FARM CERTIFICATION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HACCP IN AGRICULTURE: A COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS

This article aims to highlight the methodological bases and principles, sometimes implicit, that have served as support for the development of a referential similar to the one retained as part of the French decree on "Agriculture Raisonnée", namely the Quali'Terre referential. We show that the innovations introduced by this referential are of various natures: i) a change of perspective by taking a position at the level of the farming system and not of a given parcel of land or production, ii) use of the HACCP method for identification and most especially the prioritization of risks and the preventive measures to be implemented, iii) the introduction of the concept of continual improvement for the farmer. Even, if from an agronomic point of view, the application of this type of referential does not seem insurmountable, we show that, based on a study of about one hundred farms in Picardie, its global approach on farm management, unstead of just applying technical requirements, involves changes in farmer's practices that are more difficult than what was expected first.