French author Agnès Ledig returns Legion d’honneur over pesticide law

Author Agnès Ledig, a bio‑farmer from the Vosges, returned her insignia of the Legion d’honneur after France’s parliament approved the agricultural emergency law that permits conditional re‑approval of two pesticides—acétamipride and flupyradifurone—previously banned in the country. The bill cleared the National Assembly on 20 July 2026 (296‑224) and the Senate on 21 July (214‑111); the Constitutional Council was petitioned by more than 60 deputies on 24 July.

Ledig, who wrote an open letter to President Emmanuel Macron, argued that the law undermines health and environmental safeguards, especially for pregnant women and children, and disregards scientific advice from doctors, biologists and climate experts. She also cited previous public opposition to agricultural legislation, noting that over two million people had protested the 2025 Duplomb law. By returning the honor, Ledig refused to stand alongside leaders she accuses of supporting oil‑industry interests and of neglecting rural water and wet‑land protections.

The legislation is framed as a response to acute financial pressure on French farmers, aiming to stabilise yields and profitability, but it raises compliance and reputational concerns for agribusinesses and food companies operating under European environmental standards.