France Agriculture: Farms, Workforce, Safety, and Health Trends

France's agricultural sector contributes 3.5% to GDP and employs 5.0% of the workforce, with 389,800 farms operating in 2020. Large farms (SGP >250,000 €) produce 87% of output and employ 42% of the workforce. Specialised regions focus on cereals, dairy, viticulture, and mixed farming, with 52% of farms in crop production. The sector includes 761,300 workers, 65% of whom are owners or joint owners, with an average manager age of 51.4 years (79% male). Female participation is growing, especially in market gardening and livestock, but remains low in management. Between 2010 and 2020, farm owners and permanent workers declined, with female owners dropping from 306,800 to 220,400. In 2021, 12,982 work-related accidents occurred (28 per 1,000 employees), highest in livestock and dairy. Musculoskeletal disorders affected 57.2% of farmers in 2022, while occupational diseases (2.3–2.7 per 1,000) were linked to repetitive tasks, noise, and dust. Suicide accounted for 23.4% of farmer deaths (2020–2023), often due to economic stress and isolation. Despite a 38% drop in work-stoppage accidents among owners (2010–2021), labour shortages and climate change impacts on yields remain key challenges. Data from Agreste, Ceresc, Chambres d’agriculture, INSEE, and the EU-funded SafeHabitus project highlight demographic shifts, health risks, and economic pressures in French agriculture.