Agriculture - World news, culture and opinion

Early heatwaves are devastating French agriculture and leaving farmers helpless

Scorched crops, decimated livestock and double-digit production drops: as farmers take stock of the effects of extreme heat, they fear the worst is yet to come.

Published on July 3, 2026, at 12:51 pm (Paris) Manon Rescan

In Depth

Pesticide use rises again in France, especially for PFAS chemicals

Amid the lack of a recent update to the government's longstanding pesticide-use indicator, the advocacy group Générations Futures released its own calculation Thursday, based on product sales data and using the official methodology.

Published on June 25, 2026, at 9:37 pm (Paris), updated on June 26, 2026, at 8:02 am Stéphane Foucart Stéphane Mandard

Column

'Civil society could become a powerless observer of the deterioration of water, an irreplaceable common good'

The unraveling of environmental law is not only weakening standards, but is also slowly dismantling the framework for local democracy, writes Le Monde journalist Stéphane Foucart.

Published on June 21, 2026, at 2:13 am (Paris) Stéphane Foucart

News

European Parliament's approval of new GMOs marks turning point for agriculture sector

MEPs definitively passed legislation to deregulate plants developed using genome-editing technologies on Tuesday, after rejecting amendments that would have mandated traceability and banned patents on these plants.

Published on June 17, 2026, at 10:15 pm (Paris), updated on June 18, 2026, at 10:19 am Stéphane Foucart

News

European Parliament greenlights new generation of GMOs

Amid promises of innovation and concerns about biodiversity, the EU’s adoption of new genomic techniques has reignited the debate on the future of European agriculture.

Published on June 17, 2026, at 1:54 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

In Depth

How two families have maintained their grip on Paris food markets for 35 years

Two companies are set to be awarded a new public service delegation contract, despite concerns from some left-wing and centrist elected officials.

Published on June 15, 2026, at 2:00 pm (Paris), updated on June 15, 2026, at 2:00 pm Hélène Bekmezian

In Depth

Child obesity: Chile's successful experience with warning signs and banned marketing

Through nutritional logos and strict advertising regulations, Chile decreased the proportion of children aged 4 to 6 with excess weight, according to a study published in The Lancet. In France, lawmakers have put forward initiatives for such strict regulations.

Published on June 12, 2026, at 9:17 pm (Paris), updated on June 13, 2026, at 12:31 pm Mathilde Gérard

In Depth

Eating organic fruits and vegetables linked to lower risk of postmenopausal breast cancer

According to French researchers, for every daily 100-gram portion of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables replaced by their organic equivalents, the risk of developing postmenopausal breast cancer drops by 10%.

Published on June 5, 2026, at 3:16 am (Paris), updated on June 5, 2026, at 10:52 am Stéphane Foucart

News

French lawmakers say state shares blame for chlordecone pesticide scandal

A bill, which passed unanimously, requires the state to decontaminate soil polluted by the pesticide chlordecone. Over 90% of adults in the French overseas territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe are contaminated by the pesticide.

Published on June 3, 2026, at 10:05 am (Paris), updated on June 3, 2026, at 10:32 am Le Monde with AFP

In Depth

French agriculture bill makes it easier to store water and expand livestock farms

One year after heated debates on an initial bill, this emergency text the government hoped would appease tensions, became even more divisive as lawmakers clashed on a series of key issues.

Published on June 2, 2026, at 12:55 pm (Paris), updated on June 2, 2026, at 12:55 pm Mathilde Gérard, Perrine Mouterde, Manon Rescan and Léa Sanchez

In Depth

High consumption of food dyes linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer

A French research team is conducting the first large-scale epidemiological study documenting the link between food color additives and chronic disease risks.

Published on May 22, 2026, at 11:49 am (Paris) Mathilde Gérard

Op-Ed

Over 50 Michelin-starred chefs demand change: 'Competitiveness only delivers soulless volume, sustainable agriculture creates real wealth'

51 Michelin-starred chefs urge an urgent shift toward a less intensive, less harmful agricultural model that prioritizes sustainable, family-run and high-quality production.

