Sustainable agriculture, biodiversity Ageris farm network

A.Fougeroux

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Biodiversity is a key for sustainable agriculture

Agriculture can reduce biodiversity (mono-croping systems, reduction of field margins, decrease of hedges..)

Agriculture improves biodiversity (opening space; increasing yields ;land management..)

Agriculture uses biodiversity (balanced agrosystems, earthworms, beneficials, pollinators..)

Why a private company is Why a private company is promoting biodiversity? promoting biodiversity?

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Very often use of pesticides is considered as the main cause of biodiversity use but other factors should be considered as ..

Land management (losses of habitats..)

Cropping system (mainly focusing on cereals) (loss of legumes crops-meadows

harvesting methods

cultural practices

as soon as these parameters are considered situation can improve

Why a private company is Why a private company is promoting biodiversity? promoting biodiversity?

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With 11 volunteer farmers

Arable crops and Grapes

Methods and installations to show how to implement integrated crop protection and promote GAP (water, biodiversity, users safety)

Farms network: to study, collect Farms network: to study, collect data, demonstrate, communicatedata, demonstrate, communicate

« a tool box for an agriculture respectful

of environment »

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Improve crop protection management in order to reduce direct and indirect effects on non targets organisms

AgerisAgeris &&Protection of environmentProtection of environment

Develop partnerships to promote global approaches in agriculture

Optimise recommendations of our products to favour their use according principles of integrated crop protection

Create data for land management in order to improve biodiversity

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Botanical diversity

Microfaunadiversity

Macrofaunadiversity

Crop rotations,weeds, intercropping,

weed control…

Cultural practices…

Cultural practices,Pests management,

Soil activity…

Field margins, lanes, hedges, set asides;

wood lands…

Non target arthropods Beneficials

pollinators…

Indigenous and migratory fauna,

predation, Game and other

species…

Human activities including

AGRICULTURE

Land management

Biodiversity

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- Botanical audits : nb herbaceous species 157- 396 80% of richness is on field margins

- Microfauna audits: focused on beneficialsstudies on pollen collection by bees

- Wildlife audits : birds (between 25 and 64 species) mammals (~10 sp)several protected species (e.g. little bustard)

Agéris: Audits

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- Effects of field margins and microfauna

- Flowering set asides and beekeeping

- Effects of flowering set aside on beneficials

- Implementation and recommendations for management (field margins, hedges..)

Agéris: demonstrations and measurement of effects of land management

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Land management (fields margins, hedges, intercropping..)

Managements are implemented in order to:

v use local species

v favouring pollinators ,

v favourable to beneficials for neighbouring crops

v favourable to wildlife

v without favourable effect for main pests or weeds

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Partnership with NGO:Earthwatch;Agronomic school Enita, Vine growers cooperative Univitis

Adaptation of a method to measure biodiversity in Bordeaux vineyard

Based on Rapid Biodiversity Assessment (RBA)

Ageris :Development of RBA methods on grapes

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Ageris farms are equipped with « nature tracks »

Posters explain main steps to understand biodiversity and to manage it

Ageris farms received on « nature tracks » numerous visitors (~2000/year)

Press releases

Delivering the message : Modern and profitable agriculture and

protection of biodiversity are compatible

Nature trackPloermel

Inauguration nature trackSt Louis la perdrix

Ageris : Nature tracks

Visit nature trackAbbeville

Visit Earthwatch nature trackChâteau les Vergnes

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Thanks for your attention Thanks for your attention