- Rational agriculture corresponds to a holistic approach in the management of farms. It tends, above and over the respect of regulations, to reinforce the positive impacts of agricultural practices on the environment. This approach also tries to reduce the negative effects of agricultural practices, without questioning the economic cost-effectiveness of farming.
- Rational agriculture is a recognized process, started since 2002 and having a legal framework. This has been recently completed by a decree giving precisions on the conditions of use of the terms "rational agriculture », published in the French Journal officiel (Official Gazette) on the 28th March 2004.
- The system of rational agriculture proposes to all farmers to adhere, on a voluntary basis, to a process of qualification concerning all the conditions of production and corresponding to requirements fixed by a « standard document ». This qualification is acquired for 5 years by a certifying organism after an audit of the farm.
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It is the National commission for agriculture and farm qualification (CNAR) that is responsible for matters related to rational agriculture in the ministry of Agriculture. It formulates, in its domain of competency, proposals that can help towards a better application, to the development and to the increased value of rational agriculture
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