The days are numbered for a Little Vietnam on the banks of a river in southwestern France that for 50 years has housed widows and children of French soldiers who died in Indochina
After half a century of neglect by the French state
the Center for the Reception of the French of Indochina is to be demolished and its residents rehoused
The camp is a former explosives factory reopened in 1956 to house 1,160 refugees from France’s colonial adventure in Southeast Asia during which Paris ruled what are today Vietnam
Laos and Cambodia from the latter part of the 19th century until the mid-1950s
hospital and administrative offices have long been closed
but there are still 120 families living here in shabby shacks
who grew up here and have now returned after a lifetime in the wider world
and third or fourth generation members of this forgotten community
“The war in Indochina was so unpopular that the state didn’t want to put much money into our lodgings,” said Francine Gerlach
the daughter of a French soldier she never met and a north Vietnamese woman
who lived in the center until her mother’s death in 1972
Many of the residents remember their arrival in the muddy camp
where they were forbidden to speak Vietnamese
had to sleep on military camp beds and prohibited from owning bicycles or cars
They arrived with France still smarting from its catastrophic defeat at Dien Bien Phu
a 57-day clash in the spring of 1954 that was the turning point in Paris’ struggle to preserve its colonial status in Indochina
in what is considered one of the 20th century’s greatest battles
though both sides sustained massive losses
together losing more than 10,000 soldiers in the fight
the center is one of two such camps that survive in France
the other being in Noyant d’Allier in the center of the country
The town hall’s plan is to raze the camp and build social housing on the grounds
Planning permission has been granted and work is set to begin in September
the son of a French magistrate and a Vietnamese princess
said he was surprised by the plans to demolish the camp
“It would have been a good plan 40 years ago
but to start worrying about us know is a little anachronistic
said: “This project comes 40 years too late or 10 years too early
because the old women still alive will never get used to the change.”
As he spoke he pointed towards a stooped old woman taking a few steps in front of her shack
Sainte-Livrade Mayor Claire Pasut has promised to take into account the customs of the people in the camp
“Urban and social studies will be undertaken so that the new housing will be adapted with
a place where they can worship their ancestors,” she said
LONDON — France and Germany are urging thousands of people who cannot work during the coronavirus crisis to help farms plug a shortage of seasonal labor caused by border closures and travel disruption
Farmers fear that the annual flow of workers traveling to western and southern Europe to harvest crops such as asparagus
cucumbers and strawberries will dry up this summer due to new national border controls meant to stymie the virus' spread
In a sign of the scale of the impending labor crunch
Bulgaria (which provides many of Europe's manual workers) said on Monday that more than 200,000 of its citizens had returned home in the previous two weeks
And with the prospect of agricultural production being further weakened when some of Europe's farm workers inevitably fall ill
some countries are urging their citizens to swap confinement in cities for some rural toil
France's Agriculture Minister Didier Guillaume made an impassioned plea for people stuck at home under the country's lockdown measures to help fill 200,000 farm jobs
Widespread border closures and the near-total grounding of airplanes in Europe means farmers are now looking closer to home for paid help
The French government later announced it would simplify the recruitment process for the agriculture sector on a new online platform
Germany's agriculture ministry has created its own online farm jobs portal
which says 300,000 workers are "missing" from German farms because of travel restrictions imposed to contain the virus
the British government joined France and Germany in calling on people to pick up a trowel and farm for the nation
“We need to mobilise the British workforce to fill that gap and make sure our excellent fruit and vegetables are on people’s plates over the summer months,” U.K
Environment Secretary George Eustice said in a statement
Reduced foreign picking power on European farms in the coming months could lead to mountains of wasted herbs, broad beans, lettuce and forest fruits — which will be all the more galling at a time when food supply chains are already strained, albeit not existentially so
"It must not happen that tons of regional fruit and vegetables cannot be harvested because there are no harvest helpers," Germany's new jobs website says
members of the European Parliament are banging the drum for EU leaders to take action
the chair of the EU Parliament's agriculture committee
suggested in a letter seen by POLITICO that the Commission should grant seasonal workers special travel waivers and charter special airplanes
trains and buses to help them reach work-hungry farms
Widespread border closures and the near-total grounding of airplanes in Europe means farmers are now looking closer to home for paid help
“There are a lot of unemployed people with all these businesses that have been stopped temporarily so maybe there is a workforce that can be found there," Philippe Binard
the general delegate of EU fresh produce association Freshfel
But time is of the essence. Italian farmers' lobby Coldiretti released a statement underlining that more than a quarter of home-grown produce is picked by foreign hands
government recently quadrupled the number of non-EU seasonal workers who can enter the country
Minette Batters, the president of the U.K.'s National Farmers' Union, took to the airwaves on Tuesday to say
“We are still very reliant on the dexterity of the human hand so we need to empower a British workforce."
