Thinkerview

Émeutes de la faim, périls pour la France ? Lydia et Claude Bourguignon [EN DIRECT]

Lydia and Claude Bourguignon, microbiologists and founders of a laboratory dedicated to soil health and sustainable agriculture, express grave concerns about the current state of global food production and its future. They argue that the 20th century's fundamental error was equating life with matter, leading to an industrial, oil-dependent agricultural system that has degraded soil fertility and ecological balance. Claude highlights that the misconception of managing life like a mechanical process has led to a complete disregard for the complexity of soil and agricultural ecosystems. He states that the loss of organic matter in degraded soils is irreversible through conventional means, and the reliance on oil for fertilizers and pesticides has created a precarious situation, especially with dwindling oil reserves and geopolitical instability. Lydia echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that a heavily reliant, "perfused" agriculture without access to herbicides, pesticides, and supplements will inevitably lead to reduced yields and food shortages, potentially triggering social unrest and conflict.