Published on May 18, 2026, at 12:30 pm (Paris), updated on May 18, 2026, at 3:41 pm Group letter

In Depth

Obesity surges in low-income countries, stabilizes in wealthier nations

A major study on global obesity trends, published Wednesday in Nature, reveals diverging trajectories depending on a country's income level. Obesity, however, has reached alarming heights worldwide, affecting one in eight people.

Published on May 14, 2026, at 3:55 am (Paris), updated on May 14, 2026, at 8:58 am Mathilde Gérard

News

Wine consumption continues to decline around the world

Wine consumption fell by 2.7% year-on-year, according to data released on Tuesday by the International Organization of Vine and Wine. But France remains the world's leading wine exporter by value.

Published on May 13, 2026, at 3:02 pm (Paris), updated on May 13, 2026, at 3:20 pm Laurence Girard

In Depth

Strait of Hormuz: UN seeks to secure fertilizer shipments to fragile countries to prevent famines

The United Nations has warned that vulnerable countries across Africa and Asia might experience fertilizer shortages during the crucial planting season. An estimated 45 million people face the threat of falling to hunger.

Published on May 12, 2026, at 11:39 pm (Paris) Mathilde Gérard Louis Imbert

In Depth

Fried, breaded or grilled: How chicken is taking over France's fast-food market

The number of fast-food chains dedicated to chicken is booming in France. At the heart of this success is affordable comfort food, offering an unbeatable quantity-for-price ratio at a time when purchasing power is on the decline.

Published on May 9, 2026, at 12:30 pm (Paris), updated on May 9, 2026, at 12:42 pm Jessica Gourdon

Column

'Despite repeated crises, our food remains just as dependent on fossil fuels'

Taking the example of the 1920 California crisis when oil companies stepped in to help farmers deprived of water, columnist Jean-Baptiste Fressoz argues that it would be possible to prevent a global food crisis linked to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, but the political will is lacking.

Published on May 4, 2026, at 1:38 am (Paris), updated on May 4, 2026, at 7:32 am Jean-Baptiste Fressoz

Column

China, the other land of foie gras

As the French foie gras industry recovers after years of hardship caused by the avian flu epidemic, China has, over the past two years, become the world's second-largest producer of foie gras, writes Le Monde's Laurence Girard in her column.

Published on April 28, 2026, at 10:16 am (Paris) Laurence Girard

In Depth

France to reimburse cadmium tests, but doctors warn access is 'too restrictive'

This carcinogenic heavy metal affects most people living in France, but the screening, expected to be reimbursed by the government starting this summer, will be limited to those considered 'potentially overexposed' because of where they live.

Published on April 27, 2026, at 10:27 am (Paris), updated on May 6, 2026, at 2:24 pm Stéphane Mandard

Interview

Fabien Esculier: 'It is possible to do without synthetic fertilizers'

The engineer highlights the tremendous fertilizing potential of human urine and feces at a time of geopolitical and environmental crises. This potential remains completely untapped, despite having been used for over 2,000 years.

Published on April 26, 2026, at 4:25 am (Paris), updated on May 6, 2026, at 2:24 pm Claire Legros

News

Ten countries account for two-thirds of the people most affected by hunger, according to UN-backed report

The report warns of a sharp decline in humanitarian aid funding and highlights that the war in the Middle East risks exacerbating existing crises by increasing the number of displaced people in a region that already hosts millions of refugees and by driving up the cost of fertilizer.

Published on April 24, 2026, at 1:10 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

In Depth

Agriculture systems increasingly threatened by extreme heat

A United Nations report warns of the urgent need to adapt farming and livestock practices in the face of increasingly frequent and intense episodes of extreme heat.

Published on April 22, 2026, at 10:52 pm (Paris), updated on April 23, 2026, at 7:30 am Sylvie Burnouf

Op-Ed

Cadmium: 'Natural bread, more digestible and free of toxic substances, could be available to all if we changed the rules'

Paul Magnette, president of the French-speaking Socialist Party of Belgium, addresses concerns about bread consumption – a symbol of French culture – following a report on the presence of the heavy metal cadmium in certain cultivated plants, including wheat.

Published on April 14, 2026, at 2:41 pm (Paris), updated on May 6, 2026, at 2:23 pm Paul Magnette

In Depth

Strait of Hormuz blockade poses threat to food security

The war in the Middle East has led to a domino effect, threatening to worsen global hunger. Geopolitical tensions are exposing the strong dependence of food systems on countries that produce fossil fuels and synthetic fertilizers.

