Supporting French agro-ecological farm

Fermes d’Avenir

Think Human Fund

Mission & History

Fermes d’Avenir is an association of the « Groupe SOS » that has been supporting the development of agroecology since 2013.

Its mission is to accelerate the agricultural transition in France, by growing agroecological farms throughout the country. Its vision is illustrated by the Flower of Agroecology: farms that feed the population with healthy and quality food, while preserving the planet’s natural capital and guaranteeing a viable, livable and resilient activity for farmers.

To implement this vision, the team of around twenty people organizes the programs around 4 poles – Tools to discover and document models of agro-ecological farms that successfully combine environmental and social commitment with economic performance. Training in theory and practice, to give the next generation of farmers the keys to successfully setting up and sustaining their farms. Support to accelerate the development of agro-ecological projects led by farmers, local authorities or companies. Financing with Blue Bees, the French participative financing platform dedicated to agro-ecology and sustainable food.

Country Information

Since 1945 in France, over 750,000 kilometers of hedges have been lost due to land reparcelling and the shift from extensive livestock farming to intensive cereal cultivation. The coverage of hedges and tree lines has been declining since 2006 (source: Agreste 2014). As a result, a significant reservoir of plant and animal biodiversity is disappearing.

The Need in 2026

Fermes d’Avenir will continue its mission, to support farm projects that integrate trees into agricultural systems. As more farmers aim to plant trees to rejuvenate ecosystems and diversify their operations, these projects require specialized expertise to ensure alignment with farm profiles, the selection of local species, and effective tree care for optimal growth and ecological benefits. These initiatives not only improve environmental performance but also provide economic advantages, including timber, energy wood, fodder, and fruit, while promoting local social engagement through community-led tree-planting activities.

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The Need in 2025

Since 2020, the Fermes d’Avenir association has been aiding farm projects that reintroduce trees into agricultural systems. Farmers increasingly seek to plant trees to restore ecosystems and diversify their farm activities. Designing these projects requires expertise in aligning with the farm’s profile, selecting local species, and ensuring proper tree care for optimal growth and ecosystem benefits. These projects enhance environmental performance and offer economic benefits, such as timber, energy wood, fodder, and fruit, while also fostering local social engagement through community tree-planting efforts.

The Project We Fund

Earl Champ d’Eau: Louisette and Rodolphe live on 145 hectares in Loiret, and mainly cultivate large-scale crops. The project has two major components. First, hedges will protect their plots from phytosanitary drift from conventional neighbors. The second part is to set up a poultry trail, by planting fruit trees in the poultry parks. One of the farmers’ ideas is that customers coming to the farm can freely pick the fruit while enjoying the company of the animals. Finally, the trees will provide wood energy to the farm, Louisette and Rodolphe wishing to move towards autonomy for their farm.

EARL Les Epiés: Christine and Thierry Sabin settled in 1994 on their 75 ha farm in Bonchamp-les-Layal. The farm is a certified organic dairy cattle farm, which processes and sells its cheeses directly on the farm, or through short supply chains. The trees will provide different services to the cattle workshop. They will act as windbreaks, they will provide shade to the animals, and they will create a microclimate to limit the water stress of the meadows in the summer season. Finally, the hedges will allow the segmentation of the paddocks for dynamic rotational grazing. In addition, the hedges will allow the connection of the areas of ecological interest already present on the farm, they will be a place where biodiversity can take up residence and feed.

The Result

Fermes d’Avenir’s agronomists support agroforestry projects through a comprehensive approach, starting with plantation design that includes soil and climate analysis and collaboration with farmers to tailor agroforestry goals. They develop technical designs for plots, select suitable tree species, provide guidance on tree viability, and organize participative tree-planting events. In terms of biodiversity and technical monitoring, they offer advice to enhance biodiversity and conduct three-year monitoring visits to ensure tree recovery and ecological benefits. For project communication, they create case studies and maintain educational efforts to raise awareness and secure funding. The impact of these projects will be tracked over three years, focusing on tree survival and optimal development to enhance carbon storage.

2025 Annual Report

The project directly benefits 3 farmers by providing them with technical support and guidance to implement agroforestry practices. The project aims to enhance biodiversity, improve soil quality, and raise awareness about agroforestry and biodiversity restoration.

Throughout the project, they organized coordinated activities to build robust agroforestry systems, starting with detailed farm diagnostics and involving farmers to ensure plans aligned with their goals. The initiative included participatory planting events, the planting of thousands of trees, and a structured three-year monitoring plan to assess ecological impacts, all supported by a diverse group of stakeholders, including local nurseries, farmers, and environmental associations, to ensure high-quality, sustainable implementation and increased local engagement.

Testimonies

“I had wanted to plant trees on the farm for a long time but didn’t dare, and I didn’t have the time to start on my own. With Fermes d’Avenir, everything is well explained during the support process, and our goals are taken into account.” -Rodolphe and Louisette Daubignard-

“Being in the Paris region, I initially turned to urban agriculture with internships and seasonal missions. The birth of my children strengthened my conviction to contribute to a sustainable lifestyle, rooted in nature and especially connected with the countryside. The project thus transformed into market gardening. We decided to move, and after a long journey, we chose Touraine and found the house where we are now, with land that allows me to establish my farm. Planting trees has allowed me to promote biodiversity on my land.” –Thomas Zimer-