French agricultural reform proposed to combat structural decline

The Gauche Républicaine et Socialiste has proposed a new framework to address the structural decline of French agriculture. The sector has seen a significant collapse in its trade balance, falling from a 3.9 billion euro surplus in 2024 to just 200 million euros in 2025. Additionally, France's share of European production has dropped from 19% to 16% over the last decade.

This decline is attributed to increased exposure to free trade, unfair competition from countries with lower social and environmental standards, and a production model heavily dependent on imported energy, fertilizer, and soy. The group argues that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) no longer provides sufficient compensation for lost income due to reducing and increasingly complex subsidies.

To restore food sovereignty, the group proposes a ‘Régime Agricole Complémentaire’ (RAC). Inspired by Protected Designation of Origin (AOP) models, this system would allow voluntary farmers to organize into sectors to collectively negotiate guaranteed prices and strict specifications under state supervision. The proposal aims to reserve production for national markets to protect the sector from geopolitical and climatic crises.