Dthese years of meetings, exchanges, collective work. Ultimately, it was a small seed that was planted to address the erosion that is affecting the agricultural world. From 2023 to the end of 2024, a major territorial operation was launched by the Pays Adour Chalosse Tursan (1), on its territory, with the support of all local agricultural stakeholders (2), in favor of the transmission and the resumption of agricultural operations.
“Following the avian crises, the elected representatives of the six communities of communes in the territory concerned, with the vice-president of the Pays Jean-Luc Lafenêtre at their head, were concerned about the future of their agriculture and demonstrated their desire to support it, rewinds Matthieu Duchaussoy, economic development manager at PETR Adour Chalosse Tursan. We realized that there was a very strong issue surrounding the installation and transfer of farms. In a territory like ours, which includes half of the Landes agricultural holdings, it was significant. »
Three partner structures were commissioned – the Chamber of Agriculture, the Association for the Development of Agricultural and Rural Employment and Agrobio 40 – in order to set up territorial activity around this theme. During these two years, 23 events were organized for transferors and project leaders, plus a dozen for local elected officials: in total, 400 people participated. “The objective was to develop an ecosystem favorable to these installations and transmissions,” summarizes the economic development manager.
Four areas of work
Four areas of work were explored, first and foremost communication around the profession of farmer. Visits to the farm by educational establishments or even farm dating in Aire-sur-l'Adour were organized. “The idea was to be able to change the image of this profession a little so that tomorrow we will have young volunteers to set up in agriculture. »
Another aspect worked on: support for installation. “We had a whole series of meetings for project leaders on subjects such as the Endowment for new and young farmers (DNJA), setting up market gardening, short circuits, organic farming. We tried to show them everything that existed. »
The third axis concerned transmission, in particular through meetings with notaries specializing in rural law.
Finally, the question of agricultural land was put on the table. Meetings took place in each of the communities of communes with Safer and Terre de Liens, an association which offers to make land available to project leaders. “The six communities of municipalities have also joined Vigifoncier de la Safer, which allows all communities to be aware of all transactions in their sector. »
-Lift the brakes
At the same time, several tools have been developed, such as newsletters, or a directory bringing together the structures involved in installation and transmission.
“The added value of this Country approach was to bring us all together and be proactive,” notes Anaïs Balian, who spoke for the Chamber of Agriculture. The goal was also to remove some obstacles to installation or transmission. “It may be the multitude of actors in the matter, which means that the project leader or the transferor no longer knows where to turn,” she continues. This may be linked to land problems or financial constraints. »
The Country and its partners thus wanted to create “a common culture, so that tomorrow elected officials can be local relays, prescribers. The idea is to create unique entry points, with a person able to direct them towards the right partners is one of the territorialized responses that we can propose. »
So far, all this work has not resulted in a significant increase in installation rates. “But the results are positive,” concludes Matthieu Duchaussoy. We know that this is long-term work. Tomorrow, we believe that communities will have to take up these issues by putting in place public policies to maintain this link with partners, and why not have financial aid for installation and transmission. Efforts will continue. »
(1) The Country brings together six communities of communes: those of Aire-sur-l'Adour, Pays Grenadois, Chalosse Tursan, Pays Tarusate, Terres de Chalosse and Coteaux et Vallées des Luys.
(2) Regional Council, Departmental Council, Draaf, Alpad, FDCUMA, MFR, MSA.
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