Paul Francois is a 50 something farmer from Charente who embarked on intensive cereal production some 20 years ago, with reliance on powerful pesticides. But an accident when opening a spreader, which had been heated by the sun, leading to expansion of the pesticide product has left him with severe medical problems and a severe mistrust of pesticides.
In between fighting his Mutuelle to get his case recognised as an industrial illness and Monsanto to seek compensation for causing his poisoning, M Francois has gradually converted his 100+ hectares to organic production. With more careful crop rotation and use of natural fertilisers he says he has brought his soil back to life.
He urges young agriculteurs to reject intensive methods and make their industry one to be proud of. "We were accused of living off EU hand-outs, now of poisoning the environment", but it doesn't need to be like that.
Good luck to him in all his endeavours.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com
