France prepares agricultural recovery plan following climate crisis

The French Prime Minister is scheduled to chair a ministerial meeting on October 15, 2026, to discuss an agricultural recovery plan. This initiative follows a severe summer marked by intense heatwaves and droughts that have heavily impacted the sector, particularly viticulture, market gardening, and large-scale crops.

Government officials expressed concern that without significant intervention, between 20,000 and 30,000 farms could face closure. The proposed plan is expected to be integrated into the 2027 budget through government amendments. This follows an initial emergency allocation of 1.2 billion euros from the 2026 budget.

Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard highlighted the unprecedented violence of the recent climate crisis, noting the mental, physical, and economic toll on farmers. She emphasized the need to accelerate adaptation tools and improve insurance coverage, as currently only 20% of farmers and 10% of livestock farmers are insured. The government is working to ensure that state and European funding covers a significant portion of insurance costs to ease the financial burden on producers.