Cattle farming accounts for 11.8% of the country's emissions. France is Europe's leading beef producer and second largest dairy herd behind Germany.
Court of Auditors published a report recommending to "define and make public a strategy for the reduction" of the cattle herd to meet the climate commitments of the France. "Reading that your activity must cease or largely decrease, it is very complicated for breeders," says president of the majority agricultural union FNSEA, Arnaud Rousseau. "It's experienced as a real injury," he added.