British people have traditionally been reluctant to roll up their sleeves and compete for these jobs with seasonal migrants from countries such as Bulgaria
But now Brits have "absolutely picked up the gauntlet," according to Stephanie Maurel, CEO of agricultural recruiting company Concordia, which is running a "Feed the Nation" campaign to attract home-grown farmhands
If Europeans won't come, perhaps the solution lies elsewhere. The U.K. government recently quadrupled the number of non-EU seasonal workers who can enter the country to 10,000 as part of a pilot scheme to help the horticulture sector
a Romania-based recruitment consultant for U.K
said she believed an incoming economic downturn would impel Eastern Europeans to keep seeking work in the west — as long as travel restrictions permit
"Whoever wants to come will come because now I think that their opportunities in their own countries are even smaller
a migration expert at the European University Institute in Tuscany
said migrant workers had become a "structural component" of many countries' farming because westerners do not want to do arduous
"So now we can say that because of this crisis we can really understand the importance and the relevance of low-skilled workers," she said
Spain is also hunting for a home-grown farming workforce
Spanish media reported recently that 6,000 Moroccan women who were due to work as strawberry pickers in Spain's fruit basket province of Huelva in Andalusia were unable to cross into Spain due to their countries' mutual travel bans
Andalusia's regional government is considering requisitioning unused school buses to transport day laborers to the fields
"There is a certain worry in the sector because obviously there will be a demand [for workers] but nobody knows how it will be covered," Ricardo Serra
the president of the Andalusia branch of Spanish farm union ASAJA
He said farmers hope that workers from paralyzed sectors in the economy will flock to the fields
but added whether this would actually happen was mere "speculation."
the distance from the countryside to the city is very short
and from the city to the countryside is very long."
This article has been updated with a statement from George Eustice
This article is part of POLITICO’s premium policy service: Pro Agriculture and Food. From food safety to animal disease, pesticides and more, our specialized journalists keep you on top of the topics driving the agriculture policy agenda. Email [email protected] for a complimentary trial
‘Confidential’ document details concerted plan to woo Manfred Weber’s EPP back to center ground
The Commission president is further centralizing the EU executive in her second term
Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information
Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information
2020 at 12:00 AM EDTBookmarkSaveLock This article is for subscribers only.In his three decades growing strawberries and blueberries
Cristobal Picon has learned how to grapple with problems ranging from droughts and driving winds to floods and freezes
the coronavirus outbreak has proven too much
on the Atlantic coast of Spain tucked between Seville and the border with Portugal
are normally teeming with some 200 workers mostly from Morocco and Romania pulling the delicate berries from the plants and packing them for shipment
largely locals — and Picon has no clue how he’s going to get the harvest in
You don't have permission to access the page you requested
What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed
Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news
You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site
You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker)
we are relying on revenues from our banners
So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks
Although 2021 was the year of viruses for the entire world population
who were confronted with the infamous Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV)
In order to give you an overview of what has happened in regards to ToBRFV this year
we have gathered all the articles we have published on the subject below for you
rapid response to new virus detected
New Zealand: ToBRFV detected in small seed lot
Early detection of a virus new to New Zealand – the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) – in a small seed lot has allowed quick action to be taken to contain and prevent…
TomaTech breeders
ToBRFV resistant varieties available for planting season
TomaTech announces the launch of its range of commercial Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) resistant varieties, available immediately for this coming season. High Tech leads…
New diagnostic suite for ToBRFV launched
Agdia has announced full commercialization of their new ELISA Reagent Set for the detection of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). This ELISA is the first in a suite of…
