Independent winegrowers welcome glyphosate challenge

More than 40% of independent vineyards in France do not use glyphosate, it has been claimed, after President Emmanuel Macron called on the country's winegrowers to become the first in the world to ditch the controversial herbicide in three years.

Jean-Marie Fabre, secretary general of the vignerons indépendants de France association, welcomed Mr Macron's announcement at the Salon de l'agriculture in Paris on Saturday and told Franceinfo that 41% of independent winegrowers are already certified organic or equivalent, and another 40% are in the process of being certified.

But he also had a warning: "We must also be cautious about the percentages of companies that today, for many reasons - technical or agronomic constraints - may not be able to move to zero glyphosate within three years.

"We must pay attention to their constraints, we must understand them and allow them to succeed in this ecological transition, including through the certification process."

He added: "This transition and certification in organic and high environmental value is a plus and I am sure that ... we will be able to achieve this great ambition."