Farmers and the contractualization of environmental objectives: an analysis of the conditions for adhesion to ETCs in four sites

Abstract

The aim of the study is to show how the farmers subscript to environmental goals, through the case of the "territory farm contract" (a french contractual tool to incite farmers to environment friend practices). The study deals with the farmer's reasons and motivations for which he chooses to sign or not to sign a contract, and to select environmental measures. The study also brings answers to the following questions : how is the contract integrated into the farmer's strategy ? To which changes does the contract leads concerning agricultural practices ? The work is based on a survey among both farmers who have signed a contract and others who have not signed a contract, in four sites (two sites in protected areas and two out of protected areas).