'For the 2024 harvest, we had a production potential of 13,000 tonnes. Of these 13,000 tonnes, the balanin has destroyed 50%', explains Jean-Luc Reigne, director of the Unicoque cooperative in the southwestern Lot-et-Garonne region. Hazelnut growers will have to throw away a large part of their crop this year, mainly because of two insect pests, the balanin and the devil bug. 'French law prohibits us (...) from using an active ingredient that would enable us to combat these pests effectively. Our Italian counterparts, for example, have access to it (...) it's unfair. It's unfair competition,' says Xavier Mas, a hazelnut producer. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES