France Incents Less Glyphosate Use

The French farm ministry announced late last year it will give financial aid to farmers who agree to halt the use of glyphosate on their farms. The aid will consist of a tax credit of 2,500 euros ($3,030) to farmers who apply and agree to cease use of glyphosate in 2021 and 2022.

Sectors most affected will be vineyards, orchards, and grains. The goal of the program is to help farmers offset the costs of converting to production methods absent glyphosate. According to the farm ministry, restricting the use of glyphosate will result in a net operating loss of 7,000 euros for the average farm. The farm ministry said, “The challenge is to put in place mechanisms to compensate for farmers’ costs due to the withdrawal (of) glyphosate, because today a farmer who invests to phase out glyphosate does not benefit from immediate value creation.” The financial aid comes after French President Macron’s failed attempt at a regulatory ban on the use of glyphosate.