France: €1.3 Bn in public subsidies 'harmful' to biodiversity, and €1.1 Bn in the farming sector

€1.3 Bn in subsidies that are "harmful" to biodiversity, compared with €31.2 Bn in subsidies that are "non-damaging". These are the findings of a report by the CGAAER ( Conseil général de l’alimentation, de l’agriculture et des espaces ruraux / French public agency for food, farming and rural zones), named "Plan to phase out subsidies harmful to biodiversity / SNB 2030 strategy", dated May 2025 and published on 22/07/2025.

Its authors, Inspectors General Bruno Locqueville and Alessandra Kirsch, analyse public spending on agriculture, sea fishing, aquaculture and forestry in terms of its impact on biodiversity. The inspectors attempt to quantify the amount of spending that is 'harmful' to biodiversity, and put forward proposals for reorientation that take into account the economic context of the studied sectors and issues of sovereignty.

The mission's main recommendations are as follows:
• for the farming sector: the mission proposes "reconsidering the recent relaxation of cross-compliance, creating a new level for the eco-regime and new bonuses and, lastly, redirecting or even…