France-Help for organic farmers.

FRANCE-HELP FOR ORGANIC FARMING.

The French minister for Agriculture Michel Barnier has announced his intention to redirect part of the CAP funds received by cereal farmers to organic and mountain farming, sheep breeding as well as to an insurance system.

French agriculture receives European aids for 10 million euros every year, of which 9 million as economic support ("first pillar") and one million for rural development and environment ("second pillar"). So far, cereal farmers take benefit from two thirds of these funds.

The adjustment of the Common Agricultural Policy adopted by the EU at the end of 2008 imposes to the Member States to transfer 5% of the first pillar to the second pillar in four years, in order to support those farms implementing a "sustainable agriculture" without increasing the total amount of CAP funds.

In this framework, incentives to surfaces destined to animal breeding have been announced by the French government, along with a support to mountain milk and organic farming as well as the revalorization of the allowance for environmental handicaps.