Abstract
For a long time modern French agriculture has ignored environmental considerations. In the last five years, it has become evident that industrialized agriculture has been the source of new pollution. This pollution, mainly nitrates in the water, is due to the excess use of nitrogen fertilizers. In addition to the pollution problems, significant urban and leisure development pressures threaten much of the agricultural land. Even though 60% of the soil remains in agricultural production, rural areas have been transformed significantly.
Although the population in rural areas decreased for over a century, in 1982 the population census indicated an increase of 6.2% during the past decade. However, this increase has not occurred as a result of an increase in agricultural activity. Rather, it is linked with the differentiation of activities in rural areas. Agriculture is no longer the main activity in rural areas, which means new conflicts result among competing and different uses.
In 1981 the French Society of Environmental Law organized a colloquium on the legal aspects of agriculture and the environment. This commentary provides an update general view of the essentials about agriculture and the environment.
Recommended Citation
Prieur, Michel
(1986)
"Agriculture and Environment in French Law,"
Florida Journal of International Law: Vol. 1:
Iss.
2, Article 6.
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.ufl.edu/fjil/vol1/iss2/6