Research as a guidance for future actions Aline Lapierre
Grignon Energie Positive AgroParisTech - France
Slide 2
Grignon Energie Positive (GE+) : a farm-level applied research
program Applied research program on the whole farm system,
initiated in 2006, extended in 2010, Alliance of various partners
around a common project : industrials, cooperatives, interbranches,
banks, regional authorities, technical institutes, public
establishments, Involvement of research key stakeholders (INRA*). *
INRA : French national institute for agricultural research
Slide 3
GE+ objective and values What are the possible and desirable
adjustments of milk production to face the fossil fuel scarcity and
global warming issues ? Two lines of work : Demonstration &
innovation Positive communication Three analysis axes for milk
production performance. Energy consumptions GHG emissions Farm food
performance Revenues Energy consumption and GHG emissions of 100/
440 persons. Vs 7500/9500 persons potentially fed
Slide 4
Farms involved in the program (1/2) the Grignon farm Near
Paris, the Grignon farm is at the heart of the program between 2006
and 2009. Mixed farming system : 130 dairy cows, 350 hectares
(cereals, maize, forage crops and pastures) Milk processing on farm
(Grignon yoghurt) An educational resource opened to a wide audience
An exceptional framework of education for talented students and
research
Slide 5
Farms involved in the program (2/2) the dairy farms network
Since 2010, the improvement process initiated in Grignon was
subsequently deployed in a dozen dairy farms, making up the GE+
farms network. Mountain and piedmont, with maize Lowland > 30%
maize Lowland, 10-30% maize Lowland, grassland GE+ farms
distribution and profile (2011) :
Slide 6
The GE+ approach GE+ is based on a long-term monitoring of farm
performances : Initial diagnosis of the farm, identification of key
actions to improve the environmental performances of milk
production (with a modeling tool), Implementation of the identified
key actions at the farm, 3 year-long monitoring of the milk
production environmental (GHG and energy consumption) results.
Slide 7
Evolution of GHG score for milk production at Grignon (in g CO
2 e/ liter of milk) : Significant results After four years,
significant results are produced : Improvement is possible, Various
solutions exist, according to the system considered, Improving the
environmental impact may match with high- productivity systems.
Some solutions implemented in Grignon :
Slide 8
Close evaluation of environmental impact With its own applied
research instruments, GE+ program includes the measurement of real
in situ impact factors. Field measurement of N 2 O emissions with a
static chamber (Grignon, 2009) GHG score of milk production
according to the impact factor considered for soil direct N 2 O
emissions (in g CO 2 e/ liter of milk) : - 50g CO 2 e
Slide 9
Communication and education Information campaigns to both
professionals and students are performed : Positive agriculture
meetings, technical training to farmers, Academic training on
environmental issues of agriculture to students (AgroParistech
engineering school).
Slide 10
Positive communication GE+ aims at reconnecting agriculture to
society by: Promoting modern agriculture to general public,
Explaining the mechanisms underlying environmental issues (to
children), Raising peoples awareness of progress routes for
agriculture. Examples of educational tools developed and
broadcasted by GE+ teams : the Positive farm model and the game
good on my plate, for me and my planet!
Slide 11
Thank you for your attention ! www.grignonenergiepositive.fr
[email protected]