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Follow up Conference « Territorial cooperation for the provision of public goods in the context of the reformed CAP »

Workshop 4 : connecting with the new CAP – 24th of April 2014

Seeking for double performance : The agro-ecological Project for France

Karine Belna (karine.belna@agriculture.gouv.fr)

Environmental Strategy and Climate Change Office General Directorate of Agriculture, Agrifood and Regional Policies

French Ministry of Agriculture

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Overview of the presentation

● The agro-ecological Project for France ● The draft law for agriculture (draft law for the future of

Agriculture, Agrifood and Forest)

● The working areas for the implementation of the agro-ecological Project

In particular CAP national implementation and collective action

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1- The agro-ecological Project for France

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What is the aim of the agro-ecological Project ?● The agro-ecological project seeks to answer to the many

challenges the french agriculture is facing and to provide an ambitious and mobilising perspective

● The goal is to overcome the opposition between different dimensions of agriculture and to promote solutions which combine economic, environmental and sanitary as well as social performance

● It relies on learning from existing pilots & capitalization, on knowledge transfer, training & learning, on incentives

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A strong political will

● It was launched in December 2012 by Stephane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture● National Conference «Let’s produce differently »

● Integration of 7 existing specific action plans

(pesticides, vetenary antibiotics, organic farming, protein crops, nitrogen management and methanisation, beekeeping, seeds selection)

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Agro-ecology: which are the issues at stake?● Enhancement of the economic performance

of the farm● Conservation of natural ressources (soil,

water, air) by efficient management of inputs and energy => reliance on positive interactions in the agricultural ecosystem

● Support of biodiversity and biological regulations (agroecological infrastructures, diversification of crop rotation, association of crop species and varieties...)

● Enhancement of self-reliance of animal production systems (feed, sewage, health, selection...)

● Basing farm development preferentially on an systemic approach

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● Systemic thinking : to take advantage of the positive interactions and synergies at the level of the individual farm as well as in its relationship with the surrounding ecosystem, the region, the agri-food chain, etc.

● Agro-ecology is not a set of practices or recipies : solutions will have to be diverse and adapted on a case by case basis

● Collective dynamic is a key factor to support the transition to agro-ecology

● It affects not only the farming practices but also the agro-food chain and the rural and territory development

Key features of the agro-ecological Project

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2 – The draft law for the future of Agriculture, Agrifood and Forest

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A new Draft Law

● Currently examined by the Parliament● To be adopted at last in Autumn 2014● 1st article (framing article) refers to

competitiveness and ecological transition ● 1st article gives a definition of agroecology ● Adressed issues: economic and environmental

performance, preservation of agricultural land & installation,food policy & health security, agricultural teaching, forest management ...

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A new tool : creation of Economic and environmental interest grouping (GIEE)● Recognition of a collective project which seeks

double performance ● Grouping of farmers, collective dynamic● Coming from farmers themselves ; Non-farmers

are partners● Recognition of the project at regional level● Overaching criteria and governance : currently

designed at the national level (within a multi-stakeholder working group)

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3 – The working areas for the implementation of the agro-ecological Project and the action plan

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Working areas

● Financial support of actions (in particular CAP aids)● Assistance, teaching and training of farmers● Criteria, monitoring and evaluation (criteria to identify farms

engaged in agro-ecology, monitoring and evaluation of the project, awareness building and training of the ministerial staff …)

● Research and innovation conditions (Promotion of the development of adapted breeds and varieties, promotion of reflection about agro-ecology in the different agri-food sectors at national and regional levels)

● International (knowledge of the agro-ecological project and diffusion of agroecology, cooperation)

● Overseas departments (adaptation to the conditions in overseas departments)

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Working areas

● Financial support of actions (in particular CAP aids)● Assistance, teaching and training of farmers● Criteria, monitoring and evaluation (criteria to identify farms

engaged in agro-ecology, monitoring and evaluation of the project, awareness building and training of the ministerial staff …)

● Research and innovation conditions (Promotion of the development of adapted breeds and varieties, promotion of reflection about agro-ecology in the different agri-food sectors at national and regional levels)

● International (knowledge of the agro-ecological project and diffusion of agroecology, cooperation)

● Overseas departments (adaptation to the conditions in overseas departments)

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1- Financial support of actions

Adaptation of the public aid for rural development (second pillar of the EU CAP)● Substantial public support for new agri-environment-

climate measures (AECM) and for organic farming● Taking into account of agro-ecology with regard to the

criteria for modulation of installation aids● Taking into account of agro-ecology in the Plan for

competition and adaptation of farms...

● Cooperation with the regional authorities in order to take agro-ecology into account in the rural development programmes (RDP, set up by the CAP)

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1- Financial support for actions

Adaptation of direct aids (first pillar of the EU CAP)● Implementation of coupled aids in favour of agro-ecology,

especially aids for protein crops● Feasibility of cooperative management of ecological focus

areas (EFA)● Reform of the farm advisory system (FAS)

...

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2- Assistance and training of farmers

Mobilisation of agricultural development (1/2)● Creation of local dynamics for innovation

Call for proposals funded by the « CASDAR » budget.

● 2013 : call for proposal «  Collective mobilisation towards agroecology »

- for a budget of 6,7 million euros- preparing the way for the coming economic and environmental interest groupings (EEIGs)- April 2014 : 2nd National Conference Sharing knowledge and experiences

- 103 pilot projects selected all over France (3300 farms)

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2- Assistance and training of farmers

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Mobilisation of agricultural development (2/2)● Mobilisation of the chambers of agriculture to assist farmers

in their steps towards to agro-ecology● Mobilisation of organisations of agricultural and rural

development (ONVAR)

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2- Assistance and training of farmers

Revisitation of teaching standards and practice 3 Avril 2014 : Publication of the Action Plan « Teaching to produce differently »

Revisitation of technical and economic standards & exploring the dynamics of changeDevelopment of regional strategies

Education of teachers in agricultural technical vocational trainingMobilise the model farms of the institutions for agricultural education

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Conclusion● A mobilising project for the French agriculture● To produce better and more, combining

economic, environmental and social performance at farm level as well as territorial level

● Success factors : - Co-construction with the stakeholders, mobilisation of all stakeholders, at each level - Definition of measurable objectives - Importance of regional and local dynamics- Integration of the entire value-chain, including the agri-food sector

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Agroforestry

Pig farming with straw

Crops rotation and association replacing external fertilizer

Towards Forrage autonomy of cattle breeding

Collective training and transfer of knowledge

Organic farmingLocal markets of quality products

Use of biomass for energy and

bioeconomy

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Agroforestry

Pig farming with straw

Crops rotation and association replacing external fertilizer

Towards Forrage autonomy of cattle breeding

Collective training and transfer of knowledge

Organic farmingLocal markets of quality products

Use of biomass for energy and

bioeconomy

Thank you for your attention !