Over the last 10 days, farmers in southern France staged protests against government policies, in particular over its response to the outbreak of a livestock disease. Their actions to get public attention on food production add to the picture of the weeks-long farm protests in Greece, and the huge tractor demonstration in London at the end of November, whose message continues in this week’s traditional Christmas “tractor runs.”
These national actions parallel the upsurge of farmer-led protests in Mexico over the last three months, backed by truckers and others, demanding a dialogue for a new system of agriculture and food supply, serving national interests, not trans-national cartels as at present. The farm groups demand a dialogue on new policies to achieve what they call “National Agriculture.”
Though particulars differ from country to country—including in the United States and Canada—the circumstances of what remains of family farming are now impossible, marked by the dramatic drop in young farmers and ranchers entering or continuing in agriculture. It is notable that Britain has led the way among nations worldwide to make food production secondary to “environmental protection” in its “Agriculture Act 2020.”
Food-import dependency has been the hallmark of what Big Ag and Big Food have imposed on the nations of the “Global West.” Britain depends on imports for 50 to 80% of its supply of fruits and vegetables. Mexico depends on corn imports for half its consumption. The United States depends on imports for over half its consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, and over 80% for many frozen foods.
In France, farmers from southern districts are protesting in the streets against the government’s response to the outbreak of a cattle skin disease, in which total herds are being culled. They have blocked highways and dumped manure. Local government leaders are demanding Paris respond to the farmers’ demands. Carole Delga, head of the Occitanie region in the south, issued an open letter to French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Dec. 14, stating: “It is time for you to intervene to ensure, as soon as possible, a frank and sincere dialogue with the farmers.” Many local police, called upon to enforce killing animals, are standing with the farmers’ demands. Whatever the current expert veterinary analysis and treatment to this particular disease (nodular dermatitis), the episode comes on top of how Paris and other governments across Europe have actively served Big Agriculture monopolies, and shut down independent agriculture and food processing.
In Greece, farmers have led protests for over three weeks against how the government has mishandled response and research on sheep smallpox, and otherwise undercut family farming in the nation. Communities are siding with the farmers, including soldiers serving in the national military reserve.
In Britain, on Nov. 26, thousands of farmers drove tractors into Central London, protesting the government’s new budget with inheritance tax rules (IHT, 20% tax). The huge November protest followed earlier protests at both English and Welsh Labour Party conferences. Rally organizers for Nov. 26 stated, “This Budget Day, farmers from across the U.K. are driving to London to demand fairness and a future for British farming. The current IHT system threatens family farms and rural livelihoods; it’s time for a change….”
Since then, farmers have used the recent tradition of local Christmastime “tractor runs”—parades of machinery decked out in Christmas lights— to continue getting out their message. On Dec. 10, farmers from six counties came into London, handing out food donations to the homeless as they drove their tractors, and thanking the public that have stood with them.
