French Farmers Escalate Protests Against Biodiversity Office with Vandalism and Blockades

The French government calls for calm as tensions rise over environmental regulations enforced by the Office français de la biodiversité (OFB).

Farmers targeted the OFB with recent actions, including vandalizing its Aude office and blocking a training center in the Loiret.
The protests were partly triggered by remarks comparing farmers' opposition to OFB inspections to drug dealers rejecting police presence.
The OFB enforces environmental regulations, including pesticide use and water management, which some farmers claim are overly aggressive and intimidating.
Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemned the attacks, urged respect for OFB agents, and advocated for clearer, less punitive enforcement of minor infractions.
The OFB's unions accuse agricultural groups of orchestrating repeated attacks and have called for a strike to protest the government's response.