Published on April 14, 2026, at 11:30 am (Paris) Mathilde Gérard

News

Key facts to understand cadmium, an emerging public health issue

Cadmium, a heavy metal toxic to human health, is found in many everyday foods. Children and women are most affected by this carcinogenic contaminant, which is the subject of growing concern.

Published on April 5, 2026, at 11:55 pm (Paris), updated on May 6, 2026, at 2:22 pm Noa Moussa

News

Pesticides and cancer: For the first time, researchers find a connection at the national level

French researchers have developed a model to map pesticide exposure across Peru to reported cancer clusters. They demonstrate a 'robust spatial association' between these chemicals and increased cancer incidence rates in over 400 areas.

Published on April 1, 2026, at 2:21 pm (Paris), updated on May 27, 2026, at 11:11 am Stéphane Foucart

News

Population's cadmium overexposure requires urgent action, French food agency tells government

In a report published on Wednesday, France's National Agency for Food Safety recommends drastically reducing levels of this carcinogenic metal in phosphate fertilizers and limiting the consumption of cereals, bread and pasta.

Published on March 25, 2026, at 11:11 am (Paris), updated on May 6, 2026, at 2:22 pm Stéphane Mandard

In Depth

How to eat well: Advice from a nutritionist

From choosing whole, preferably organic foods to avoiding certain additives and using the right containers, nutritionist Anthony Berthou offers clear, practical advice for healthier eating.

Published on March 16, 2026, at 3:12 am (Paris), updated on May 6, 2026, at 2:22 pm Brune Mauger

Investigation

How food scandals are fueling anxiety: 'I feel like the whole planet is contaminated'

Cadmium, pesticides, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and other harmful substances permeate our food and contaminate us.

Published on March 15, 2026, at 11:30 am (Paris), updated on May 6, 2026, at 2:22 pm Brune Mauger

In Depth

Culling of foxes, crows and ravens is 'inefficient, economically unjustifiable and ethically questionable'

Researchers from the National Museum of Natural History examined the effects of systematically hunting 'species likely to cause damage.' They found that the cost of destroying these animals exceeded the agricultural damage they cause, without reducing that damage.

Published on March 11, 2026, at 7:00 pm (Paris) Perrine Mouterde

News

EU to ban more than 30 plant-based labels, not 'burger' and 'sausage'

A compromise on these names was reached on Thursday with strong support from France's livestock and meat industry. The ban is still to be put to a vote in Parliament and the EU 27 member states.

Published on March 6, 2026, at 9:15 am (Paris), updated on March 6, 2026, at 9:27 am Le Monde with AFP

News

Without cows, Paris Agricultural Show attendance drops by nearly 28%

The 62nd edition of the event, held against the backdrop of an agricultural crisis, welcomed 437,402 visitors. Cattle were notably absent due to an outbreak of lumpy skin disease.

Published on March 2, 2026, at 7:22 pm (Paris) Laurence Girard

Column

Dominique Méda: 'Another food system is possible'

Public authorities support a highly expensive food system that causes numerous negative impacts and primarily benefits processing industries, retail chains and commercial and institutional catering rather than farmers, observes Dominique Méda in her column.

Published on February 28, 2026, at 6:00 am (Paris), updated on February 28, 2026, at 9:29 am Dominique Méda

News

India, the world's leading dairy producer, struggles to rid its market of adulterated milk

Water is often added to Indian milk, but so are chemicals and vegetable oils. The quality of Indian dairy products is therefore frequently questionable, a fact highlighted by a recent scandal in the state of Gujarat.

Published on February 23, 2026, at 2:24 am (Paris), updated on February 23, 2026, at 9:55 am Sophie Landrin

In Depth

At the Paris Agricultural Show, Macron visits in relative calm

In the absence of the traditional breakfast with agricultural unions – some of which boycotted his visit – the president held bilateral talks with the FNSEA and Coordination Rurale. He then toured the exhibition under heavy police protection.

