Terre de Liens
Terre de Liens is a French non-profit movement, founded in 2003, that acquires farmland through citizen savings and donations to lease it permanently to organic farmers. It serves future farmers, retiring landowners, municipalities, and citizen-investors, and currently preserves 449 farms across 14,200 hectares through 19 territorial associations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersCrest, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Terre de Liens does
Terre de Liens is a French non-profit movement founded in 2003 in the Drôme region, structured as a tri-part legal entity combining a national federation coordinating 19 territorial associations, a solidarity investment company (La Foncière Terre de Liens), and a public utility foundation (La Fondation Terre de Liens). The organisation acquires agricultural land through citizen savings (épargne solidaire) and donations, then leases the land to organic farmers via long-term baux ruraux, with a legal commitment never to resell—a permanent anti-speculation model. Its primary stakeholders are 'porteurs de projets' (future farmers, often hors-cadre familial) needing land access, retiring farmers without successors wishing to transmit their farms, local collectivities seeking farmland preservation, and citizen-investors financing acquisition. As of the latest disclosed metrics the movement preserves 449 farms across 14,200 hectares, supported by 63,524 members/donors and 1,720 active volunteers, operating across 16 regional offices covering all of metropolitan France.
Revenue mechanics are non-commercial and rely on three streams: (1) recurring shareholder subscriptions to the Foncière Terre de Liens for land acquisition, (2) tax-deductible donations to the Fondation, and (3) annual membership fees with voting rights at general assemblies. The go-to-market motion is community-led via the 19 territorial associations, employing cinema-débats, farm inaugurations, bio fairs, training programs, and direct mobilisation rather than paid acquisition. The technology stack is minimal: a standard web platform, an internal resource centre (Centre de ressources), the fermes.terredeliens.org farm-listing site, the Objectif Terres classifieds, and the RÉSULT participatory-science database co-developed with INRAE.
Operations are organised through the Fédération (national coordination), the Foncière (acquisition finance), the Fondation (gift-based land protection), a national training centre, 19 territorial associations (regional offices with their own staff and volunteer boards), and jointly controlled entities such as the Pays de la Loire cooperative Passeurs de Terres (2018). Customer relationships are mediated by salariat staff including 'médiateurs fonciers', 'chargés de mission installation-transmission', 'chargés de mobilisation citoyenne', and territorial animatrices/animateurs, with a board-of-co-presidents governance model at the regional level.
Terre de Liens firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Terre de Liens
- Legal name
- Terre de Liens
- Website
- https://terredeliens.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Terre de Liens is a French non-profit movement, founded in 2003, that acquires farmland through citizen savings and donations to lease it permanently to organic farmers. It serves future farmers, retiring landowners, municipalities, and citizen-investors, and currently preserves 449 farms across 14,200 hectares through 19 territorial associations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Terre de Liens industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Land Trust
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)
Keywords
Where Terre de Liens is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Crest
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices16 records
Markets served
Terre de Liens business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Solidarity Savings (Épargne solidaire): Citizens invest in the Foncière Terre de Liens by purchasing shares, which funds the acquisition of agricultural lands. These lands are then leased to organic farmers at affordable rates, with no speculative resale.
- Donations: Citizens make donations to support land acquisition projects and organizational activities. Donations are tax-deductible in France.
- Membership Fees: Members pay annual fees to support the association and gain voting rights at general assemblies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Terre de Liens product offering
Product offeringCore offering
French nonprofit founded in 2003 that preserves agricultural land through three coordinated legal entities: La Fédération (national federation coordinating 19 territorial associations), La Foncière (a solidarity investment company that acquires farmland using capital from individual citizen-shareholders), and La Fondation (a public-utility foundation receiving donations and bequests that holds farmland in perpetuity). To date it has preserved 449 farms across 14,200 hectares, supported by approximately 63,524 members, 1,720 volunteers, and 51–100 staff based primarily in Crest, Drôme.
Product overview
Terre de Liens is a civil society movement combining three core structures: La Fédération (national federation coordinating 19 territorial associations), La Foncière (solidarity investment company for agricultural land acquisition), and La Fondation (public utility foundation). The organization operates platforms including Objectif Terres (land classifieds), the Centre de ressources (knowledge repository), and RÉCOLTE (innovative land initiative database). The movement has preserved 449 farms across 14,200 hectares through citizen investment, supporting organic farming installations throughout metropolitan France.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- La Foncière Terre de Liens: The solidarity investment company (enterprise d'investissement solidaire) of the Terre de Liens movement, acquiring agricultural lands through citizen savings and donations to enable organic farming installation.
