If pesticides are widely used to ensure a certain agricultural yield, their adverse health effects are proven. Look back at their use from the 1950s to the present, with testimonials for and against the first concerned: farmers.
"Eaux et Rivières de Bretagne", in the voice of Dominique Le Goux, responsible for health and environment of the association, calls for the ban of S métolachlore, a pesticide used especially on corn and which appears in 37% of the drinking water of the Côtes d'Armor. After having questioned in vain the prefect of the region, "Eaux et Rivières de Bretagne" now calls on all ministries concerned with water quality to stop the use of S métolachlore. Michel Raffray, President of the Côtes d'Armor Drinking Water Supply Union, explains that heavy investments will be needed to treat these unwanted molecules.
In Nort sur Erdre, in the Atlantic Loire, the drinking water supply union is worried about the presence of Esa-métolachlore, whose rate has exceeded the authorised standards since 2016, as explained by Nathalie Keravec, responsible for water resource management in Atlantic'eau. If the Regional Health Agency guarantees that there is no health risk, the union is looking for solutions to eliminate traces of this pesticide in the water. Laurent Cadéron, director of the water union Atlantic'eau, Recalls that the residues of this molecule will persist for years and recommends a stop of the use of this pesticide near the water tables rather than a water treatment that is complicated and ineffective.
Interview with Mr. VIEL, Director of the Plant Pharmacy Laboratory of the National Institute for Agricultural Research, who says that pesticides are safe because they are used at low doses. Images of orchard application and laboratory experiments;
Update on the usefulness of the Vegetable Health Bulletin developed by the Lorraine Regional Chamber of Agriculture, which helps farmers make a rational use of pesticides. Interviews with Nathaël LECLECH, engineer, and Dominique JACQUES, farmer.
Testimony from a farmer who is concerned about the risks of using pesticides but cannot afford not to treat his crops at the risk of losing his harvest.
A story about the effects of pesticides on farmers who have worked with them unprotected for years. The testimonies of a former farmer with blood cancer, of Dr Jean-François ROSSI, a cancer doctor at the CHU de Montpellier, are punctuated by illustrations.
Update on the precautions to be taken for farmers when handling pesticides through the prevention campaign by the Rural Prevention Department of the Agricultural Mutual Insurance Funds.
A doctor analyzes and criticizes the various dishes constituting the meal of a French family, including antibiotics in wine and insecticides and pesticides on fruit and salad.
Products purchased in food stores known as "dietetic", "without chemicals" are analyzed in the chemistry laboratory applied to the expertise of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Montpellier. Only two out of eight products have no pesticide residues.
Etrepagny (Eure) is the centre of an extensive campaign by the Ministry of Agriculture and the beet technical institute against hannetons, which is harmful to sugar beet crops.
A study shows that the application of pesticides by farmers increases the risk of cancer. The report alternates interviews with illustrations of farmers treating their fieldss or preparing pesticides, protected by a combination and a mask. Interview with Gilles CROYERE, doctor of the Mutualité Sociale Agricole, explaining that cancers develop after decades of exposure. Interview with Bruno HEVIN, prevention technician M.S.A. about the difficulty of getting the potential risk message across to farmers. Interview with Christophe BAUDRY, a winegrower, explaining that he has greatly reduced treatments in the interests of safety and economy.
Report on the European Union’s vote to extend the authorisation of glyphosate by 5 years despite the position of President Emmanuel Macron, who wants another timetable for banning the use of this pesticide in France at the latest in 3 years. Comments on factual images of farmers using glyphosate and manisfestants, infographic images, alternating with interviews with Stéphane TRAVERT, Minister of Agriculture and Food, and Nicolas HULOT, Minister of the Ecological and Solidarity Transition in accordance with the President’s calendar.
Demonstration of anti-parasitic agricultural techniques in Senlis (Oise) in front of Mr. Camille LAURENCE and a crowd of visitors who witness the evolution of spraying machines (wheelbarrows, trucks, planes).
Plant protection products are suspected of causing rare forms of cancer in the agricultural world. For the first time, the Mutuelle sociale agricole is launching a survey on this issue. The story features the testimony of a farmer with cancer who is seeking recognition of the link between his disease and pesticide use.