Reward score for farmers launched in France

The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty has launched a pilot of the "Remunera score," a new score that reflects the remuneration of agricultural producers on products. The pilot was set up for a five-year period under the Egalim 2 law

The Remunera score, visible on different product types, gives consumers insight into how much a farmer earns from a product. It is intended to inform consumers about the price farmers receive, with labeling similar to the Nutriscore model.

The concept of this reward score was already announced in the Egalim Act 2, passed in October 2021. The idea is to create a dynamic through letter labeling on products that leads to better rewards for farmers.

Which products are affected?

The score applies to meat (beef, pig, sheep, goat), fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and eggs. Wine, poultry (products) and grains are not covered and no specific distribution method is excluded.

In February 2023, the General Council for Food, Agriculture and the Countryside (CGAAER), part of the French ministry, published an exploratory report. It proposed that all food products and sales channels be included in the test.

Supermarket chain Lidl and beef industry pioneered

Before the government launched the reward score pilot, the beef federation FNB (Fédération Nationale Bovine) and supermarket chain Lidl France already took the initiative. They had announced a similar labeling system at the Salon International de l'Agriculture in Paris in early 2022. The goal was to encourage consumers to buy more responsibly, with a direct financial impact for beef farmers.

Michel Biero, director of Lidl France, introduced tripartite contracts between farmers, Lidl and the processing industry. As a result, the 5,000 cattle farmers they work with receive a higher price for their meat. Lidl also introduced the Remunera score, which ranges from A+ to F. Since September 2022, the Remunera score will be used for Limousin beef produced under these contracts, with labels in 150 Lidl supermarkets in the Grand Est region. This initiative will be rolled out further in 2023.

Agroberichtenbuitenland.nl