1

The agroecology project in France

ENPARD SeminarAgricultural Policy and Practices

to Promote Sustainable Agricultural ProductionJune 2017

2

Short presentation of the concept of agroecology

3

Origin and rise of agroecology

1930’s

«agroecology» first appears as a distinct term→ use of ecology methods for research into commercial plants

1960’s

Publication of a comprehensive book

→ cross-correlated analysis of interactions between biology (ecology) and agricultural practices (agronomy)

Since the 1980’s

Expansion of scientific studies

4

Rapidly evolving definitions and scope

Biology, agronomy, ecology, zoology....

Crops, fields, farm holdings

In the scientific field

Spatially

Transdisciplinary approach including the social sciences

Farm holdings, landscape, regions food system

5

Common principles

Scientific field

Agricultural practices

Social movement

At the interface between agronomy, ecology and social sciences promoting «systemic approaches»

A consistent group of practices for the building of agricultural production systems, combining economical and environmental performance, reliant on ecosystemic functions and reduction of pressure on the environment and natural resources

A movement on the margins of dominant modern agricultural thinking, promoting rural development, food sovereignty and environmentally friendly agriculture

6

Core principles of agroecology

Enhancement of biodiversity in the

« agro-ecosystems » (both wild and

cultivated)

Enhancement of biological

regulatory systems

Closing thebio- and geochemical

cycles(carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc...)

7

Enhancement of biodiversity

In crops

Enhancement of mixed plant cover to restrict the spread of pests

● Mix of variety● Mixed crops (cereal and legumes or grass mix)

8

Enhancement of biodiversity

In groups of fields

Diversification of plant cover and field borders to enhance the spatial and temporal mix

● Diversification and extension of crop rotation

● Growing legumes● Use of cover crops● Creation of field borders

and planting trees

9

Enhancement of biodiversity

Across the farm as a whole

Increasing production diversity in order to enhance synergies between different areas of the farm and increase the farm self -sufficiency (fertilisers, pesticides, animal feed, energy, etc...)

● Crop fertilisation with manure● Feed, fodder and litter

provided by the crop system

10

Enhancement of biological regulatory systems

Auxiliary insect (3rd level)

Predator (2nd level)

Cultivated crop (1st level)

Enhancement of biological links between populations (odd number of food -trophic- chain levels) to combat pests (biological control)

● Enhancement of predation on seeds to eliminate weeds

● Fostering auxiliary species

11

Closing bio- and geochemical cycles

Avoidance of nutrient loss and wastage along with contamination and GHG emissions

Reduction of dependency on external inputs (especially those based on fossil resources)

● Recycling of organic effluents (methanisation, processing, regional management, etc...)

● Enhancement of complementarity between crop cultivation and stock breeding

● Use of symbiosis (legumes, mycorrhizae...)

● No-tillage techniques, agroforestry, hedges, etc...

12

● A response to the broad challenges facing French agriculture and an ambition for the agricultural sector

● To develop solutions combining economical, environmental, social and sanitary high performance

● Agroecology is not a set of practices or recipes : the solutions are diverse and must be adapted on a case-by-case basis

Origin and implementation of the agroecology project in France

13

Agroecological project :a strong political will

● Launched in December 2012 by Stephane Le Foll, previous Minister of Agriculture● National Conference "Let’s produce differently" – 18.12.2012● 17.10.2014 : Law on the future of agriculture, food and forestry = definition of agroecology● Integration of 10 existing specific action plans :

Ecoantibio (2012-2017), Ecophyto II (review in autumn 2015), EMAA (energy methanisation self-sufficiency & nitrogen), Seed and sustainable agriculture, Ambition bio 2017, Protein crops, Agroforestry (launched in December 2015), Bee-keeping (extended into 2017), To teach producing differently, Animal welfare.

Set the objective of a majority of French farmers adopting agroecology practices by 2025

14

The definition in the Law● Aim of public policies: to promote and to ensure

the long term viability of the agroecological system combining economic, environmental and social high performance

● Farm self-sufficiency, with improvements in their competitiveness (increased profitability and value-added plus reduced use of inputs)

● Based on positive biological interactions and on the use of ecosystemic services

● Contribute to the reduction of and adaptation to the impact of climate change

15

Project governance

● A steering committee with the main stakeholders and partners (describe and monitor actions)

● Preparation in a ministerial committee

● 17 chapters in the action plan, more than 70 actions. For each action : a pilot, a timetable, milestones and monitoring indicators

● National orientations and monitoring committee: meeting chaired by the minister once a year at least

16

The action plan and its first accomplishments

17

Implementation of the action plan:some examples

● Local actions

– With regional authorities and chambers of agriculture

● Training and information for staff– New training courses– E-learning on agroecology with existing farms as

exampleshttp://www.infoma-foad.fr/PAE/co/PUBLICATIONS_web_module1_2.html

18

Application of the action plan : research and training

● New agroecology research programmes ● Stronger links between research and

actors in the field – E.g. dissemination of locally-based knowledge

● Training: the « teaching to produce differently» programme

– A review of teaching programmes, involvement of agricultural training farms and training for teachers

