2023-07-29 00:43:38
The disaster is confirmed for the winegrowers of Gironde. Insurers will not compensate for damage caused to vineyards by mildew, a very virulent parasite this year, particularly in Bordeaux and not covered by contracts, said in an interview published on Friday Franck Le Vallois, director general of the federation of insurers. .
“The climate multi-risk contract does not cover harvest loss linked to mildew”, he reminded Vitisphere, media specializing in wine, after a meeting Thursday between insurers and the Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau. For several weeks, winegrowers, elected officials and professional organizations have been calling for aid from the State and insurers to fight against this scourge, which affects the Bordeaux region but also Gers, Drôme and Yonne.
“The direct damage caused by excess water and excessive humidity is covered”, while “in the case of the vineyards of the South-West, mildew has developed due to favorable weather conditions, it is that is to say the alternation of rain and heat, ”supported Franck Le Vallois.
“90% of the vines are affected”
In addition, the terms and conditions of this insurance contract exclude damage caused by illnesses, he added. According to the first data collected in New Aquitaine on 86 reference plots, “90% of the vines are affected, on a more or less large scale”, had indicated the Chamber of Agriculture of Gironde.
“And on these affected plots, we have 50% destruction of the bunches,” said Laurent Bernos, director of the vine and wine service at the Gironde chamber of agriculture. Merlot, a grape variety which represents “two thirds of the area of vines in the department”, is “extremely affected”.
Despite refusing to make a move, Franck Le Vallois said he understood “the distress of winegrowers” and indicated that “insurers were ready to participate in reflection work to find solutions to the problems generated by climate change”, which contributes, according to him, to the development of this disease.
“However, these solutions cannot only be of an insurance nature”, he added, pleading to “bring into play” the national agricultural fund for the mutualisation of health and environmental risks (FMSE).
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