Environmental Services Payments: Launch in South Vienne in 2027

A new financial mechanism will reward agricultural practices beneficial for water quality, with aid up to €12,000 per year.

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Generic image of water droplets falling into water, creating ripples.

Starting in 2027, Eaux de Vienne will implement the Environmental Services Payments (PSE) system in the Catchment Supply Areas of South Vienne. This financial mechanism, validated in February 2026 by the Loire-Bretagne Water Agency, aims to value and remunerate agricultural practices contributing to water quality preservation.

Around thirty volunteer farmers have committed to a 5-year period. They will be eligible for aid of up to €12,000 per year per farm. This remuneration will be subject to an annual follow-up evaluating the maintenance and improvement of their practices based on five key indicators.
The indicators considered are: soil cover rate, proportion of Utilized Agricultural Area (UAA) dedicated to Low Input Crops (BNI), Herbicide Treatment Frequency Index (IFT) (excluding grasslands), share of untreated UAA (excluding herbicides), and nitrogen residues at drainage inlet.
The funding for this system will be provided jointly by the Loire-Bretagne Water Agency, the Adour-Garonne Water Agency, and Eaux de Vienne.
Based on information from the official source: Eaux de Vienne - Siveer (30/10/2026)