Commission approves EUR 35 million French aid scheme to help farmers cut pesticide use and safeguard water quality
The Commission has approved a EUR 35 million French state aid scheme aimed at supporting farmers in the Artois-Picardie basin (Hauts-de-France region) in adopting crops and practices that ensure the sustainable protection of water resources.
Agriculture in the Artois-Picardie basin relies heavily on pesticides and nitrogen fertilisers, impacting water quality. The scheme targets 13 areas with notably deteriorated water conditions.
The scheme is open to farmers until 31 December 2027 and takes the form of direct grants to offset additional costs and income losses resulting from the shift to more sustainable practices. Based on five-year contracts with the Artois-Picardie Water Agency, the initiative targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in primary agricultural production. It aims to encourage farmers to either (i) switch to crops requiring fewer pesticides and fertilisers, or (ii) reduce the use of these substances on current crops.
The Commission approved the scheme under the 2022 Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas, considering it necessary and appropriate to encourage farmers to adopt measures to better preserve water resources and to develop their activity more sustainably.
For more information, see the Commission’s PR.