In all this represents about 50 families

N e had not expected such a success. "This is why we are launching a second appeal to savings until August 2010," smiles Philippe Cacciabue, Director of the land earth links. In his first appeal, between October 2008 and March 2009, the société en commandite par actions raised 8 million to the public. Since then, this structure, backing onto a Federation of associations, has applied its program to the letter: purchase farms to install lease (rent) of organic farmers.

This year, the land purchased 10 farms, and 11 others are being acquired. Nine farms had already been acquired in 2007 and the direct lift of 1 million euros in 2008. In all, this represents about 50 families. Properties are very different: a vineyard of less than one hectare in the Jura, 170 hectares of grazing land for sheep (Lot) passing by of market gardening, herd of 150 cows, etc. By its appeal, the land has attract 3,000 new buyers, 6 million euros of capital and to engage in the purchase of 20 properties. New donors should also bring half a million euros.

The project is to use solidarity and collective investment to get a highly speculative market farms. "The profitability of capital in agriculture is not bound as in other sectors to turnover." A farm and its terres are much more expensive that they report. This is due to strong speculation that pushed the price of the farms from generation to generation. "Many farmers not only win the SMIC," explains Xavier Robert, Association land of links. At the time, young farmers can no longer run farms whose owner is career, without family buyer. They are often resold to a farmer who grows, or a developer with the agreement of the Mayor...

"Political motivation".

The land to dissociate the heritage, it handles, and the production tool, which falls to the lessor. It funds projects that offers a network of 16 regional associations with volunteers expertisent records. "A third of our purchases were asked by retired farmers who did not want to see badly evolve their organic operation or biodynamique." But our rent leases stipulate well environmental practices that must respect the peasants. "We have the possibility to terminate our rentals in drift," says Philippe Cacciabue. In the other two thirds of the cases, the initiative is a young farmer who identified an owner to assign his farm. Generally, the transaction is done at the market price.

The land is is also doubled a Fund, created in September on the status of the Endowment Fund introduced by the law of modernization of economy passed in July. "This structure allows us to collect donations and farms without having the status of public utility Foundation, which takes several years to obtain." "We're donors the notarized promise never to sell their property", justifies Jérôme Deconinck, Director of the Fund. Twelve owners are already preparing to pass on their heritage with a total value of 1.5 million euros to of links.

The shareholders of the land, for their part, 3.600 come of all socioprofessional backgrounds. Half invested between 1,000 and 10,000 euros. They benefit from tax cuts (device Madelin) and two taxpayers subject to the ISF even benefited from the largesse of the Tepa law. But their motivation is not really financial! They receive no dividend and sponsorship does give them no power management. The shareholder may simply resume his investment, valued at the rate of inflation. To this end, a quarter of the capital of the land is placed to Crédit Coopératif to retain an ability to repay. The lack of return on investment did not prevent the lifting of 400,000 euros in a month since the launch of the new call.

After individuals, regions scramble now at the door of land links to give land. The land, its associations and its Fund therefore seek an ad hoc legal structure to local communities. "Our motivation is fundamentally political," says Xavier Robert. We believe that the lands should remain a common good.