Farm management and protection of natural resources: Analysis of adaptation process and dependence relationships

In the new farming context, farms are under considerable pressure from their socio-economic and administrative environment to adhere to service or management contracts, which create new constraints regarding production systems, leading farmers to modify their farming practices with a highly limiting effect on their manoeuvring power. Using the example of protection of a mineral water perimeter, we analyse in this paper: (i) the techno-economic results of the adaptation process on the farms; and (ii) the question of dependence of farms with regard to the other party involved in the contract. The methodological approach used is crucial to the reliability of this analysis. We have used the physical and monetary flow method to carry out detailed studies of the farms based on the case-study method. Results after the changes show a trend to specialise and extensify production systems, and also positive economic results with a new source of farm revenue (bonuses). The analysis shows that pressure to change leads to several types of external control on farms, and also that farmers are able to react in a number of ways. The success of such programmes can be put down to a certain number of factors which are examined here.