Prince Charles frets over future of French cheese

The Local ^ | 30 Nov 2015 18:20 GMT+01:00

[Rodamala]

Prince Charles in Paris on Monday. Photo: AFP

Britain's Prince Charles said on Monday that he feared for the very existence of traditional French cheeses as he received a prize in Paris for his long-term commitment to organic farming.

Having spoken earlier at the opening of the key UN climate talks outside Paris, the heir to the throne was awarded the Francois Rabelais prize by France's institute of sciences and arts, named after the Renaissance scholar and physician.

Charles told an audience of distinguished scientists under the institute's domed roof in the French capital: "The distinctiveness of local cuisine is one of the most important ways we identify with the places and regions we love."

He recalled a visit to Paris in 1992 when he pleaded the case for British specialist cheese producers - and said that more than two decades on, his concerns were only heightened in a world of genetically modified produce.

"What will become of the Brie de Meaux, the Crottin de Chavignol or the Bleu d'Auvergne?" the 67-year-old asked.

"In a microbe-free, progressive and genetically engineered future, what hope is there for the old-fashioned Fourme d'Ambert, the mal-formed Gruyere de Comte or the odorous Pont L'Eveque?"

The prince said that while it may sound "silly" to say so, "a very important part of the whole magnificent edifice of European civilisation rests on the inherited genius and craftsmanship of the people who make such distinguished concoctions".

He hailed the French government for launching an initiative to raise awareness of the fact that the world's soils hold three times as much carbon as the atmosphere.

"They have calculated that if the quantity of carbon contained in soils could be increased by just 0.4 percent per year, the annual increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be halted."

Charles said he hoped the French initiative "will be given proper attention by policymakers".

The prize the prince received rewards those who work to "enhance the heritage of food".

[Rodamala]

Enjoy your Pont L'Eveque while you can, Chuck... you know, before a "moderate" Muslim doesn't chop off your head or blow you away with an Kalashnikov at a rock concert.

[I tried the FR search feature, which is useless... also a websearch with the title and freerepublic.com as quoted keywords. I did my best... mods please remove if this a duplicate post.]

[RightGeek]

[House Atreides]

He should, instead, fret over his disappearing IQ points. What an idiot!

[RJS1950]

Nitwit(s). During the middle-ages there was a change in the climate of Europe (Maunder Minimum) that shifted the regions for growing good wine grapes for centuries.

Stuff it Chuck.

[annieokie]

Let me know when he endorses JEB BUSH.

CHEESE Fretting????

The Queen and Barbara Bush may need to start a Support group for embarrassed mothers....pity them.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Every bit as stupid as he is ugly.

[I want the USA back]

I say old chap. There’s a lot more to worry about than moldy old cheese. Like subhuman savages infesting Europe and the UK.

[Rodamala]

"What's so special about the cheesemakers?"

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Gotta luv da twits!!

[dfwgator]

“It’s not much of cheese shop is it?”

[Calpublican]

There is a reason the Queen does not turn the Throne over to her nitwit son.

[TexasRepublic]

Charles the Nitwit reminds me of an old English music hall song. The chorus contained this line: “... he played his ukelele as the ship went down”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjCQUVWi7sc

[captain_dave]

Queen Elizabeth really needs to live long enough so the throne can be passed to William.

[USMCPOP]

Oh, NOES! What will the surrender monkeys eat?

[bajabaja]

Are we sure this isn’t satire or “The Onion”?

[Dr. Sivana]

That's it! Prince Charles is WALLACE WITH HAIR!

[Dr. Sivana]

The prince said that while it may sound "silly" to say so, "a very important part of the whole magnificent edifice of European civilisation rests on the inherited genius and craftsmanship of the people who make such distinguished concoctions".

Of course, a somewhat larger and more important part of the magnificent edifice of European civilisation rests on Christianity, to which Prince Charles has offered no support.

[beethovenfan]

Prince Chuck’s brain is made of cheese - very fermented. Total loser.

[bgill]

Chuckie sure cut the cheese with that statement.

[Gay State Conservative]

I think the Daily Mail would run this story under the headline “Charles Cuts The Cheese”.