The EU Green Deal: The despair of those affected

The EU Green Deal: How environmental policies are devastating the mental health of French farmers, dead to suicide

RAFA GÓMEZ-SANTOS MARTÍN  

In France, the cradle of European agriculture, a silent drama unfolds in the fields. Every two days, a farmer takes their own life, trapped in a web of economic, bureaucratic, and regulatory pressures that have reached unsustainable levels.

According to a recent report by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the environmental policies of the European Green Deal, driven by the European Commission, are directly contributing to the psychological deterioration of rural workers.

The European Green Deal, introduced in December 2019, is the EU's flagship strategy to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. It seeks to transform the European economy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, promoting organic farming, and restoring ecosystems.

Among its key measures is the “Farm to Fork” strategy, which mandates a 50% reduction in pesticide use, a 20% cut in fertilizers, and an increase in organic farmland to 25%. However, these targets have created an overwhelming burden for farmers.

In France, the EU's largest agricultural producer, the Green Deal's regulations have exacerbated pre-existing difficulties. Farmers face strict restrictions on phytosanitary products, rising input costs, and stifling bureaucracy. According to the EU-OSHA report, these pressures have triggered a surge in anxiety, depression, and emotional burnout, culminating in an alarming suicide rate: one every 48 hours.

For decades, farmers have grappled with low prices, shrinking profit margins, and competition from foreign imports. However, the Green Deal's policies have added an extra layer of stress.

The imposition of environmental regulations without viable alternatives has left many producers without tools to remain competitive. For instance, the ban on certain pesticides has limited farmers' ability to protect their crops, while imported products from countries with less stringent regulations flood the European market.

A report by France's General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (Igas) details that agricultural suicides are linked to “economic, moral, and cultural fragilities.” Farmers face not only mounting debts but also a sense of abandonment by institutions.

The disappearance of programs like Sweden's Agricultural Health, which offered psychological support to producers, is an example of how the EU has failed to prioritize mental health in the sector.

French farmers' protests, which have blocked roads and reached Brussels, reflect a cry for help. In February 2024, thousands of tractors paralyzed Europe's streets, denouncing the Green Deal for placing them at a disadvantage against global competitors.

The Spanish Young Farmers' Agrarian Association (ASAJA) has pointed out that restrictions on GMOs and pesticides make it difficult to compete with products from countries like Brazil or the United States, where regulations are less rigorous.

The Green Deal, conceived as a “lifeline” by progressive environmentalists against climate change, has become a noose for many farmers. The lack of financial and technical support for transitioning to sustainable practices has left producers at a crossroads: adapt to a system that suffocates them or abandons their livelihood.

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