Published on February 22, 2026, at 10:37 am (Paris) Mariama Darame

In Depth

Paris agricultural fair opens without famed cows as French farmers face multiple crises

This year, the Paris International Agricultural Show is marked by crises due to climate disasters, trade tensions and unstable incomes, as well as animal disease outbreaks, which have led to there being no cows or poultry at this edition.

Published on February 21, 2026, at 10:11 am (Paris) Laurence Girard

News

Lumpy skin disease: After eight months of tension, French crisis appears to be ending

With no new cases of this disease identified since January 2 and two million cattle vaccinated, the last regulated zone still in place is expected to be lifted on Friday.

Published on February 20, 2026, at 10:38 am (Paris), updated on February 22, 2026, at 3:23 pm Delphine Roucaute

In Depth

French people exposed to 'concerning' levels of cadmium, lead and aluminum through food

Reviewing more than 700 samples representing 90% of the French diet, the national health agency released its third 'total diet study' assessing exposure to toxic substances through food.

Published on February 13, 2026, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on May 6, 2026, at 2:21 pm Stéphane Mandard

News

US remains top export market for French wines and spirits, despite 21% drop

The French Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters reported that exports of wine, champagne and cognac fell by 8% in value year-on-year in 2025, to €14.3 billion.

Published on February 10, 2026, at 12:08 pm (Paris), updated on February 10, 2026, at 12:46 pm Laurence Girard

In Depth

Nestlé knew of toxins in baby formula 10 days before first recalls

Le Monde has learned that the Swiss food giant waited for a health risk assessment before notifying Dutch and European authorities about the presence of cereulide in infant formula produced in the Netherlands.

Published on January 30, 2026, at 11:54 am (Paris), updated on January 30, 2026, at 11:54 am Mathilde Gérard Laurence Girard

In Depth

Infant formula sector rocked by massive recalls of Lactalis and Nestlé products

Global dairy giants have been forced to recall infant formula on a large scale after detecting cereulide, a toxin produced by bacteria. France's Agriculture Ministry confirmed that a single supplier in China produced the raw material responsible.

Published on January 22, 2026, at 3:59 am (Paris), updated on January 22, 2026, at 10:04 am Mathilde Gérard Laurence Girard

News

EU Parliament refers Mercosur trade deal to bloc's top court

MEPs approved the move with 334 votes in favor and 324 against. France hailed the vote as 'consistent with its position,' while Germany decried it. The EU Commission still retains the option to provisionally apply the agreement.

Published on January 21, 2026, at 1:57 pm (Paris), updated on January 21, 2026, at 3:57 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

Trump renews threats against a favorite target: French wines and spirits

The US president threatened to impose 200% tariffs on the sector, which has regularly borne the brunt of tensions between Washington and Paris since 2019.

Published on January 20, 2026, at 5:51 pm (Paris) Laurence Girard

In Depth

Mercosur trade deal will have uneven effects on EU countries

From Dutch ultra-productivism to Greek micro-farms, European agriculture – already weakened by climate change, animal epidemics and competition – has struggled to present a united front in response to the free trade agreement.

Published on January 17, 2026, at 5:00 am (Paris) Hélène Bienvenu, Olivier Bonnel, Cécile Boutelet, Cécile Ducourtieux, Laurence Girard, Isabelle Piquer, Marina Rafenberg and Jean-Pierre Stroobants

News

Fifty French farmers arrested after storming agriculture ministry building in Paris

Around 100 members of the Confédération Paysanne union entered a section of the ministry, which they occupied for an hour to denounce the government's agricultural policy.

Published on January 15, 2026, at 12:54 am (Paris), updated on January 15, 2026, at 8:05 am Le Monde with AFP

News

Farmers roll hundreds of tractors into Paris in fresh protests

For the second time in less than a week, dozens of tractors rolled into central Paris as farmers rallied against an EU trade pact with South American countries.

Published on January 13, 2026, at 9:39 am (Paris), updated on January 14, 2026, at 7:48 am Le Monde with AFP

News

EU states approve Mercosur trade deal despite France's opposition

With this approval, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, could travel to Paraguay as early as Monday to sign the trade treaty with Latin America.

Published on January 9, 2026, at 1:53 pm (Paris), updated on January 9, 2026, at 5:38 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

France will vote against EU-Mercosur trade deal, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that France would vote against the European Union's trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur. The deal, which EU member states will vote on Friday, has sparked protests among French farmers, who fear the consequences of competition from Brazil and its neighbors.

