French agricultural leaders call for action at Terres de Jim

At the Terres de Jim agricultural gathering in Metz-Magny, political and regional leaders addressed the ongoing crisis facing French farmers.

Renaissance candidate Gabriel Attal proposed a three-pillar plan for French agriculture focused on increasing farmer income, simplifying regulations, and investing in future ecological transitions. Attal emphasized the need for immediate action to maintain national sovereignty, stating that “the cost of inaction is greater than the cost of action.”

Simultaneously, Franck Leroy, President of the Grand Est region, called for urgent intervention from the European Union, the French state, and banking institutions. Highlighting the financial strain caused by drought and falling yields, Leroy advocated for a “white year” (année blanche) mechanism. This would allow heavily affected farmers to defer capital payments without penalties or additional fees, arguing that providing more debt to already fragile farms would exacerbate the crisis.