after the anger of the agricultural world, OFB agents confide their incomprehension

We met agents from the French Biodiversity Office in Puy-de-Dôme to discuss their daily lives and how they experienced the crisis in the agricultural world. Although they were widely criticized by farmers, the institution also received little support from the government.

It’s a rare word. The 1,700 agents of the French Biodiversity Office remained discreet during the demonstrations in the agricultural world. Those who enforce environmental rules have been widely criticized by farmers. Several premises of the organization were targeted with manure or tire fires.

Philippe describes himself as “nature’s policeman”. He is responsible in particular for enforcing environmental rules with farmers in Puy-de-Dôme. He has been doing this work for more than twenty years and yet this OFB agent was surprised by the anger of the agricultural world against the institution. “We don’t very well understand this relentlessness because, like a policeman at the side of the road enforces the highway code, we are in the middle of the fields and we enforce the regulations regarding the protection of the nature.

“We also hear from time to time that we are a little extremist in our ecological positions but no. It’s never nice when the police have something to reproach you for.”

Philippe, OFB agent in Puy-de-Dôme

at franceinfo

“They need to understand that they sometimes do things that go against what is expected.”, adds the agent. Same surprise from his colleague David, who accompanied him that morning on a beaver mapping mission. This is one of the office’s many missions. He describes cordial relations with the agricultural world, despite sometimes some disagreements. “We dialogue with them on the groundsays David. We summon them, we tell them what they are facing and that’s often where things get stuck because at the environmental level, the facts often amount to crimes, so the maximum penalties are often high. MBut overall, we in the department have not had any problems with the farmers. It goes well. When I see a farmer, I have no fear.”

And he brushes aside one of the main criticisms against the OFB: the gun in the belt of each agent. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal even questioned this weapon carrying. It is finally preserved but will have to be “discreet”. There will be no visible weapons, according to the new rules. A false debate judges David: “Armament is a false problem. There have already been deaths in service with us. But over the last 40 years, there has not been an accident with an OFB agent. And contrary to what people might believe, we are trained, trained and monitored.” The OFB also minimizes the pressure of controls. In 2023, there were 2,750, or less than 1% of French farms controlled. On average, OFB agents issue 13 reports to farmers per department per year.

A dialogue to renew with farmers

But this is not the feeling of the agricultural world, and not even at all as demonstrated by Thierry Orsière, sheep breeder (1,400 animals) in Leuzoux in Puy-de-Dôme. According to him, relations with the OFB are sometimes difficult. It is not because of the agents themselves but of the stack of standards that they are responsible for enforcing. “Where we have distrust is in relation to controlssays Thierry Orsière. We always have the fear of having done things that are not necessarily 100% authorized.”

“A large part of the laws and rules are constantly evolving. We are not sure that we are always perfectly aware of everything that we must respect.”

Thierry Orsière, breeder in Puy-de-Dôme

at franceinfo

And quickly in the conversation the question of the weapon on the officers’ belts comes up. “It’s true that it’s hard to believe that they come armed like gendarmesexplains the breeder. We are a bit taken for delinquents or for litigants. As we are in good faith about our practices, it is difficult to imagine that people are armed to just do interviews or checks.”

To renew the dialogue, the OFB organizes training among farmers. They are still very few in number, 16 have taken place since 2022. One of them in January on Thierry Orsière’s farm. A more than welcome initiative, greets Julie Blanchon, head of the French Biodiversity Office in Puy-de-Dôme: “We may not be able to understand each other on everything, but at least we can open up to each other. We see farms every day. But here, really, to hear what the daily life of ‘a farmer opens your eyes to difficulties that we were only touching on, and it’s an opportunity to understand them well.’

Agents abandoned by the government?

But what is less obvious is the government’s position during the agricultural crisis. Gabriel Attal promised to do “lower the pressure of controls”. At the height of the demonstrations, an order was issued to no longer carry out administrative checks. The Prime Minister also mentioned a “put under the supervision of the prefects”which is in fact already the case. “Gabriel Attal made us scapegoats”, deplores Véronique Caraco-Giordano, general secretary of the National Environment Union. She is worried about the future of the office: “We still don’t know where we’re going. We continue to accomplish our missions, but we don’t know how we’re going to position ourselves in relation to the agricultural profession. What’s hanging over us once again?”

“The questioning has been so strong that we can ask ourselves the question of political support, and that is what is worrying.”

Véronique Caraco-Giordano, general secretary of the National Environment Union

at franceinfo

The unions also warn of “unprecedented environmental setbacks” since the agricultural crisis and the risk of “loss of meaning” for OFB agents, many of whom are committed out of passion for the environment.