost 50% in a short time, which is proof that Aveyron farmers manage applications with respect for the environment and professionalism. The FDSEA and the JA Aveyron will never accept agribashing and will continue to work to have the quality of work of Aveyron farmers recognized”, the unions also write.

While the electoral campaign for the Chamber of Agriculture has just ended. FDSEA and JA were in the majority until then. Facing them this time, they have the Rural Coordination, the Peasant Confederation and the Modef. The results are expected this Friday, February 7.

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