Second in series of ToBRFV diagnosic suites
New RNA-based diagnostic suite launched
Agdia, Inc. has added another test kit to their Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) diagnostic suite. AmplifyRP® XRT for ToBRFV is the second of three ToBRFV diagnostic…
ToBRFV resistant variety gives hope to Israeli tomato growers
“Over recent years, I and my fellow growers have felt helpless when faced with a virus that reduced yields by 50%. We were forced to destroy enormous quantities of tomatoes…
nvwa
Europe remains in the grip of ToBRFV
In Israel the first varieties with ToBRFV IR might have been planted, but Europe remains in the grip of the virus. Although five Dutch growers have successfully combatted the…
Research shows: ozone kills ToBRFV in drain water
Disinfecting drain water with ozone very effectively eliminates present Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV). This is the conclusion of Groen Agro Control after research…
UK counted 5 ToBRFV outbreaks in 2020
There have been six outbreaks of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in commercial tomato production sites in England, one in 2019 and five in 2020. The…
ToBRFV introduction prevented in New Zealand
Early detection of an unwanted virus – the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) – in a small tomato seed lot has allowed quick action to be taken to…
Study on Crispr/CAS based detection for ToBRFV
CRISPR/Cas12-based detection is a novel approach for efficient, sequence-specific identification of viruses. Here the team adopts the use of CRISPR/Cas12a to…
Agdia commercializes ToBRFV immunostrip to complete diagnostic suite
Agdia has added an ImmunoStrip to their Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) diagnostic suite. Their ImmunoStrip for ToBRFV is the third diagnostic assay launched by Agdia…
NZ: ToBRFV update
Following the early detection of the unwanted virus, the tomato brown rugose fruit virus in a small tomato seed lot last year, a group of growers, GIA industry partners, and…
ToBRFV: first trial results confirm high resistance level
In 2020, Enza Zaden announced the discovery of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) High Resistance gene, a complete solution for ToBRFV. Since the announcement, we've…
Hishtil and Limex announce intensive collaboration
"Result of this collaboration is optimal sanitation and propagating material"
Hishtil, a global producer of grafted vegetable seedlings and vegetative herb cuttings, uses the washing process to ensure cleaner trays leading to reduced plant loss and a…
Study on rapid and sensitive detection of ToBRFV in tomato and pepper seeds
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) represents an emerging viral threat to the productivity of tomato and pepper protected cultivation worldwide. This…
Syngenta expands arsenal in the global battle against a tomato virus
New ToBRFV resistant tomato variety showcased
With the introduction of a new beefsteak tomato, the Barosor, Syngenta now has two tomato varieties resistant to the highly transmittable Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus…
ToBRFV found again in Poland
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus was first detected in Poland in March 2020 and eradicated. Since then, the virus has been found again in three provinces. ToBRFV was found in the…
DNA markers that elicit resistance discovered
Code for ToBRFV-resistant tomatoes cracked in Israel
TomaTech announces a major advancement in the fight against the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), which has caused significant economic damage estimated as much as…
Searching for the (real) cause of a ToBRFV infection
The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) originated in 2014 in the Middle East but is now a threat to all growers, wherever they are. The virus makes no distinction…
New varieties with high resistance in pipeline
Additional commercial varieties with intermediate resistance to ToBRFV
Bayer announced today the commercial availability of tomato varieties bred to help growers address the challenges of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). These…
Turkey's tomato industry threatened by ToBRFV
ToBRFV is posing a great threat to the tomato cultivation of southern Turkey's Antalya province, as it is spreading rapidly among tomato seedlings. Tomato…
"When in doubt, get advice from a lab"
First aid with ToBRFV
First aid with ToBRFV was the title of last week’s webinar organized by DCM for tomato growers from Belgium and the Netherlands. A variety of specialists were given time to…
Kazakhstan stops the import of Turkmen vegetable plants for ToBRFV fear
Kazakhstan has imposed a ban on the import of tomato and pepper seedlings from Turkmenistan. The Kazakh state inspection committee introduced the ban on 7 June…
HOdds changes name to Variety Matching
Matching the right variety with the right customer
