Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne (France) (AFP) – Thousands of people gathered in Eure on Saturday, near a pesticide factory to protest against their use in agriculture, at the initiative of around fifty organizations, AFP noted.
Published on: 03/10/2026 - 16:24Modified on: 03/10/2026 - 18:35
The demonstration was held near a factory of the pesticide manufacturer and seed company Syngenta, a group of Swiss and now Chinese origin, in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne. It brought together some 8,000 demonstrators according to the prefecture, 15,000 according to the organizers.
The organizers denounce in particular several recent texts or those under discussion concerning pesticides, including the agricultural emergency law and a draft law on pesticides under discussion at European level.
Adrien came with his family from Brittany “to question this question of pesticides together”. “We want to show our children that we can oppose collectively to reinvent other ways of doing agriculture,” he summarizes to AFP.
Others, like Bastien, 37, made the trip for a friend “Pauline, who died two months ago at the age of 35 from cancer”. “There was no identified cause for this cancer, but we know that exposure to pesticides increases the risks,” he says, very moved.
In the procession, including people of all ages, several signs proclaim "Pesticides neither here nor elsewhere" or "The world of tomorrow begins on our plates".
After a demonstration in a good-natured atmosphere, some clashes broke out at the end of the day, giving rise to tear gas being fired by the police, AFP noted.
The gathering is supported by around fifty organizations, including the Peasant Confederation (third agricultural union) and the NGOs Uprisings of the Earth, Cancer Colère and the Collective to Support Victims of Western Pesticides (CSVPO).
“We have exhausted all democratic recourses,” says Fleur Breteau, spokesperson for the Cancer Anger collective. “Our anger is healthy, it is legitimate. Our bodies are sick. We no longer have a choice.”
At the same time, other demonstrations are planned in Switzerland or England, as part of an "international" campaign against "agrochemicals", according to Nata, an Earth Uprising activist. The protests target "four multinationals: BASF, Corteva, Bayer which bought Monsanto, and Syngenta", she underlines.
For its part, Syngenta ensures that it “fully respects the right to assemble and demonstrate”, while describing the event as “ill-founded”. Concerning its factory in Eure, "70% of the site's current production can be used in organic farming", underlines the group in a reaction to AFP.
Activities there have been “stopped since Friday morning until further notice” for “security reasons”, specifies Syngenta.
Mobilizations are increasing to demand more environmentally friendly food.
The NGO Générations Futures calls for mobilization on October 10 and 11 against “unlimited pesticide authorizations in Europe”.
In Paris, a "march for the closure of slaughterhouses", called by the L214 association, also brought together "several thousand people" on Saturday afternoon, says the NGO, which defends the animal cause.
© 2026 AFP
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