Land exchange, a lever for the agroecological transition of livestock farming?

El intercambio de tierras, ¿un mecanismo para la transición agroecológica de la ganadería?

Timothée Fouqueray, Alexandra Langlais () and Thomas Houet ()
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Timothée Fouqueray: ESE - Ecologie Systématique et Evolution - AgroParisTech - Université Paris-Saclay - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Alexandra Langlais: IODE - Institut de l'Ouest : Droit et Europe - UR - Université de Rennes - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Thomas Houet: LETG - Rennes - Littoral, Environnement, Télédétection, Géomatique - UBO - Université de Brest - UR2 - Université de Rennes 2 - LETG - Littoral, Environnement, Télédétection, Géomatique UMR 6554 - UBO - Université de Brest - UR2 - Université de Rennes 2 - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Nantes Univ - IGARUN - Institut de Géographie et d'Aménagement Régional de l'Université de Nantes - Nantes Université - pôle Humanités - Nantes Univ - Nantes Université, LTSER-ZAAr - Zone Atelier Armorique Rennes - RZA - LTSER Réseau des Zones Ateliers - INEE-CNRS - Institut Ecologie et Environnement - CNRS Ecologie et Environnement - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: Agriculture both contributes to and suffers from climate disruptions and biodiversity loss. To address these challenges, agricultural practices are evolving, particularly through the agroecological transition, which integrates agronomic and ecological knowledge. However, the land-use dimension – specifically parcel distribution – remains underexplored in research, despite its crucial role in this transition. This article examines the benefits and limitations of farmland exchanges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving biodiversity-friendly habitats, and improving farmers' working conditions. It is based on an analysis of dairy farming in the Zone Atelier Armorique, drawing on interviews with (para-)public agencies responsible for agricultural land management in Ille-et-Vilaine. Combining insights from ecology, geography, and law, the study first highlights how land exchanges support farmers, enhance carbon storage, and benefit species dependent on agricultural landscapes. It then evaluates the various farmland exchange mechanisms available to farmers, assessing their implications for both agricultural livelihoods and environmental sustainability. Finally, the article explores the efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment of land exchanges with territorial agri-environmental policies, positioning them within a systemic, long-term vision of the agroecological transition. The conclusion underscores the need to mobilize multiple land law instruments—including land reserves – and to allocate dedicated funding within agroecological transition budgets. This would support the long-term facilitation of land exchanges by agricultural and environmental organizations.

Keywords: agriculture; land politics; sustainability; grazing; spatial practices; agricultura; políticas de suelo; sustentabilidad; pastoreo; prácticas espaciales; aspects politiques du foncier; durabilité; pâturage; pratiques spatiales (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-05164929v1
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Published in Cybergeo : Revue européenne de géographie / European journal of geography, 2025, Environnement, Nature, Paysage, ⟨10.4000/13w2e⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05164929

DOI: 10.4000/13w2e

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