From abandonment to transitions? A comparative analysis of the framing and uses of abandoned farmland – FRICHAGRI

The rising profile of climate change led to a surge of interest for agricultural abandoned lands worldwide. Indeed, these abandoned farmlands are increasingly seen as 'land of opportunity', because of their perceived emptyness and availability, for the implementation of environmental, agricultural and/or energy transition policies. Abandoned agricultural land is thus converted into frontier resource by and for the transitions. However, this conversion often leads to controversy, conflict and resistance: either framing conflicts regarding legitimate conceptions of these lands, or conflicts of use about the legitimate modes of appropriation and/or valorisation of these areas. The FRICHAGRI project proposes to analyse the transition policies for abandoned farmlands emphasizing the underlying struggles and power relations : what transitions are taking place on abandoned agricultural land and who are the 'winners' and 'losers'? The multidisciplinary research team will conduct a comparative study in four study areas: in France (Occitanie and Guadeloupe), as well as in a northern country (Italy) and a southern country (Ivory Coast). The team will 1) analyse the design and territorialisation of transition policies for/on abandoned farmland, 2) study the uses (past and present), rights (formal and informal) and relatiopnships coexisting in these areas, and 3) characterise the procedural and distributive outcomes of these policies - particularly in terms of access/exclusion to land.