- La Fondation Terre de Liens
- La Fédération Terre de Liens
- Objectif Terres
- Centre de ressources Terre de Liens
- Passeurs de Terres
Products and services
- La Foncière A solidarity investment company that acquires agricultural land using capital raised from individual citizens buying shares (épargne solidaire), with low minimum entry to broaden participation. Returns are capped and channeled back into the land-preservation mission.
- La Fondation Terre de Liens A public-utility foundation that receives donations, bequests, and legacies and uses them to acquire and hold farmland in perpetuity, ensuring long-term protection from resale or speculative use.
- La Fédération Terre de Liens National federation coordinating 19 regional territorial associations; provides advocacy, outreach, member engagement, and on-the-ground support to farmers and land seekers. Membership-based, with members and volunteers participating across France.
- Objectif Terres Online classified-ads platform listing agricultural properties for sale or transfer, supporting farm succession, transmission, and installation; offered as a free informational tool alongside Terre de Liens' core land-preservation services.
Quantifiable outcome
- 449 farms preserved (14,200 hectares) across France
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Terre de Liens
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Terre de Liens technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Terre de Liens partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
29 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- CNRS/Université Bordeaux Montaigne (UMR Passages)minorAcademic research partnership through Micro Agri compagnonnage program analyzing accompaniment mechanisms for micro farms
- Passeurs de TerrescoreRegional agricultural cooperative co-founded by Terre de Liens Pays de la Loire with AFOCG, CAB, FRCIVAM, and LPO for land acquisition and management
- DRAAF Grand EstminorRegional agricultural authority partnering with Terre de Liens Alsace for agricultural development initiatives
- UE/LEADERminorEuropean Union rural development program supporting local agricultural initiatives in Alsace
- Bio en Grand EstminorRegional organic farming association collaborating with Terre de Liens Alsace on organic agriculture promotion
- ARDEAR Grand EstminorAgricultural development association for organic and peasant farming in Grand Est region
- Bordeaux MétropolecoreJoint food and agriculture policy development with Terre de Liens Aquitaine, contributing to territorial food plans
- CAAP 24 (Collectif Alimentaire et Agroécologique du Périgord)coreCollective of 6 associations (Agrobio 24, Manger bio Périgord, La Maison Des Paysans, Pays'en Graine, SCIC Nourrir l'Avenir, and Terre de Liens) supporting local agricultural projects
- CIVAM BiominorAgricultural knowledge and development network for organic farming orientation
- LPO (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux)coreNational partnership for biodiversity inventories on Terre de Liens farms, extended to regional level with scientific council support
- CIVAMminorAgricultural knowledge and development networks active in Brittany supporting farmer installation
- GAB (Groupements d'Agriculteurs Biologiques)minorRegional organic farming groups working with Terre de Liens Bretagne on organic agriculture
- ADEARminorAgricultural development associations supporting farmer installation and training
- InPACT Centre-Val de LoirecoreNetwork including MRJC, Accueil Paysan, Solidarité Paysans, FRCIVAM, ARDEAR CVL, InPACT 37, AMAP Centre-Val de Loire, CIAP CVL, and partners Biocentre and Afogq 45
- UmaniminorCorsican cultural association partnering with Terre de Liens Corsica for agricultural preservation
- Via CampagnolaminorAgricultural association representing farmers in Corsica
- Interbio CorseminorCorsican organic farming association collaborating on organic agriculture initiatives
- Corsic'AmapminorNetwork of AMAPs (Associations pour le Maintien d'une Agriculture Paysanne) in Corsica
- Occitanie RegioncoreRegional council supporting Terre de Liens Languedoc-Roussillon activities and farm acquisitions
- SAFER OccitanieminorLand development and rural settlement organization operating in agricultural land transactions
- TACTS NetworkcoreRegional network (Tous pour une Agriculture Citoyenne, Territoriale et Solidaire) including Accueil Paysan, AFOCG, ARDEAR, CAB, CIAP, FRCIVAM, and Solidarité Paysans
- COOPAIRESminorCooperation project between agricultural, environmental, and citizen associations with CIVAM Normands, ARDES, GRAINE Normandie, ARDEAR Normandie, funded by FEADER
- SAFER Grand EstminorLand development organization operating in Lorraine region for agricultural land transactions
- Bio Grand EstminorRegional organic farming association in Grand Est working with Terre de Liens Lorraine
- Conservatoire des Espaces NaturelsminorNature spaces conservation organization partnering on environmental protection initiatives
- LPOminorBird protection league partnering on biodiversity conservation on farms
- InPACT Nouvelle-AquitainecoreRegional agricultural network building common offerings for territorial agroecological transition
- ADEAR LimousinminorAgricultural development association co-organizing the 'Terre Nourricière' festival
- Agrobio87minorOrganic farming association in Haute-Vienne co-organizing agricultural events
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Terre de Liens competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fédération Nationale des SAFER: French federated network of land development and rural settlement organizations that operate in agricultural land transactions. Functions as a potential transactional counterpart to Terre de Liens at the moment of land acquisition, sharing the same land-preservation mission via a different statutory and financing model.
