Deep Roots

France’s land policy has allowed family farmers to invest in soil fertility and concentrate on productive land management

Image: Xavier Remongin/Min.Agri.Fr

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development), echoing the developments of society. During

the last reform of the CAP, a special effort was made for

small and medium farmers to encourage more productivity

and drive the involvement of youth.

In France, the structural policy is aimed at modernizing

family farms and limiting the development of large farms.

Thus, land use and forestry and rural development instruments

were created and several measures have been implemented:

long-term, tacitly renewable leases, control of land allocation

to regulate the size of farms, regulation of rent prices and

strong, secure access to land. This land policy has allowed

family farmers to invest in soil fertility, limiting investment

in the earth to concentrate on productive land management

and the promotion of generational change.

Politically, professional agricultural organizations are

involved in decisions and the implementation of agricultural

policies. On the economic front, the establishment of inter

helped improve the organizational capacity of the agricultural

sector and tools for the empowerment of farmers have been

put in place, such as the recognition of producer organizations

or written development contracts. These national guidelines

are now widely adopted in Europe.

Recognizing the richness and diversity of terroirs, France

established a policy of quality and origin almost a century ago,

to strengthen the competitiveness of its predominantly family

farms. This policy, based on the link between produce and its

source, and its superior environmental quality, is now shared

at European level and represents an important lever for the

use and development of our territories.

Under the leadership of Stéphane Le Foll, France has

engaged in a two-year programme for the agroecological

transition of its agriculture. This will favour solutions that

combine economic, environmental and social performance

by promoting a systems approach to operations (global

thinking, simultaneously integrating all aspects of the opera-

tion). There is no ready recipe, but a need to develop specific

solutions in each context. Agroecology is based in particu-

lar on the development of positive biological interactions

within the agroecosystem, promoting functional biodiversity

for example, with rotations adapted to reduce dependence

on inputs. It aims to strengthen the family farmer in his or

her economic, social and environmental role, and make the

farmer a key player in sustainable agriculture. Family farming

is flexible, adaptable and innovative, therefore it is best suited

to be the spearhead of France’s agroecological project.

French agriculture in figures

The face of French agriculture today:

• 500,000 farms with an average size of 55 hectares and

966,000 permanent assets

• Agricultural production doubled in 50 years, to

€

66 billion in 2010

• Farmers are better trained, and 34 per cent are from higher

education

• Agriculture employs more than 1 million people, and over 25

per cent are women

• The food industry is the second-largest industrial employer

• 25 per cent of farms have at least one production under a sign

of official quality.

In 50 years, the total volume of French agricultural production has

doubled, meeting the demographic challenge and participating in major

global food balances. Food quality meets the standards expected by

consumers. The number of farms has fallen by four in less than 50 years,

leading to professionalization and significant improvement in economic

performance. These farms are mainly family farms, often focused on

diversification and a strong local presence rather than corporate formats.

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