Published on January 8, 2026, at 8:36 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

News

EU-Mercosur deal set to be signed, with or without France's support

The European Commission announced new concessions to the agricultural sector, lifting Italian objections and paving the way for the free trade agreement with South American countries to be signed on Monday.

Published on January 8, 2026, at 11:48 am (Paris), updated on January 8, 2026, at 5:10 pm Virginie Malingre

News

Farmers park tractors in Paris to protest EU-Mercosur trade deal

In a show of dissent against a free trade deal that they believe will lead to unfair competition, farmers parked a dozen tractors in front of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe in the French capital.

Published on January 8, 2026, at 8:18 am (Paris), updated on January 8, 2026, at 6:29 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

EU offers extra funds to quell farmer anger over Mercosur trade deal

The European Union's executive arm proposed Tuesday to give farmers early access to some €45 billion as it looks to diffuse anger over a vast trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur, which Brussels hopes to sign next week.

Published on January 6, 2026, at 7:23 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Feature

Banana growers in the French Antilles try to move past legacy of chlordecone

Producers in Martinique and Guadeloupe have significantly reduced their use of pesticides over the past decade, but the extra costs of new agricultural practices threaten the viability of their farms as they face competition from Latin American bananas.

Published on December 30, 2025, at 11:24 am (Paris) Jean-Michel Hauteville

In Depth

China's industrial-scale pig farms encounter new threats

After a major outbreak of African swine fever in 2018, China massively industrialized its pig farming sector to ensure food self-sufficiency. This giant factory-style model, which wiped out small farmers, is now threatened by overproduction.

Published on December 30, 2025, at 2:34 am (Paris), updated on December 30, 2025, at 8:19 am Jordan Pouille

Selection

Five plants to gift for a blooming Christmas

Amaryllis, echinacea and verbena... Le Monde invites you to choose seasonal plants, perfect for brightening up your home or that of your hosts.

Published on December 24, 2025, at 5:29 am (Paris), updated on December 24, 2025, at 9:26 am Julie Lasterade

Explainer

Lumpy skin disease: Why are French farms experiencing so many animal disease outbreaks?

Combined with globalized trade, the overall rise in temperatures driven by human-induced climate change has allowed insects and other vectors of diseases once confined to tropical regions to spread northward.

Published on December 24, 2025, at 2:24 am (Paris), updated on December 24, 2025, at 9:36 am Delphine Roucaute

News

Macron meets French farmers in bid to defuse anger over trade deal

This marks the first meeting between Macron and union leaders since the start of a protest movement against a mass cull of cows to contain the spread of nodular dermatitis, widely known as lumpy skin disease.

Published on December 23, 2025, at 8:44 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Feature

Lumpy skin disease: Farmers demand vaccines and reject culling

After vaccination zones and a protection zone were implemented in the Occitanie region of southern France, concern is now growing in the Aveyron. The department, home to 500,000 cattle, has the largest herd in the region, with half of them being the Aubrac breed.

Published on December 21, 2025, at 9:50 am (Paris), updated on December 21, 2025, at 12:03 pm Philippe Gagnebet

Investigation

More than 1.7 million French schoolchildren face high 'pesticide pressure' levels

Le Monde and a team of 10 scientists have established a barometer to measure the potential pesticide exposure level around every French school.

Published on December 20, 2025, at 5:02 pm (Paris) Raphaëlle Aubert

In Depth

As France tries to contain cattle lumpy skin disease, PM seeks Christmas truce with agricultural unions

The prime minister met Friday with leaders of France's main farming unions but did not announce any real change in managing an outbreak of lumpy skin disease, or contagious nodular dermatitis.

Published on December 20, 2025, at 12:59 pm (Paris) Laurence Girard

In Depth

EU-Mercosur deal divides France's agricultural sectors

While the beef, poultry, beet, sugar, ethanol and cereal sectors fear increased competition from Mercosur trade bloc countries, the dairy, wine and spirits sectors stand to benefit from greater access to the Brazilian market.

Published on December 19, 2025, at 5:15 pm (Paris), updated on December 19, 2025, at 5:22 pm Laurence Girard