Inf’OGM pays tribute to Arnaud Apoteker
By Association Inf'OGM
Published on the 14/01/2026
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Arnaud Apoteker on Friday, 9 January 2026.
Arnaud was a very important figure in the history of Inf’OGM. Founding member, he remained on the Board until 2025. He contributed his knowledge and skills to the organisation. In the early years, he patiently supported the editors, systematically proofreading articles to ensure they were accurate and precise, both in terms of content and form. His insightful contributions during meetings, his ability to synthesise information and his humour were invaluable to the association. His cheerful and uncomplicated nature accompanied us throughout all these years.
Beyond our association, Arnaud was one of the first people in France to question GMOs. As a pesticide campaigner for Greenpeace since 1991, he was one of the iconic faces of the campaigns against GMOs in France and Europe. In particular, he worked to raise awareness, inform the public and create guides to products with and without GMOs, enabling consumers to make informed choices. In 1999, he published a book with the now iconic title Du poisson dans les fraises (Fish in Strawberries), an educational, informative book with a concise and powerful style, a high-quality tool for raising awareness. He based his campaign on sound scientific knowledge. He always refused to allow science to be exploited, distorted or disparaged. He was able to forge strategic alliances with a wide range of people.
After leaving Greenpeace in 2011, he continued his fight for healthy food and agriculture, free from GMOs and pesticides, as a parliamentary assistant to Green Party MEPs, General Delegate of the Justice Pesticides association, and by participating in the creation of the International Tribunal against Monsanto, which was symbolically held in The Hague in 2016. More recently, he was actively involved in the Justice pour le Vivant coalition, which succeeded in getting the government to reform its protocols for evaluating and authorising pesticides, which were deemed inadequate, in order to bring them into line with current scientific knowledge.
Beyond this fight, Arnaud was a gentle and cheerful person. He argued calmly and knew how to put the people he worked or collaborated with at ease. Despite his career, his skills and his international renown, he always remained humble, even discreet.
On Friday, we lost a friend.
Our thoughts are with Josiane, her children, her grandchildren and all her friends.
Our hearts are heavy.
We will continue, Arnaud, to carry on your sense of justice, sincerity and reliable, critical information at Inf’OGM.
The entire Inf’OGM team, employees and volunteers, past and present.
