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France plans to invest 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) to reduce its dependence on fertilizer imports and protect its agricultural sector from future supply disruptions, amid growing pressures from geopolitical tensions and rising costs.

Minister Delegate for Economy and Finance Sebastien Martin revealed during a press conference in Paris on Thursday that the plan includes building three fertilizer plants over the next decade to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on costly imports, as reported by Bloomberg and reviewed by Al Arabiya Business.

The French government also approved allocating 145 million euros under an emergency plan to support farmers affected by the repercussions of the war with Iran on supply chains and agricultural markets, according to Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard.

Genevart described the impact of the conflict in the Middle East as having gone beyond a 'spark' to become a 'tsunami', affirming that the agricultural sector is facing a real productivity crisis, while farmers' budgets have been in deficit for three consecutive years, making urgent intervention necessary.

European farmers have been under increasing pressure due to the sharp rise in energy and fertilizer prices, after the war affected supply flows from the Arabian Gulf region. The continued rise in prices threatens to push farmers to reduce fertilizer use, which could negatively impact crop quality and agricultural output.

The European Commission had announced last June a financial support package worth 540 million euros to help farmers buy fertilizers. Genevart explained that France has so far received 38 million euros in national loans, in addition to 107 million euros in European aid allocated for this purpose.

The French step reflects growing European concerns about the impact of global supply chain disruptions on food security, amid efforts to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on imports in strategic sectors.

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