French President Emmanuel Macron engaged with farmers in a 12-hour visit to France’s international agriculture fair on Saturday (February 22).
Boos and anti-Macron chants did not seem to faze him, as he urged young farmers to improve their productivity, while promising to exert pressure on supply chains to elevate prices of farm products.
“At the very least, a reasonable price,” a young milk farmer from Brittany pleaded to Macron, who then challenged him to ensure efficient production.
Macron told farmers on Saturday that France would continue to oppose cuts to agricultural subsidies, a day after EU budget discussions ended in deadlock, while also promising compensation for wine producers hit by U.S. tariffs.
European Union leaders failed on Friday to agree on a budget for the next seven years, as a funding shortfall created by Britain’s departure sharpened debate over spending priorities.
Macron wants Europe to maintain a large budget for its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), of which France is the main beneficiary.
Macron has had an uneasy relationship with farmers, a powerful lobby in the EU’s biggest agricultural producer.
He initially won plaudits for legislation aimed at sharing profits more fairly along the food chain. But the effects have yet to be felt widely at farm level, while Macron’s determination to phase out glyphosate weedkiller has fuelled farmers’ resentment at being cast as polluters.
Macron told farmers that glyphosate would not be scrapped where there were no alternatives, while safety rules on pesticide spraying would be adopted progressively.
As part of the customary presidential visit to the week-long show, which attracts 600,000 visitors to see cows, chickens, sheep and other farm animals, Macron tasted French specialities like Charolais beef and Cotes de Provence rose wine, and served draft beer at the French brewers’ stand.
VIDEO SHOWS: MACRON WALKING AROUND FARM SHOW, BOOS HEARD IN BACKGROUND, ANTI-MACRON PROTEST SONG HEARD IN BACKGROUND, MACRON SPEAKING TO MILK FARMER WHO SAYS THEY CANNOT SURVIVE WITH CURRENT PRICES