Farming in France faced with drought: different views from representatives of national, regional and local institutions in Occitanie

Abstract

On 28 September 2023 in Montpellier, a group of water experts from government and local authorities’ departments, universities and companies offering solutions met to discuss the theme “Anticipating for better planning: what water demand for what kind of agriculture in the future?” As an introduction to the conference, representatives from national, regional and local institutions set the scene for the day's discussions, presenting their own views on the challenges facing French agriculture in the face of drought. They drew in particular on feedback from recent droughts in the south of France.