Agen Prunes Bureau national Interprofessionnel du Pruneau (French Prune Board) Directorate for...

Agen Prunes

Bureau national Interprofessionnel du Pruneau(French Prune Board)

Directorate for competition policy, consumer affairs and fraud control - DGCCRF Ministère de l’Economie des Finances et de l’Industrie – FRANCE – Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-

CREMIEUX

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France and the prune

Annual production of 45,000 T (15,000 T exported)

European market leader and in third place worldwide

1,400 prune growers (99% in growers’ organisations) representing 13,200 hectares, 32 processing firms

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The prune down through the ages

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Sales of French prunes (3-year average)

Other EU

4%

Russia

1% Israel0% Algeria

8%

Other third countries

3%

Netherlands

4%

United Kingdom

4%

I taly

4%

Belgium

3%Germany

4%

Spain

2%

Greece

3%

27 EU Member States: 13,560 tonnes

(29%)

France: 30,434 tonnes

(59%)

Third countries: 5,798 tonnes

(12%)

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Agen prunes

Agen prunes have been awarded a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) quality label.The PGI zone of Agen prunes (96 % of French prune production) takes in the communes of two regions:

• Aquitaine (89%): Lot-et-Garonne, Dordogne, Gironde

• Midi-Pyrénées (11%): Lot, Gers, Tarn-et-Garonne

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The prune industry

A major boost:

The industry’s inter-professional organisation The French Prune Board (BIP) was established in 1963

Its responsibilities: to represent the industry, to draw up and apply the inter-professional agreement, to standardise products, management and inspection, technical and technological development and to promote the prune.

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The industry’s organisation(since 2009)

AOPN: growers’ organisations

Trade Association (Chambre

Syndicale) private processing firms

BIPFELCOOP:

cooperative processing firms Principle of

unanimity

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Functioning: Management Committee

Growers’ organisation

Private processing firms

The BIP’s MC

Cooperative processing firms

8 members 1 vote

8 members 1 vote

8 members 1 vote

Each college agrees before an inter-professional decision is taken. The 3 colleges must then agree unanimously.

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A tense economic climate

European Union financial support for the prune industry has been regularly scaled down with total disengagement scheduled for 2013.

Production costs are constantly rising: drying (40% of expenses) in particular, takes the brunt of energy price hikes.

Tough international competition, especially from countries with low production costs (Chile, Argentina).

Lower consumption since the 2008 financial crisis coupled with lower sale prices.

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The industry’s reactions

Improving competitiveness by cutting production costs (orchards and drying).

Better quality owing to the modernisation of production techniques and the awarding of the PGI. Protecting this high quality (work ongoing with the SCL – Labo33), together with an inter-professional communication strategy.

Highlighting the nutritional values of Agen prunes.

Diversifying markets by innovation.

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A guarantee of authenticity, nutritional benefits

Two spearheads of the industry’s protection and win-back plan:

Ensuring traceability of the geographical origins of prunes to prevent any fraud on Agen prunes.

Proving the beneficial effects of Agen prunes on certain chronic or metabolic diseases in line with major public health concerns.

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Determination of geographical origin to guarantee authenticity

Active collaboration since 1982 with the Inter-Regional Laboratory of the General Directorate for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) Talence, followed by SCL – Labo33

Building a database containing analytical results on prunes with different origins: France, USA, Chile, Argentina.

Searching for distinguishing features: organic acids, minerals, heavy metals, rare metals.The reliability of these traditional analytical techniques and statistical tools is thought to be 95%.

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Determination of geographical origin to guarantee authenticity

For the last 3 years, the SCL has been conducting new research based on cutting-edge techniques:

Ultra-weak radioactivity measurement: joint study by the SCL-BIP-Université de Bordeaux-CENBG (PRISNA platform).

Isotopic analysis by IRMS (Isotope-ratio mass spectrometry) together with the BIP.

Analysis by NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy.

The SCL’s and BIP’s own work, using these techniques, is currently ongoing and should soon allow for 100% detection reliability.

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The prune’s nutritional benefitsPrune composition

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Prunes and health

Monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) together with sorbitol and fibre

A mid-range glycemic index (52)and slow carbohydrate absorption

Prunes are very rich in minerals, in particular, in potassium (31% of RDI). Many vitamins, in particular, vitamin B1 (43% of RDI) , B2, B5, B6 and beta-carotene

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Prunes and health

Distinguishing feature of prunes: high phenolic acid and polyphenol contents which have a antioxidant effect

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Prun’Active© Projet

The launch, in September 2008, of a new 49-month project called Prun’Active©.The aim is to scientifically identify the impact of Agen Prunes on the prevention of metabolic diseases.The total cost of the project, backed by the State (Single Inter-Ministerial Fund – FUI) and the Aquitaine Region, is €3.3 million.

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PrunÔProtect Projet

Preparation of a new 2-year project called PrunÔProtect Innovative formulations for Agen Prunes for the nutrition and health markets. The total cost of the project, supported by the Midi-Pyrénées and Aquitaine Regions, is €872,000.

DGCCRF - Marie-Isabelle TRIVES-CREMIEUXFRANCE –– Moldavie 11/10/2011

Thank you for your attention