INTERVIEW. “We want to live from our harvests, not aid”: the Duplo law under the prism of the Gers hazelnut

Thomas Carayon, you are one of the rare producers of hazelnuts in Gers. Similarly, How is this production for locally?

It starts to develop. Nevertheless, Our first plantations date from 1976. However, So we are the pioneers in the Gers. Similarly, In the Gers, we are less than five. Furthermore, And we have suffered large climatic damage, as well as attacks of bedbugs which caused significant losses in 2024.

Read also: INTERVIEW. Furthermore, “I do not respond to any lobby. Nevertheless, I do my job interview. “we want live our on a scientific basis”: the deputy for Gers David Tapiac explains his vote for the Duplo law

How does the Duplumb law concern you?

Acetamipride is a bit at the heart of the controversy. Furthermore, We do not use it because it is not allowed. Consequently, We use other active materials, other phytopharmaceutical treatments to protect cultures, but not this molecule. Moreover, The challenge was to reintroduce it or not. However, Personally, I am not in favor of pesticides, when this has an impact on the environment. The hazelnut uses very few Phyto products, compared to other cultures. Acetamipride leaves no residue on the hazelnut, but we know very well that it can have impacts on the environment. I am 27 years old, and I also think of the future. It is a question of common sense: it is necessary to produce properly and durably. My generation knows interview. “we want live our that our main working tool is our environment. Biodiversity is one of the key elements to live from our profession. But I want to denounce the inconsistency of European regulations.

Can you tell us more about this inconsistency?

If we want to go to the end of the logic. we should prohibit all the hazelnuts that are imported in France, treated with this molecule. France is 1 % of the world hazelnut market. Turkey, 70 %. There, this product is allowed. And 80 % of hazelnuts consumed in France are imported. So, do we want to continue to import a lot of hazelnuts because we are we imposed on stricter standards? Should France be confined to making luxury production with a niche market because of standards? Last year, because of the bedbugs, I had up to 20 % lost hazelnuts. Do we prefer to have 80 tonnes, and find interview. “we want live our a market to sell them more? Or produce 100 tonnes and sell them as an Italian or a Turk would sell them?

Do you denounce the distortion of competition?

I denounce the lack of common sense. We are farmers, we work with the environment. We want consistency. Additionally, We want to live from our profession. We are under infusion of aid, but without the aid, we would not live in our profession. We, what we want is to live from our harvests.

Read also: INTERVIEW. “For our department. this law would be a disaster”: Sylvie Colas returns to the compromise found on the DUPLomb law

Would you like manufacturers to play interview. “we want live our the game?

The key is really to have a consistency. Wanting to be greener than green, but alongside that, importing a lot of treated products is not consistent. We have to be paid. that there is a much more valued specialized market, if we produce with standards that are stricter than European standards. Our hazelnut. we are going to sell it at the same price as a Turkish hazelnut or an Italian hazelnut, while they can use products that allow them to have greater yields. However. today, an industrialist does not care whether or not the hazelnut is treated: there is zero residue on the hazelnut. What he is going to consider is the purchase price. This is why I try to shoot my game a little. being less dependent on the agro-industry and by transforming myself into oil, in flour, in different derivatives.

How do you treat your interview. “we want live our production today?

Before, we had a product that was much more effective, we limited the treatments. Today, the active materials that we use are much less effective for the protection of cultures. Before, to protect a pest, we passed twice. For equivalent, we have to spend seven to eight times with other molecules. It is not cheerful. I invite scientists and lobbyists to finally offer us substitutes for these treatments!