A Sustainable Agriculture Contract includes at least one agro-environment commitment.
There cannot be two agro-environment commitments over the same land area.

The exact content of commitments and the amount of grants are contained in specifications that are specific to the county and validated by the County Commission for Agricultural Orientation (CDOA).

The contract may also include action

(See details of eligible measures in the brochures relating to each Standard Contract)

The following are eligible:

- that valorise a farm directly (GAEC, EARL, non-trading companies, foundations, schools, jointly owned farms that are not divided).
- Under public law that make land available to farmers in undivided manner (e.g.: districts in the Cotentin marshes).

Age conditions:
Be aged over 18.
Not have taken retirement.

Nationality conditions:
French nationality or a national of the European Union.

Case of corporate entities
Meet the following three cumulative conditions:

If help with investments (not eligible in some counties):

Conditions of knowledge and professional skills:
   - Have at least the BEPA, BPA.
   - or prove 5 years professional agricultural experience (salaried or non-salaried)
   - or prove professional knowledge and skills related to the project (in this case satisfy a specific assessment with issue of a certificate by the DRAF (or) (and) integration of a training plan into the project).

Income conditions:
show an income higher than 10 230 € / UTH at the start and end of the Sustainable Agriculture Contract.

These conditions are given for information only; to find out whether your application is eligible, do not hesitate to contact local ADASEA advisors.

Have the guarantee of being able to farm the land involved with regard to the agro-environmental actions for the 5 years of the CAD (on penalty of having to reimburse the grants received, plus a fine).

Meet the statutory and eligibility conditions throughout the entire contractual period.
If obligations are not met: notice served to settle or cancel the contract with application of sanctions.

Declare, every year, compliance with all commitments made on the Sustainable Agriculture Contract declaration.

Modification to the contract: A contract can be modified at any time due to change in status of the farm, modification of commitment (subject to validation by CDOA) or enlargement. Similarly, the contract may be totally or partially transferred: the purchaser must commit for the period outstanding, otherwise sanctions will be applied (except in cases of force majeure).

For GAEC resulting from the merger of pre-existing autonomous farms, the ceiling amount for grants can be multiplied by the number of farms grouped together up to a limit of 3.

The total amount applied for per hectare may not exceed community ceiling amounts: 122 €/UGB, 900 €/ha for orchards, 600 €/ha for annual crops, 450 €/ha for prairies.

Maximum amount: 15,000 €.

For GAEC resulting from the merger of pre-existing autonomous farms, the ceiling amount for grants can be multiplied by the number of farms grouped together up to a limit of three.

Investments must be made after signature of the CTE or after reception of the acknowledgement of receipt of the complete file by the DDAF and during the first two years of the contract.

Investments in materials / equipment:

Grant allocated for the purchase of any new materials or equipment and any planning that relates directly to the project and which is justified by an invoice.

The time spent by the farm in carrying out the work may be taken into account up to a limit of 50% of the cost of materials purchased.  

Investment grants are authorised solely under certain conditions for certain productions and regions.

Second-hand and renewed equipment, or equipment bought for co-ownership or CUMA and the construction or purchase of buildings are not eligible.

Intangible investments:

Preparation of the project by the farmer:

Maximum grant: 450 €.
The eligible cost is less than 12% of material investments and is also limited to:

Time spent by the farmer: 250 € before tax per day (for a maximum of 2 days).

Service provider consultants: 2 days maximum. 

Monitoring and furthering of the project after drawing up the contract:
Grant allocated to further the project or prospect for markets or make registrations linked to a quality procedure:
Eligible cost: 10 days maximum of advice from service provider consultants.

Expenditure:

Grants allocated for temporary loss of income, temporary costs or extra work time (grant allocated solely for the first 3 years of the CAD).

Maximum rates of investment grants:

Non young farmer : 40%
Young farmer* : 45 %

The 5% increase for Young Farmers may be increased to 15% for some investments: farm surroundings, etc.

The various phases in setting up a Sustainable Agriculture Contract file:

File submission: Files can be submitted all year round to local ADASEA authorised bodies, Chambers of Agriculture and management centres.The file must be complete.

Opinion from the Sustainable Agriculture Contract section at the County Agricultural Orientation Commission (CDOA). It meets on average once every two months, assesses the coherence of the project and gives an opinion. It may request additional information or even postpone the file.

Decision on admissibility: The decision is taken by the Prefect based on the contract to be signed, within a maximum period of three months after submission of the complete file.

Start of contract: 1st May or 1st September.

Payment of the grant: Payment is made by the CNASEA
- Annual grants per hectare: from the 7th month from the contract start date
- Grants for investments: on presentation of paid invoices.

The procedure to follow to build up your Sustainable Agriculture Contract:
 
The farmer can set up his file alone, but it must be complete when submitted. As an extension of its public service task, the ADASEA can work alongside farmers on drawing up their CAD application file (Diagnostic, construction of the project, economic study, cartography, etc.).
The Chamber of Agriculture (ADA) and Management Centres, which partner ADASEA are available to you to help with your project.

This specifies the assets, limitations and means to improve the farming system.

This specifies the objectives targeted with a detailed, quantified presentation of developments and actions planned within their environmental and even economic and social context.

This recapitulates all sources of finance for the planned investments: public and non-public.

This is used to identify remarkable elements and places where the project will be implemented.

- Filled out with the advisor at ADASEA.
- Together with justifying documents (Bank ID, RP PAC, Certificates, Estimates, etc.).
All the conditions described here are given as an indication only; you should contact your local advisors to find out whether your applicable may be eligible.