What are the main difficulties faced by farmers today?

Farmers face very challenging working conditions, often working up to 80 hours a week without vacations or weekends. Additionally, their compensation is often insufficient, making their financial situation precarious and potentially discouraging new generations from entering this profession.

How does La Ferme de l'Envol ensure a decent income for its farmers?

La Ferme de l'Envol guarantees a net income of 2,600 euros per month to its farmers through a cooperative model. This model relies on commitments from customers, who pre-order production volumes, allowing the cooperative to pay farmers regardless of production fluctuations.

How does the model of La Ferme de l'Envol differ from conventional agricultural practices?

The model of La Ferme de l'Envol is distinguished by its sustainable and autonomous approach, integrating mixed farming and aiming to avoid soil and water pollution. Unlike conventional practices, which can have negative environmental impacts, this farm seeks to enhance biodiversity and reduce external inputs.

What are the environmental benefits of the agricultural model proposed by Fermcoop?

The agricultural model of Fermcoop aims to avoid polluting water and soil while improving biodiversity. By integrating sustainable practices, such as water and seed autonomy, the farm contributes to the preservation of natural resources and the reduction of costs related to decontamination.

What future projects are planned for La Ferme de l'Envol?

La Ferme de l'Envol plans to expand its activities by integrating a livestock farmer and a baker farmer, in order to develop synergy between different productions. This will allow for crop diversification and strengthen the farm's autonomy while creating a sustainable and integrated agricultural model.

Environment

Paul Charlent

President — Fermcoop - La Ferme de l'Envol

Why Rethink the Agricultural Model?

11:02·28 July 2026

This article was automatically translated from its original Français version. Read the original

Paul Charlent is a transition manager and president of Fermcoop and La Ferme de l'Envol, a cooperative farm located on the former air base 217, in the Cœur d'Essonne urban community. For six years, this project has been experimenting with a model that reconciles sustainable agriculture, farm autonomy, and better remuneration for market gardeners.

« The farming profession is really tough; they work 80 hours a week, have no vacations, no weekends, and earn poorly, even very poorly», noted Paul Charlent.

Born from the observation of the difficulties in the profession, La Ferme de l'Envol guarantees its farmers a net income of 2,600 euros per month. This income is based on a cooperative that secures production. This cooperative brings together producers, local authorities, restaurateurs, associations for the maintenance of peasant agriculture (AMAP), and citizens.

Beyond the social dimension, Fermcoop focuses on autonomy in water, seeds, and inputs, while developing mixed farming to limit environmental impacts. « Our farm does not pollute; we do not pollute water, we do not pollute soils, we enhance biodiversity », explains Paul Charlent.

This model demonstrates that another form of agriculture is possible, provided we integrate the real costs of our production methods. « And if we did a bit more of all this, perhaps society as a whole would be a bit better off, at least regarding our food», concludes Paul Charlent.

Frequently asked questions

Farmers face very challenging working conditions, often working up to 80 hours a week without vacations or weekends. Additionally, their compensation is often insufficient, making their financial situation precarious and potentially discouraging new generations from entering this profession.