French professionals of the organic sector have decided to take action. Together with consumers, they have formed a collective to defend the organic sector and created a movement: #STOPMEPRISBIO.
“It is a very spontaneous action,” explains Simon Le fur, founder of Aventure Bio. “An informal collective that is truly representative of our society, as it brings together merchandisers, retailers, wholesalers and consumers. It is an invitation for all professionals of the sector throughout France to unite in order to obtain urgent support from the government.”
© stop-mepris.bio
The plea? “Fair support to revive the sector,” according to the press release. “Organic farming must cease to be despised. It must be considered as a promising agricultural sector in line with climate issues. The government should release a budget of 150 million euros [160 million USD], equivalent to its support to the conventional sector. The EGALIM law must be applied (20% organic food in collective catering). For the collective, the current support is insufficient and the sector is in danger. “2,000 million euros of aid [2,129 million USD] for conventional farms against 10 million euros [11 million USD] for organic agriculture, which is 4,000 euros [4,259 USD] for a conventional farm against 167 euros [178 USD] for an organic farm.”
“We feel despised"
The collective was created as a response to the silence from the government during the Agricultural Show in Paris. “We know that our bodies and our representatives like Synabio or Fnab tried to question the government during the Agricultural Show but there was no reaction. We feel despised and abandoned while we need, especially today, to be considered as a sector in its own right. This is why we have decided to take urgent action!”
Posters in organic stores / © stop-mepris.bio
Petition, social networks and actions in stores
“The goal is to involve as many people as possible, especially
consumers, for whom organic farming means something,” explains Simon Le Fur. Started on the 3rd of March, the movement has been growing every day. Creation of a website, petition, actions in stores: the collective has been moving forward with the objective of creating a real “territorial network” by relaying as much information as possible. “We are trying to start a supply chain. Today, the petition has reached almost 30,000 signatures. Approximately 30 organic stores, including Biocoop and Panier Bio, have already begun to display posters. Sales representatives are dropping off posters in stores and we are also communicating a lot on social networks.”
Click here for the press release.
For more information:
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Simon Le Fur - [email protected]
stop-mepris.bio