On November 12, 2024, an information meeting was held in Tours-sur-Marne, organized by the association Organic in the Grand Est and the Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park. The objective: to present the agricultural test areas, a key mechanism to encourage the installation of new farmers.

Around thirty participants, from various backgrounds in the Marne, attended this meeting.

What is an agricultural test space?

Agricultural test spaces offer future farmers, often from non-agricultural backgrounds, the opportunity to test their activity (market gardening, livestock farming, etc.) on suitable land with equipment and buildings provided by a third party. At the same time, project leaders benefit from technical support and a legal framework allowing them to legally exercise their activity with the possibility of retaining their social rights.

There are two types of agricultural test spaces:

  • The first consists of the provision of agricultural land, buildings and equipment by a community, an association or a private structure for a fixed period.
  • The second allows a farmer approaching retirement to make part of his land available to a potential buyer with a view to gradually transferring his business. 

Although this concept is already being developed in the Grand Est region, at the initiative of Metz Eurometropolis and Troyes Champagne Métropole, there is not yet an agricultural test space in the Marne.

Some local authorities have expressed their interest, and several local structures would be able to support project leaders, both on a technical and human level. However, it remains to find a legal structure capable of fulfilling the function of "incubator", taking charge of the legal, fiscal and financial aspects, and to bring together the actors and resources necessary for the implementation of such a system.

Themes

Was this content useful to you?