Today Pascale Tammes, owner of HOdds, announced that her company is changing its name. HOdds, which has been scouting for innovative and better tomato varieties for tomato…
© Phadventure | Dreamstime.com
UK growers' experiences of a ToBRFV outbreak
AHDB commissioned Dave Kaye to carry out three case studies with UK growers who have had a ToBRFV outbreak on their sites, to explore their first-hand experience, including…
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus emerges in Hungary
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) has been detected in Hungary, national food safety authority Nébih said on Monday, according to state news wire MTI.…
Karel Bolckmans, COO with Biobest:
"AI and robotics will bring us to the Olympic version of IPM"
“Data-driven growing is a big thing in horticulture in general. Many growers are into autonomous growing, data-driven greenhouse management, and advanced analytics. We’re…
Identifying ToBRFV and ToMV using CRISPR/Cas
CRISPR/Cas12a-based detection is a novel approach for the efficient, sequence-specific identification of viruses. In new research, CRISPR/Cas12a is used to identify…
eradicated in France
ToBRFV found in Bulgaria and Norway
Following reports of ToBRFV in Hungary earlier this month, the virus has also been confirmed to be found in Bulgaria and Norway. In Italy, the virus keeps on spreading, the…
Uncertainty for New-Zealand growers after PepMV outbreak
Whereas most tomato growers currently fear ToBRFV deeply, in New Zealand it is PepMV that is looming over the industry. Recently, the virus was detected in several…
© Iuliia Zavalishina | Dreamstime.com
First report of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in Austria and Switzerland
The NPPO of Austria recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus on its territory. The virus was detected in a greenhouse…
Los Cabos, Baja California Sur
Mexican Association of Protected Horticulture will get together on September 1-3
In two weeks, the 13th edition of AMHPAC’s (Mexican Association of Protected Horticulture) annual convention will take place in Los Cabos, Mexico. The event was born from the…
ToBRFV found in France
The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food confirmed presence of ToBRFV in the the farm of the agricultural high school of Sainte Livrade sur Lot (47110) on July 29, 2021. Samples…
Estonian and Slovenian tomato growers report ToBRFV
ToBRFV has spread to Estonia and Slovenia. The NPPO of Estonia recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in its territory.…
More demand for production varieties in the European snack tomato segment
There is plenty that tomato growers have to deal with. No wonder the digital version of the Enza Zaden Tomato House Fair attracted at least as much attention as the physical…
gas, labour, transport, utilities
“Costs for British tomato growers could fivefold”
The British tomato industry is going through the most challenging times Phil Pearson has ever experienced. Being chairman of the technical committee of the Tomato Growers…
Spread and detection of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus: a webinar
"Hospitality and ToBRFV prevention don't go well together"
That ToBRFV is a fast-spreading virus, and very hard to get rid of once it has entered your greenhouse, has already become clear to most in the industry. With his research for…
© Jeffplay | Dreamstime.com
First report of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in Portugal
The NPPO of Portugal recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (Tobamovirus, ToBRFV – EPPO A2 List) on its territory.…
This week is Canadian Greenhouse Conference week
The 2021 Canadian Greenhouse Conference (CGC) will take place this week on Wednesday and Thursday. Serving growers for over 40 years, the CGC is Canada’s foremost…
First report of ToBRFV in Iran
In August 2021, symptoms of a viral-like infection were observed on the leaves and fruits of tomato plants, cvs. Emperador RZF1 (Rijk Zwaan, The Netherlands) Maxifort, Eshkol,…
© Iuliia Zavalishina | Dreamstime.com
First report of ToBRFV infecting tomato crop in Saudi Arabia
In January 2021, unusual fruit and leaf symptoms were observed in several greenhouses cultivating tomatoes commercially in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia. Fruit symptoms showed…
First report of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in Uzbekistan
The tomato brown rugose fruit virus (Tobamovirus, ToBRFV – EPPO A2 List) has recently been reported from Uzbekistan. The virus was first detected in…
Sequence change in a protein gave rise to ToBRFV
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus is a new virus species in the Tobamovirus genus, causing substantial damage to tomato crops. Reports of recent tomato brown rugose fruit virus…
FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 HortiDaily.com
What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed.