“We are lagging behind”, according to the president of the National Federation of Organic Agriculture

“Changing habits is the most difficult to achieve. We have come a long way,” believes Philippe Camburet.

“We, the producers, are there. Everything is ready, all we have to do is get started”said Philippe Camburet, president of the National Federation of Organic Agriculture, on franceinfo released Friday December 29, regarding the extension of the obligation to offer 50% of products “durable and quality” including 20% ​​organic for all collective catering as of January 1st.

“We are lagging behind” In “public collective catering”, deplores the one who is also a farmer and cereal producer in Yonne since despite the EGAlim law adopted in 2021, the 20% organic content in canteens has not been reached. Skeptical, he hopes it will work “faster in private collective catering”.

franceinfo: So there is this new objective for company restaurants and canteens in the private sector, while the objectives are not respected in the public sector. How do you explain it?

Philippe Camburet: Above all perhaps from routine, the habits of always working with the same suppliers for menus that are similar. Habit change is the most difficult to achieve. We have come a long way. Many communities today are well above 20%, proof that it is possible.

“We have resistance to change. That’s why we would like more incentives from the public authorities.”

Philippe Camburet, president of the National Federation of Organic Agriculture

at franceinfo

The Minister of Agriculture spoke along these lines recently to urge public buyers to use more organic products. The question of financial incentives arises. Although the cost of the products only represents a quarter of the price of a meal, there is obviously still the question of price. The State is committed to helping the most modest municipalities so that the remaining cost to families does not exceed one euro. But why not extend this system to all communities? So that we finally arrive at this 20% as soon as possible and exceed them well, if possible.

You are talking about incentives, financial aid. You don’t go so far as to demand sanctions for those who don’t play the game?

These sanctions would mark a very important step. Unfortunately, in the political climate between communities and the State, I believe that we will rarely arrive at a sanctions regime. We will stay in the incentive. Communities will remain sovereign over their choices. It is in this sense that we would have liked an incentive that started much earlier, so as not to end up with less than 10% organic products, instead of 20% in public collective catering today. This is perhaps why this EGAlim law did not anticipate reluctance on the part of the actors. Perhaps we should have provided for a stronger obligation, or even a sanction regime behind it.

Would these incentives come at the right time, when the organic sector is experiencing particularly significant difficulties, with inflation? The French are turning away from organic with the rise in prices.

Indeed, inflation adds its share of difficulties, the French have partly turned away from the organic sector. As a result, we are at the point of production but it is consumption that is no longer there. It would therefore be common sense to say that we are going to eat organic food in the canteen, in the company restaurant. It would be common sense to respond to this demand, because three quarters of people want to eat organic food in the canteen, outside the home. Most of the time, this meal taken outside the home is the most balanced. Let’s enjoy a meal that will be healthy, in the spirit of the EGAlim law and resilience in the face of climate change. It’s all linked. Our plate is where we have the greatest possibilities for action to contribute to reducing climate change. So let’s take advantage of this new incentive on January 1st to consume more organic foods in the canteen. It will only be better for everyone.