Pollution from nitrates and pesticides is one of the main causes of water resource degradation. In Europe, agri-environmental policy encourages changes in agricultural practices that promote water quality. Based on individual financial aid targeting individual plots or farms, the fight against diffuse agricultural pollution has proven ineffective. As a result, innovative measures are emerging at the regional and sectoral levels. This thesis questions the ability of these instruments to bring about fundamental changes in agricultural practices that are sustainable and beneficial to water quality. After an initial inventory of innovative measures in France and Europe, a number of local initiatives will be studied in detail.
All of this work will be carried out based on documentary analysis and interviews with institutional and local stakeholders.
Alice Berthet, doctorante – Agroecology and Environment Research Unit
