Social protection for agricultural installation project leaders reformed

Decree No. 2026-856 of September 10, 2026, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0212 of September 11, 2026, reforms the social protection available to individuals engaged in a personalized agricultural installation project. Signed by the Minister of Agriculture, Agri-Food and Food Sovereignty, this text (NOR AGRT2620810D) replaces the previous personalized professionalization plan system with the new framework of the personalized installation project, supported by the France services agriculture network.

A New Framework for Social Coverage

The decree modifies the regulatory section of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code in order to align the social protection of project leaders with the support system of the France services agriculture network. The social coverage contract for agricultural installation now organizes the actions prescribed by the personalized installation project, according to a provisional schedule defined with the competent advisor from the consulting and support structure.

The contract must be concluded with the structure that approved the personalized installation project no later than two months following said approval. The structure transmits a copy of the contract to the competent agricultural social mutual fund.

Approval and Eligibility Conditions

The personalized installation project of a user of the France services agriculture network is approved by a consulting and support structure accredited for the mission of supporting an agricultural installation project. The decree specifies that the professionalization plan allowing for benefits under the installation policy is henceforth understood as a personalized installation project approved by such a structure.

The main modifications concern:

• the definition of the personalized installation project, which replaces the personalized professionalization plan approved by the prefect;
• the eligibility condition, which excludes persons already covered by a social security scheme;
• the validation of project actions, which occurs once all actions have been completed;
• the title of the paragraph dedicated to persons undertaking continuing professional training internships as part of a personalized installation project.

A Complementary System and a Transition

A second text, Decree No. 2026-855 of September 10, 2026 (NOR AGRT2610882D), published in the same issue of the Journal officiel, adapts Article R. 741-65 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code. It replaces the reference to young farmers completing a practical internship as part of a personalized professionalization plan validated by the prefect with that of persons engaged in a personalized installation project approved by an accredited structure of the France services agriculture network.

The decree provides for a transitional period: the social security of a person whose personalized professionalization plan was approved before January 1, 2027, remains governed by the provisions in force on the date of publication of the decree. Previous rules therefore remain applicable to files already underway.

A direct impact for future farmers

This reform simplifies and harmonizes the process of establishing oneself in agriculture by unifying support and social coverage around the France services agriculture network. For project leaders, it clarifies the conditions for accessing installation policy aid and secures their social protection from the moment they engage in the project, while allowing those already engaged time to finalize their files under the old regime until January 1, 2027.

Official source: Decree No. 2026-856 of September 10, 2026, relating to the social protection open to a person engaged with the France services agriculture network in a personalized agricultural installation project (NOR AGRT2620810D), Journal officiel de la République française No. 0212 of September 11, 2026.