19

Example : Auzeville farm in Haute Garonne (near Toulouse)

● Area : 40 hectares● Use of pesticides cut by half in five years● Through : mechanical weeding, biocontrol,

low-volume treatment, no-till methods, crops under cover

● New training system : management of trials by students

● For more information : http://agriculture.gouv.fr/toulouse-lagro-ecologie-en-marche-les-eleves-aux-commandes

20

Application of the action plan: agricultural development

● Commitment by agricultural development organisations to support farmers to make their transition to agroecology

● A new law for the future of agriculture on 13 October 2014 enabling creation of GIEEs (groups of farmers wishing to improve their level of economical and environmental performance)

● Provision free of charge of an agroecology assessment tool

21

Focus : GIEEs economic and environmental interest groups

● Voluntary groups of farmers organised around a shared project for improving or consolidating their farming methods in order to improve their economic, environmental and social performance

● Recognition at the regional level following a call for proposal

● More than 400 GIEEs granted recognition by april 2017 (more than 6000 farmers)

● Wide variety of types of production and partners (technical, research, etc...)

22

Map of recognized GIEE (April 2017) 15

4040

15

26

3221

83

83

13

2

4

33

28

15

4 413

23

Example : Westhalten GIEE

● A collective approach to in wine-growing to cease using of herbicide and to prevent soil erosion

● A project constructed by and between winegrowers, INRA researchers and environmental organizations

● Local plant species (from the protected area) grown between the row

● First results : improved solidarity between winegrowers and an enhanced image for the latter

24

Delivery in October 2015 :the agroecology assessment tool

● Availability of this tool for farmers and advisers(www.diagagroeco.org)

● The aim: to assess the current status of the farm and to envisage possible changes for engagement in a transition to agroecology

● Free use, free of charge, anonymous, via the internet. The tool is modular in construction (practices, performances and endeavours)

● Built in partnership withstakeholders

25

The agroecology assessment tool● A questionnaire adapted to the types of

production of the farm● Based on 3 modules :

● Practices● Performances● Endeavours

● Notes available on practices (providing information and encouragement to go further)

26

27

Application of the action plan :financial support

● Investment subsidies geared towards agroecology oriented projects

● Guide for the local level in how to use rural development support (2nd pillar of the CAP for agroecology)

● Use of the CAP schemes:

– Agri-environmental and climatic measures (systemic measures and higher payments from central government, Regions, and EARDF)

– Support for the production of protein crops (1st pillar of the CAP)

28

The environment in the European and French agricultural policies

● Not in the initial objectives of the CAP (to increase the productivity of agriculture, to ensure an equitable standard of living for the farming population, to stabilize the markets, to guarantee the security of the supplies and to ensure of the reasonable prices for the consumers)

● Successive inflections, to answer the increasing concerns of the citizens (health, environment compared to the agricultural production)

● The taking into account of the environment oscillates between inciting approachs and injunctions: strong role of the regulation (phyto, fertilization…)

● Agro-ecology: change of paradigm, the environment is an asset for the systems and a factor of competitiveness

29

Application of the action plan:creating an environment favourable to

innovation

● Development of suitable selective breeding (adapted genetic)

– Environmental evaluate for certified seed in addition of agronomic and technological criterion

– A study to know how to propose new tools by animal genetic most suitable for agroecological farms

● Adapting the agricultural and agri-food sectors– Discussions in specific committees that gather all levels

by sector– Thinking how to integrate agroecology in specification of

official labels of quality

30

Setting up an evaluation committee (½)

● Inclusion of stakeholders● Evaluation of the relevance of actions● Work on indicators (results and impacts) and

evaluation studies

31

Setting up an evaluation committee (2/2)some indicators

Some results indicators

Some impacts indicators

32

The ten plans (1/2)

● Ecoantibio (2012-2017)– Reduced use of antibiotics with notable objective of reducing

antibiotic resistance

● Ecophyto II (review in autumn 2015)– Reduced us of pesticides. Involvement of research and

development bodies. Successful experiments by the DEPHY network. The challenge is to encourage wider application of low-input agronomic systems.

● EMAA (energy methanisation self-sufficiency & nitrogen)

– Agricultural recycling of livestock manure and development of agricultural methanisation

● Seed and sustainable agriculture – Review of evaluation criteria.

