# Terre de Liens ## Basic Info **Name:** Terre de Liens (lit. "Land of Links/Bonds") **What is it:** French citizen-led movement that permanently removes farmland from the market and leases it to farmers committed to organic and small-scale agriculture. A unique hybrid of three entities: (1) a federation of 19 regional associations (_réseau associatif_) that mobilizes citizens, accompanies farmers seeking land, and advocates for policy change; (2) La Foncière, a solidarity investment company where citizens can buy shares (minimum ~€103) to fund farmland acquisition; and (3) a Foundation recognized as being of public utility (_reconnue d'utilité publique_), which receives donations, bequests, and land gifts — and never resells them. Farmland acquired by either financial arm is leased through environmental rural leases (_baux ruraux environnementaux_) that impose binding ecological clauses. **Location:** France-wide. **Link:** https://terredeliens.org **Who is involved:** --- ## Entries ### Key data - **Scale (as of ~2024):** Over 300 farms acquired across ~6,500–9,000 hectares. Around 500 active farmers installed. Approximately €100 million raised since inception. Advises over 100 local authorities on land strategy. - **How acquisition works:** La Foncière raises capital through citizen share purchases (solidarity investment — shareholders consciously accept zero financial dividends). The Foundation receives donations, bequests, and direct land gifts. Both entities purchase farms. Once acquired, land is permanently removed from the market — it is never resold. When a farmer retires or leaves, the farm is leased to a new farmer under the same environmental conditions. This is functionally a [[Community Land Trust|community land trust]] model adapted to French law. Also similar to the [[Fundo FUA]] model in Brazil. - **Environmental lease mechanism:** All farms are leased through _baux ruraux environnementaux_, a legal instrument created in 2007. Terre de Liens successfully lobbied (2010) to expand the law, allowing foundations and solidarity companies — not just public authorities — to use these leases. Leases include binding clauses on organic certification, biodiversity protection, soil health, water quality, hedgerow maintenance, and renewable energy use. - **Policy advocacy and networks:** Founding member of InPACT (Initiatives Pour une Agriculture Citoyenne et Territoriale), the French network for citizen and territorial agriculture. Member of the European Network on Access to Land (Accès à la Terre).