Jem's Nuffield Adventure: Countryside France

A Nuffield Sholar Micheal Pivard met us at the train station and we were rushed off in a HUGE bus for the 8 of us to the World Trade Centre (WTO). We were very lucky to meet with the chairman for the Agricultural WTO group, a New Zealand representative, and also several other countries representatives for Australia, Ireland, and the EU. We had great discussion and learnt a lot about the discussions going on in regard to the Doha round, and trying to get trade agreements between so many countries. I have to summarise in points what I learnt,

- WTO is made up of 157 member countries

- Formed to get countries talking and making agreements on trade and reducing barriers to trade.

- It is a voluntary group, so for an agreement to be made ALL of the countries must agree – a very difficult task!

- It focuses on muit-lateral trade agreements between lots of countries, but countries also work ontheir own FTA (free trade agreements), separate from WTO

- The Doha round started in 2001 and was meant to last a few years, but is still going now. All member countries brought their issues to the table to discuss, negotiate, and work out trade agreements. 157 countries trying to agree on so many topics, no wonder it is still going.

- It shows that Beauracy is very slow, but they still believe that Doha was necessary, and compare it to the Uraquay round that achieved so much!

From Geneva, we headed back into France. We visited a vineyard and winery. Tasted some beautiful wines and had a look around the operation. We travelled further to our hotel here in Bellignat. It is a lovely country style hotel, veryhomely and different to the large ones we have been staying in. WE have our own rooms, which is a real treat!

Today we were back on the bus to visit a maize and cereal farmer in the area. The countryside is just beautiful and it so lovely just driving around. Daniel and Colette Martin, farming with their son Jerome, showed us around the farm and had a good discussion about French agriculture. They were farming about 500ha’s and had a lot of irrigated maize. Their supply of water from the river was very good, and they had no real concerns about lack of water. They also had a hg rainfall of 800mms, as well as the irrigation. Daniel supported GM and believed that most farmers also did, but it was the customer that did not want to buythe product. He said they did not need roundup ready crops as they were already controlling their weeds, but in the future he would like to see other benefits of GM. He also believed that GM and non GM growers would be able to co-exist in France.

From the Martins we visited a historic medieval village for lunch. It was great. The cobblestone roads and historic buildings were well maintained and we enjoyed wandering the streets. We also had another yummy, huge, meal!

From their we visited a brewery, and looked at the small shed that a Nuffield farmer had started his brewing business in. Afterwards a small farmer market/show, showing off the finest French food and wine. Now we are back at the hotel just about to head down todinner.

Tommorow I will have some time to add some more pictures!