2023-04-19 14:56:37
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After a catastrophic year 2022, marked by two episodes of avian flu on an unprecedented scale, French producers of foie gras are regaining confidence thanks in particular to the arrival of a vaccine. The stakes are enormous in France, but also internationally.
The bird flu was particularly virulent. In 2021-2022, epizootic led to the slaughter of 22 million poultry in France. The results of the 2022-2023 season are not yet known.
Benjamin Constant is a duck breeder in the Gersin the south-west of France: “ Unfortunately, there are the direct victims. It is the professionals who had a bird flu virus circulating on their farm, or there was a case on a farm but the professionals could not bring in any animals. So one, two, or even three months of blocking, so no income. »
33% drop
Result: production down by 33 %, because French exports have plummeted to 79.5 million in 2022. The challenge will be to regain the pre-crisis level of activityand this thanks in particular to the vaccine, believes Éric Dumas, president of the Interprofessional committee for palmipeds with foie gras (Cifog): “ We regain confidence. The vaccination, which will take effect next fall, will make it possible to protect all of our producers. We absolutely want to vaccinate, but at the same time export. »
The vaccination program should soon be implemented for European countries. The French government presented an action plan with a tight schedule at the end of December: authorization from the European Union in February, closure of vaccine experiments in March, and launch of a consultation phase. It will then lead to an operational strategy “ by summer “, assured the Ministry of Agriculture in early April in a press release.
Business issues
As for third countries, producers will have to convince them of the absence of risk. These countries represent major commercial challenges for the sector. Between 15 % et 20 % of production is sold abroad. More than 80 countries buy French foie gras, among them Japan, China and the United States.
►Read also: Avian flu: how to prevent it?
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