Recent Policy and Market Incentives for Organic and Other Ecologically-Based Farming Systems in the US Upper Midwest and the Southwest of France

Agri-environmental programs on both sides of the Atlantic have developed over the years to include environmental objectives, encompassing the multifunctionality concept of agriculture, while maintaining programs intended to increase farmers\u27 incomes. Some of these dual programs have resulted in less environmental improvement than was expected. A descriptive analysis was conducted of the United States\u27 and France\u27s agri-environmental programs to determine the current status of programs and what improvements can be made in the programs. Recent attention has been paid to voluntary agri-environmental programs that remunerate farmers for providing positive environmental externalities. Research was conducted in the southwest of France to examine quality approaches in that region. Data on 107 farms in the southwest of France were analyzed. Lessons learned from this research include lessons for developing quality labeling programs and for changes in current agri-environmental programs to improve the environmental impact of these programs