Since the founding of the European Union, France has maintained a dominant position in agricultural production on the continent. However, French agriculture suffered a succession of difficult harvests and a decline in export sales at the end of 2010. Nicknamed the granary of the old continent, France has lost market shares to other agricultural powers, such as Spain, but it can nevertheless benefit from a strong domestic market, particularly in wine consumption.
Faced with debt and in order to ensure more regular income than in a fully autonomous situation, French farmers are turning to agricultural cooperatives. In 2021, there were close to 1,200 registered agricultural cooperatives in France. Highly impacted by the whims of the weather, it is the winegrowers and - to a lesser extent - cereal farmers who have established the most agricultural cooperatives in France. Being part of an agricultural cooperative allows farmers to sell their produce to organizations other than food industry partners, which are often not that well-liked by farmers.
Agricultural successes...
Benefiting from a temperate climate in the north and a Mediterranean one in the south, France has a wide variety of crops and livestock. Wine, fruit, vegetables, and cattle allow the country to be less dependent on a monoculture economy. However, cereal and wine productions continue to lead the way in the agricultural economy. Beverages alone account for more than 25 percent of the export turnover of the agri-food industry in France.... And agricultural struggles
In addition to the decline in competitiveness, farmers are facing an overall increase in the price of agricultural land. Since the beginning of the 1990s, land prices have been rising steadily and material investments have been increasing. These phenomena are leading to the development of a type of agriculture infused with French and European CAP subsidies. Without these public subsidies, very few farms would be able to continue their activities. Close to 50 percent of farmers have debts of more than 400,000 euros.Faced with debt and in order to ensure more regular income than in a fully autonomous situation, French farmers are turning to agricultural cooperatives. In 2021, there were close to 1,200 registered agricultural cooperatives in France. Highly impacted by the whims of the weather, it is the winegrowers and - to a lesser extent - cereal farmers who have established the most agricultural cooperatives in France. Being part of an agricultural cooperative allows farmers to sell their produce to organizations other than food industry partners, which are often not that well-liked by farmers.
