Traditional low intensity farming: Evidence of the role of vente directe in supporting such farms in Northwest France, and some implications for conservation policy

This paper examines the findings of research which examined the profile of farms in the French vente directe sector, i.e. farms that valorise their produce with direct processing and sales. In particular, evidence was sought concerning the degree to which vente directe might have a conservation role through helping to valorise traditional low intensity farm produce. The evidence suggests that vente directe can help to support small, low intensity farms in landscapes of high conservation value. However, as often as not, such farms are more unorthodox than traditional—both socio-economically and in terms of farm enterprises. When, occasionally, more conventional farms enter the vente directe sector, they are as likely to exhibit modern, intensive characteristics as they are to follow low intensity farming systems.