Primary Economic Activities

• The Paris Basin is highly productive and specialises in commercial agriculture, focusing on wheat and barley production in the Beauce region, alongside sugar beet as a rotational crop.

• Crop rotation in the Paris Basin prevents nutrient depletion by growing different crops, which helps maintain soil fertility and productivity.

• The Beauce region, known as the "Granary of France," benefits from long growing seasons, abundant sunshine, and well-distributed rainfall, making it ideal for crop cultivation.

• Brie region's damper climate and clay soils are conducive to pasture growth, promoting dairy farming, with dairy products, such as cheese and butter, being sold to nearby urban markets.

• Normandy focuses on dairy production, supplying milk to companies like Danone for products such as Camembert cheese, with over 400 farmers contributing organic milk to the company.

• Normandy is also known for its profitable apple industry, producing the Golden Delicious variety, which benefits from the region's climate and soil conditions.
• Near urban areas, market gardening thrives, producing fruit, vegetables, and flowers that are quickly transported to nearby cities like Paris, thanks to excellent transport links.
• Inland areas of the Paris Basin experience high summer temperatures, suitable for vine growing, with Champagne produced exclusively in this region, particularly around the Falaise de France.
• The development of Champagne in the Paris Basin dates back to the 18th century by Benedictine monks, with the strict geographical area ensuring the quality and authenticity of the wine.

• The average farm size in the Paris Basin is around 400 hectares, significantly larger than the EU average of 50 hectares, allowing for extensive and intensive farming practices.
• Farmers in the Paris Basin are well-educated and treat agriculture as a business, generating substantial profits and appealing to local markets through food processing industries like winemaking and fruit canning.

*Wine and Champagne are produced in the Paris Basin *