33

The ten plans (2/2)● “Ambition bio” 2017

– Support for the development of the organic sector

● Protein crops– Promoting feed self-sufficiency and highlighting the value of

growing legumes

● Agroforestry (launched in December 2015)– Knowledge, financial and legal supports, training and advisory

services

● Bee-keeping (extended into 2017)– Research, colony health, structuring of the sector and training

● Teaching to produce differently

● Animal welfare

34

“Ambition bio” 2017: targets

● An overall goal to double the percentage of organically managed land by the end of 2017 (from 4% to 8%) alongside an ambitious target for the development of consumption

● Renewed impetus for balanced development and structuring of all sectors

● Implementation of a new form of governance at the regional level

● A programme of actions aligned with the agroecology project for France

35

The organic agriculture sector in 2015Organic operators Organic land area

28,884 farms ( + 9% in 2015)6.5% of French farms

1.375 million Ha ( + 23 % in 2015) => 1 m certified , 0.3 m in conversion

13,528 processors, retail, import and export companies (+5% in 2015)

5.1% of national utilised agriculture area

Total of 42,412 operators (+ 8 % in 2015)

Organic market Jobs (full time)

€ 5.76 Billions in 2015 (+14,7% increase in 2015)

69,000 jobs on farms (10% of agricultural jobs)

Including € 225 millions in organic supply to collective catering (+18% increase in 2015)

30,000 jobs in processing and distribution

9 french consumers out of every 10 eat organic food

2,000 jobs in controls, advice, research, training, etc….

65% are regular organic consumers (at once by month)

More than 100,000 jobs in France

36

Conclusion● An inspirational project for French agriculture in the

medium term but one already able to point to concrete achievements

● Using a diversity of levers

● Based on innovations : in the practices, in a systemic vision of the farm, in organization

● The need now is to involve actors downstream and provide better information for consumers and the general public on the transition processes under way in French agriculture

37

Thanks for your attention

Pierre SCHWARTZ

Head of Environmental Performance and Territorial Development

Department

«  Agroecology » Project manager

General Directorate for the Economic and Environnemental Performance of

Entreprises

French Ministry of Agriculture

3, rue Barbet de Jouy 75349 PARIS 07 SP FRANCE

Tel : 00 33 1 49 55 45 39

Mail : pierre.schwartz@agriculture.gouv.fr

Site Internet : http://agriculture.gouv.fr/

38

The Ecophyto plan II

Reduction of the use of

phyto-pharmaco-

logical products

39

History and challenges● “Grenelle de l'environnement” → Ecophyto 2018

● To reduce by 50% the use of the phytopharmacological products within a period of 10 years, if possible

● Report: light increase in the recourse to the phytopharmacological products of 5% between 2009-2010-2011 and 2011-2012-2013

● Directive 2009/128 “use of the pesticides compatible with sustainable development”: revaluation of the national plans every 5 years minimum.

● Reduction necessary for the human health and the environment

40

Ecophyto plan II : 7 principles

● To maintain the objective : - 25% in 2020 and – 50% in 2025

● To supervise the impacts: a watchtower with 360°

● At the core of agro-ecology

● The farmer and farms are in the centre

● To play collective

● To have a territorial approach

● A positive culture

41

Ecophyto plan II architecture

Axis 1 To act today and to make evolved the practicesAxis 2 To improve knowledge and tools for tomorrow

and to encourage researchand innovation

Axis 3 To evaluate and to control risks and impactsAxis 4 To accelerate the transition towards non-use of

plant health products in gardens, green areas andInfrastructures

Axis 5 Public policies, territories and food chainsAxis 6 To communicate and to implement a simplified

governance

42

Ecophyto II Plan: continuation of the structuring actions

● Main challenge: to pass to the generalization of the techniques and of the sparing and powerful systems

● For that, the plan Ecophyto II consolidates the structuring actions of the first period of the plan like:

● DEPHY, network Farm and Expe● CERTIPHYTO● tools for diffusion of information (BSV,

EcophytoPIC, etc)

43

Ecophyto II plan : new actions● Certificate of saving in products (CEPP)

● Support for the “recognized” agro-equipment allowing a significant reduction of the use

● Call of proposal to 30,000 farms to be engaged (through agro-ecology)

● Better articulation between the various policies

● Support for collective dynamic and agri-food chains

● Strong amplification:

– support for the biocontrol– implementation of integrated protection– monitoring of risk exposures and impacts

(phytopharmacovigilance)

44

Ecophyto II plan : financial resources● Tax for diffuse pollution (RPD)

● 41 M€ + 30 M€ /year starting from the end of 2016 targeted for the farms

● National and regional calls for projects

45

Ecophyto II plan : governance● At the national level

– Co-chairing by MAAF MEEM– Committee for strategic orientation (COS)– Scientific and technical committee – Scientific committee of orientation (for the

implementation of the research axis)● At the regional level

– Agro-ecological commission– Committee of the funders– Development of a regional roadmap

46

Results in DEPHY Farm network● DEPHY FARM : a group of farms supported by an

engineer conducting trials of certain farming practices directed at reduced use of pesticides (now 3000 farms)

● Despite increased frequency of use in France (+5.8% between 2011-2013 and 2012-2014), a decrease in the “Farm” network between 2012 and 2014

Production Decrease of treatment frequency index

Crops and farms with combining crops and livestock

10%

Fruit and wine growing 12%

Vegetable growing 15%

horticulture 38%

Sugar-cane 22%