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A runner’s tragedy and a landmark ruling

On June 24, a French court ruled that the death of a jogger on a beach in northern Brittany in 2016 was caused by hydrogen sulfide poisoning — a toxic gas released when green algae decompose. The ruling confirmed that French authorities had failed to protect local waters from agricultural pollution, violating both national and EU law.

This was not an isolated case. Since 1989, at least three people and around 40 animals have died after exposure to toxic algae. The issue is deeply systemic, tied to Brittany’s reliance on intensive pig farming.

Agriculture at the heart of the problem

Brittany produces nearly 60% of France’s pork and provides around 20,000 jobs in the sector. The region is dotted with massive farms producing millions of tons of nitrogen-rich manure. Excess nitrates seep into groundwater, rivers, and the sea, fueling the explosive growth of algae.

In 2017, journalist Inès Léraud uncovered what she called a “factory of silence” — a system of mutual protection between the farming lobby and politicians that kept the problem under wraps and shielded the pork industry. As a result, authorities ignored ecological warnings for years.

Pollution declines, but the problem persists

Brittany’s regional president, Loïg Chesnais-Girard, points out that nitrate levels in water have fallen by more than half since the 1990s and have remained stable since 2010. The pig population has also decreased, from 8.4 million in 2001 to 6.8 million in 2022, easing some of the pressure on the environment.

Authorities have introduced measures such as planting hedgerows to reduce runoff, checking manure storage tanks, and removing algae from beaches for drying. But these are technical, short-term fixes. They don’t address the structural dominance of pig farming.

By 2027, nitrate levels in water should fall below 20 mg/l, but in some places they are still more than double that target — putting the goal in serious doubt.

Criticism of authorities and the power of lobbying

Members of the Confédération Paysanne, a farmer’s union with a strong ecological stance, argue that government programs are both ineffective and overly complicated. They blame “powerful agri-food lobbies” for blocking real change.

As they put it, as long as Brittany depends on industrial animal farming, the problem won’t go away. Simply removing algae from beaches is like “putting lipstick on a pig” — cosmetic solutions that ignore the root cause.

President Chesnais-Girard admits that limiting pig farms in the most polluted areas could help but warns against turning environmental debates into a “culture war.” Radical reforms, he argues, could push farmers and voters toward far-right parties.

This political calculation explains why central authorities still back the pig industry. The most striking example came on August 12, when Emmanuel Macron approved a law making it easier to expand pig farms — directly contradicting ecological recommendations.

The industry defends itself

Representatives of the pork industry reject accusations of systemic wrongdoing. Anne Richard, head of the producers’ association INAPORC, insists farmers follow existing rules on waste management and fertilization. According to her, pollution is the result of “individual negligence,” not the industry as a whole.

But environmental data shows that even when rules are respected, the sheer intensity of farming in Brittany overwhelms local ecosystems. Denying responsibility looks more like an attempt to deflect attention from structural problems.

A wake-up call from the courts

The court’s ruling against the French state sends a clear warning: for decades, authorities failed to enforce environmental laws, prioritizing agricultural interests over public safety.

This leaves a bigger question hanging: why, after decades of evidence on the toxic effects of algal blooms, has the state avoided bolder action? And is fear of political backlash really an acceptable excuse for putting people’s health — and lives — at risk?

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