At Jérôme Bessières, in Lot-et-Garonne, the hazelnut harvest was catastrophic: 50% of the production was devoured by a worm, the balanin, and the evil bugfrom Asia. The producer feels helpless since French legislation bans the neonicotinoids he used to fight these pests, products still authorized by the European Union. “Our colleagues have eight molecules to treat. (…) We have nothing left, we are completely helpless,” he said.
Bedbug damage has never been so severe. In a cooperative, many hazelnuts harvested are unfit for consumption. “From the moment we exceed 6% of parasite bite defects, marketing is practically no longer possible“, explains Jean-Luc Reigné, the director. Many hazelnut producers are in great difficulty.
Their president asks to be able to once again use neonicotinoids, banned in France to protect bees. “Without this molecule, we are dead“, he assures. French hazelnut producers are also looking for an organic solution, via a research program against the evil bug. Five to ten years will be necessary to develop a method of control.
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