- Access To Land Network: European network maintained by Terre de Liens connecting land-access organizations across Europe for knowledge and advocacy sharing. A direct thematic peer whose members pursue the same mission of expanding access to land for agroecological farmers, in different national contexts.
- Réseau CIVAM: French network of Centres d'Initiatives pour Valoriser l'Agriculture et le Milieu rural, partnering with Terre de Liens in multiple regions to promote sustainable and citizen-led agriculture. Acts as a complementary grassroots operational counterpart on training, installation support, and rural development.
- Confédération Paysanne: French small-scale farmers' union advocating for peasant agriculture and installation of new farmers, sharing many goals with Terre de Liens on land access. Differs as a union defending an existing farmer constituency versus Terre de Liens as a land-acquiring movement.
Broad incumbents
- France Nature Environnement: France's largest federation of environmental associations, encompassing biodiversity and land-use advocacy comparable to Terre de Liens' environmental conservation mandate but operating as an advocacy/coordination body rather than direct land-holder.
- Fondation de France: Large French philanthropic foundation that supports a wide range of causes including agricultural and rural development. Comparable in legal structure (recognized public utility foundation) and broad member/donor base, but operates at a much larger and more diversified scale across all French philanthropic causes.
- Soil Association: The UK's largest organic and sustainable food charity, working on organic certification, farming policy, and land use. Comparable to Terre de Liens' dual mandate of promoting organic agriculture and influencing agricultural land policy, but operates in the UK with a broader sustainability scope beyond pure land preservation.
- FAKTION / Fondation pour la Nature et l'Homme: Swiss and French environmental foundation working on sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and land stewardship. Shares Terre de Liens' agroecological orientation and foundation structure while operating at a different geographic and thematic scope.
Regional players
- Viva Solida Schweiz: Swiss solidarity-financed land trust that acquires land for organic and peasant farming, structurally analogous to Terre de Liens' Foncière. Operates in Switzerland with similar solidarity-investment mechanics but at a smaller scale and different regulatory environment.
- Soil Trust / Landtrust UK: UK-based land conservation organization holding land for environmental and community benefit. Analogous in operating a permanently-held land bank to prevent development, but with a broader environmental mandate beyond strict agricultural installation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Terre de Liens social profiles
Digital presenceTerre de Liens financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Terre de Liens leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Terre de Liens subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries24 records
Terre de Liens funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Terre de Liens M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Terre de Liens
What does Terre de Liens do?
French nonprofit founded in 2003 that preserves agricultural land through three coordinated legal entities: La Fédération (national federation coordinating 19 territorial associations), La Foncière (a solidarity investment company that acquires farmland using capital from individual citizen-shareholders), and La Fondation (a public-utility foundation receiving donations and bequests that holds farmland in perpetuity). To date it has preserved 449 farms across 14,200 hectares, supported by approximately 63,524 members, 1,720 volunteers, and 51–100 staff based primarily in Crest, Drôme.
Is Terre de Liens a public or private company?
Terre de Liens is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Terre de Liens founded?
Terre de Liens was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Terre de Liens based?
Terre de Liens is headquartered in Crest, France, in the Europe region.
How does Terre de Liens make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Solidarity Savings (Épargne solidaire) is the primary driver. The others are donations and membership Fees.
Who are Terre de Liens's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fédération Nationale des SAFER, Access To Land Network, Réseau CIVAM and Confédération Paysanne. Broad incumbents are France Nature Environnement, Fondation de France, Soil Association and FAKTION / Fondation pour la Nature et l'Homme. Regional players are Viva Solida Schweiz and Soil Trust / Landtrust UK.
Does Terre de Liens have an API?
No public API is recorded for Terre de Liens.
What industry is Terre de Liens in?
Terre de Liens's product category is Agricultural Land Trust. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAI, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 700.