Farmers Demand Agricultural Sustainability and Political Change Ahead of 2026 Municipal Elections

As the 2026 municipal elections approach, French farmers are voicing urgent calls for sustainable agricultural policies and political accountability. Terre de Liens, an advocacy group, is pushing ambitious proposals to preserve farmland and support new farmers amidst alarming trends in Rhône, Savoie, and Haute-Savoie, where between 8,000 and 10,000 farms have vanished since the 1980s. The regions face shrinking agricultural land and an aging farming population, risking further closures without decisive intervention. To spotlight these issues, Terre de Liens hosted farm visits in Francheville and Doussard, showcasing local initiatives such as Lucile Delorme’s 3,000m² vegetable microfarm and a Doussard operation supplying 80 households weekly. Their program emphasizes protecting agricultural land, water resources, boosting local organic production, and combating food insecurity.

At the same time, dissatisfaction among farmers was palpable at the 2026 Salon de l’Agriculture, where several expressed frustration with political leadership. Winemaker Alain notably called for banning politicians, while others demanded boycotts and criticized the Minister of Agriculture’s handling of the crisis. Farmer Jérôme Bayle pointed to government failings, and Bertrand proposed selective culling and extensive vaccination to address livestock disease threats. Farmers also oppose the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, fearing it endangers their livelihoods.

Against this backdrop, the national Health Minister Stéphanie Rist urged mask-wearing amid a worsening flu outbreak, underscoring wider public health concerns. Together, these developments illustrate a tense rural landscape where demands for sustainable agricultural futures and political reform are gaining critical momentum ahead of December’s elections.