[1] Their role is to representing all the different economic agents involved in agriculture: farmers, but also landowners, employees, and agricultural organizations such as mutual societies, cooperatives, credit unions, and general-purpose unions;[2] and support farmers in their development.

In 1840, Marshal Bugeaud, then deputy for the Dordogne, proposed a law to create chambers of agriculture.

[5] At the departmental level, the Chambers of Agriculture are responsible for several mandatory public services: They play an essential role in providing information and assistance to farmers.

Recently, a chamber of agriculture, a member of the national network, was created in Mayotte.

The chambers have considerable resources at their disposal: around 8,000 employees, including 6,000 engineers and technicians, and a total consolidated budget of 702 million euros.

Previous presidents are Joseph Faure (Corrèze, 1927-1940), René Blondelle (FSDEA-02, 1952-1971), Pierre Collet (the Loire, 1971-1974), Louis Perrin (FSDEA-28, 1974 - 1989), Pierre Cormorèche (FSDEA-01, 1989-1995), Jean-François Hervieu (FSDEA-27, 1995-2001), Luc Guyau (FSDEA-85, 2001-2010), Guy Vasseur (FSDEA-41, 2010-2016).

[6] The APCA coordinates networks of Chambers of Agriculture advisors, to help them adapt their support to farmers and other rural stakeholders.

The rate of participation (66% in the farmers' college in 2007) lends a certain legitimacy to its representatives, even if the agricultural world is plural.

For the main college of farm managers and assimilated and that of salaried employees, the voting system is a single-round, proportional list system with a majority bonus, i.e. the list that comes first automatically wins half the seats, with the remainder shared out on a proportional basis.

The results of the 2019 Chambers of Agriculture elections (held from January 21 to 31)[24][25] brought no surprises at the national level.

The Rural Coordination has also consolidated its second-place position and will head the chambers in 3 departments.

The Confédération Paysanne made slight progress, but will no longer manage any departments, while Modef fell below the 2% mark.

[28] Chambers of agriculture are criticized by researchers and skeptics alike for their permeability to pseudoscience, which is problematic given that they are state-funded.