The “Zero Pesticide Residue” (ZPR) label, launched by the Nouveaux Champs Collective 3 years ago, presided by Gilles Bertrandias, director of Paysans de Rougeline in Marmande, continues to grow.
Today, the Collective has 60 members representing a fourth of the total production of French fruit and vegetables. According to the Kantar institute, the label is now known by 30% of the French. “Since the launch, more than 83 million UVCs have been sold. In 2020 only, sales progressed by 24% compared to 2019,” explains Gilles Bertrandias, president of the Collective.
According to the president, the ZPR label helps to “continue improving farming practices to preserve farmers and the environment, which implies reducing the use of synthetic pesticides drastically during the cultivation cycle. In order to arrive at “Zero Pesticide Residue”, producers rely on a pesticide-saving systemic approach and use innovative practices to control crop pests.”
A multitude of practices are indeed implemented for this label: prophylaxis, varietal genetics, physical, mechanical, agronomic and agroecological techniques, integrated protection, biological control, stimulation of natural plant defenses and semiochemistry.
The HEV approach (High Environmental Value) should also soon be part of the Nouveaux Champs Collective. Work is underway with the Ministry of Agriculture to obtain the level 2 environmental recognition of this label.
Source: ladepeche.fr
