France Agriculture & Food insights

France is one of the main producers of the highly valuable Patagonian toothfish, with its fishing activities primarily concentrated in the waters around the Kerguelen Islands and Crozet Islands in the Southern Ocean, both of which are French overseas territories. In recent years, due to the high value of this fish species in the international market, particularly among high-end dining establishments, scientific research institutions have repeatedly warned of the risk of overfishing. French authorities stated that the decision to reduce the quota is based on the latest scientific assessment results, aiming to ensure sustainable use of the resource and prevent a decline in the population. The assessment, conducted by multiple polar ecosystem research institutions, revealed that under the dual pressures of climate change and high demand, the Patagonian toothfish population is already under significant stress. To ensure enforcement, France has implemented strict control and monitoring of fishing activities in the Southern Ocean, while also strengthening the crackdown on illegal fishing. However, illegal fishing remains a serious threat to the species. France hopes that by proactively tightening the quota, it can both reinforce its international image as a responsible fishing nation and fulfill its international commitments to marine environmental protection. Nevertheless, this move has raised concerns among French fishermen. Industry insiders acknowledge the necessity of long-term protection but are worried that reducing the quota will harm fishermen's income and company profits. Against the backdrop of sustained growth in international market demand, finding a balance between ecological protection and economic interests has become a common challenge for the global fishing industry. Patagonian toothfish, known for its white flesh and unique flavor, is referred to as "deep-sea gold." Its management is not only an economic issue but also an important topic for global marine ecosystem protection. France's recent measures once again highlight the complexity of high-value fishery resources under the combined influence of climate change, market pressure, and conservation responsibilities.

The Xunta de Galicia has recommended this Sunday to take extreme preventive measures against contagious nodular dermatosis (DNC) and to avoid moving bovine animals from areas near detected outbreaks in European countries such as France and Italy. The Consellería de Medio Rural has urged, in a press release, to increase biosecurity measures, both in the transport of animals from these countries and in the farms themselves. Specifically, it has called to clean and disinfect the vehicles of origin before and after the transport and to maintain the farms in an "optimal" state of hygiene, avoiding the accumulation of organic matter and areas of insect proliferation, with repellents and disinfectants in periods of greater abundance. Daily passive surveillance should also be intensified to detect any symptoms and report it as quickly as possible. All official veterinary services and other agents in the sector have been informed of this situation and an awareness campaign is being carried ...

International grain markets closed the week with a predominance of stability and slight increases, with notable news in the main producing regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. At this juncture, wheat and corn futures contracts reflect both logistical tensions and good agronomic developments in key countries such as the United States, Argentina, Russia, and France. The Thursday session showed mixed movements in the prices of soft red winter (SRW) wheat and hard red winter (HRW) wheat in the United States. The September SRW contract stood at 5.23 dollars/bushel, which is equivalent to 192 dollars per ton, representing a slight decrease of -0.1% compared to Wednesday. In contrast, HRW advanced to 5.26 dollars/bushel (193 dollars/ton), registering an increase of 0.8%. In Europe, the Euronext wheat contract for September closed at 196.25 €/ton, that is, about 224 dollars per ton, which represents a daily decline of -1.0%. The U.S. corn contract for September closed at 3.94 ...