(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #243 - Farm cows in 1000: Confronting industrial agriculture (fr, pt)

[machine translation]

On September 13 and four days, opponents of excessive farm-factory Ducrat in the Somme 
project, tried to prevent the first deals by blocking structure. To oppose an unacceptable 
attempt to force passage, but also defend the peasant farms. ---- Saturday, September 
13th, the day is just rising as militants Peasant Confederation and Novissen block access 
to the factory farm 1,000 cows Ramery, construction magnate, has just landed the first 
cows at its plant then it does not have all the permissions. Fighting the 
industrialization of agriculture is to fight for the survival of thousands of small and 
medium farms. Agriculture is at a crossroads! ---- The warning of the arrival of cows on 
the farm-factory has excited the agricultural union and associations fighting against this 
project[1]. There was no question that this happens in silence after long months of 
struggle, the arrests and the trial scheduled for October 28 in Amiens.

The decision was made to block the site for the first deals do not take place. blockade 
lasted four days . It took the intervention of law enforcement for the truck to pick up 
milk can enter and exit the site. After spinning, it was confirmed that the collection was 
made by Senoble including branding depends on the quality of its products.

Draft revised downwards

Undermine the project but also to carry the national debate on the type of agriculture 
that we want to develop the balance of power was aimed committed. The meeting held at the 
Ministry has had some success, more intended to calm the agitation around the project that 
really change it. There should be only 500 cows instead of 1000 (Ramery did not anyway 
permissions to 1000) but it remains the responsibility of the administration. The digester 
should be smaller and do not contain sewage sludge as well as dedicated to anaerobic cultures.

These crops grown for biogas and not for human or animal consumption are a scandal of the 
same type as agrofuels. Low yield (around 35%), industrial biogas for power generation is 
a waste of food.

Proponents of industrial agriculture are telling anyone who will listen that the two types 
of agriculture can coexist (industrial and farming), there is no reason there is conflict. 
A project like the thousand cows, that's twenty medium farms in dairy cows and 42 jobs 
disappear, the end of milk quotas is nearly 50,000 dairy farms which will disappear in the 
next twenty years and so on The irreversible turning point ... that are taking 
agricultural policies will precipitate the slaughter peasant. It takes cash to 
international competition and produce more, in superstructures.

The confrontation becomes inevitable because it is the struggle for our survival as 
peasants. It is the struggle for diversified agriculture, proximity, and still has 
something to do with the land. This confrontation will she assumed by the Confederation 
Paysanne and part of the population, primarily concerned with the contents of his plate? 
Now is when the battle begins!

Georges Claas (AL Var)


[1] In particular Novissen.