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A presentation made at the WCCA 2011 event in Brisbane, Australia.
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From a local experience of Min Till
to a strategy for No-Till development
The french case study
Brisbane, World Congress of Conservation Agriculture, Sept 2011
APAD, Gérard Rass
or… what keys to CA adoption ?
Situation and problem
CA adoption in France < 1 %
Why ?
Worldwide, high adoption exists in all conditions : cold/hot, dry/wet, all soils…
=> Human factor ? Policies ? Strategy ?
Study CA past history with international experts :
Better understand the reasons for this low adoption
Propose strategy to increase adoption
Summary of « Min-Till » evolution
70’s to 2000 : objectives : high level of production, no risk, high inputs level, high invesment, with subsidies.
From the 90’s : environment : nitrates, pesticides, research, experts and ecologist NGO’s driven.
Alternative to plough : min-till, combined drill… cost reduction / machinery driven, no cover crops, no understanding of SOM, soil biodiversity…
Adoption up to 30 / 40 %.
Limited change vs plough, limited performance.
Evolution of CA = No-Till + cover crop systems
From 2000 : some pioneer farmers discovered Brazil (Semeato / AFD promoting)
Some have persisted and got results, applying principles of CA : Zero-Tillage with continuously covered soil.
Their neighbours have still not adopted despite results
Why ?
Constraints of an ordinary french farmer
Ignorance of what exists around the world, belief he cannot…
Psychologically dependant (neighbours, unions, research, experts, extension services, coop… media, NGO’s…)
Subject to regulators : ex : N limitation => no SOM improvement
No appropriate inputs (specific seeds, fertilizers…)
No support for information nor experiments (private or officials)
95 followers, 5 % leaders…
Attitude of stakeholders in Europe
Media do love organic farming as THE model to promote
NGO’s put pressure on media
Politicians follow media : organic as a model
Administrations follow politicians : limit pesticides and N use, promote tillage as a substitute to herbicides…
Official scientists are paid by administration
Leading farmers unions follow politicians (subsidies)
Food industry follows the market : greenwashing…
Supply companies follow the market (99 % tillage)
What can No-Till farmers do ?
Obtain good results on their farms : profit, soil, water, biodiversity…
Assess them : but how ?
Communicate to influencial politicians and media. How?
Lobbying :
APAD motivated a Member of European Parliament.
The Eu Commission initiated a study about CA : the SoCo project (2007-2009)
ECAF has been able to demonstrate benefits of CA
The SoCo project : a success
Conclusion : very positive about the need to support CA in Europe (2009). http://soco.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
CA is an answer to political need of CAP for :
macro-economical performance, profits on farms,
social needs,
environmental management of territories = sustainability,
Reduced public budget.
BUT : all is forgotten now !!!! The competition was more present.
What have we learnt ?
The loosing strategy :
• An association of experts (APAD 1998)
• addresses big farmers unions, established organizations, scientific institutions…,
• with a broad varieties of « CA » concepts = Min Till
The winning strategy :
• A No-Till farmers association (APAD 2010)
• addresses citizens and policy makers
• with a clear CA (No-Till) model + benefits
We must be present closer to policy makers !!!
• The We must be present in Brussels !!
What can No-Till farmers do ?
Obtain good results on their farms : profit, soil, water, biodiversity…
Assess them : but how ?
Communicate to influencial politicians + media, how ?
Needs :
1. Assess Sustainable Agriculture
2. Communicate, and be present all the time
Assess Sustainable Agriculture, and communicate :APAD has created IAD, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (France)
Private organization, farmers driven :
No-Till farmers, No-Till farmers associations,
Private companies : Semeato, Bertini, Coop Nouricia, PRP, Syngenta, Monsanto.
Experts support : ECAF, FAO, CA Community, AFD…
A set of indicators for Sustainable Agriculture,
A report of proposals for policy makers: « Agriculture 2050 »
An annual International Conference about Sustainable Agriculture
This has given more audience and influence to APAD No-Till farmers
IAD indicators : how they have been made and what they bring
The indicators were selected in 2008, internationally and locally, based on criteria of relevance, neutrality, occurrence and result measurement.
Ultimately, after 2 years testing on 160 farms, we settled a scorecard and dashboard made of 26 indicators grouped into 7 themes.
In IAD report : « Agriculture 2050 starts here and now », are explained :
The model of sustainable farming production
The criteria for Sustainable Production
The ecosystem services
A mechanisms of PES (Payment for Ecological Services)
The model : based on the 3 fundamental functions of the ecosystem
26 indicators assessing the key relevant parameters of farming activity
Theme 1: economic viability
EBITDA per ha and/or per livestock unit
EBITDA/labour unit
Production costs per ha or livestockunit
Theme 2: social viability
Full‐time equivalent working hours
(1,800 hours/year)
SI ‐ Satisfaction Index
Theme 3: efficiency of input use
IFT ‐ Pesticide treatment frequency index
NPK balance (nitrogen ‐ phosphorous ‐ potassium)
Energy balance
Energy independence rate
Water consumption (irrigation)
Food autonomy rate
Yield ha, livestock farm
IAD Indicators (continued)
Topic 4: Greenhouse gas
GHG level
Theme 5: soil quality
Yield/ha UAA
Yield/ha main fodder area
Soil tillage index
Annual soil cover rate
Organic matter level
Soil biological activity
Theme 6: water quality
NO3 level ‐ boreholes and wells
NO3 level – rivers
Theme 7: biodiversity
Soil utilisation
Biodiversity surface area
Crop diversity
STOC "birds" (common bird mapping)
STERC "insects" (common insect mapping)
19 of these indicators are able to measure directly or indirectly the ecological services in accordance with the scientific references available in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
Scorecards for sustainable agricultureindicators
Mechanism of Payment for Ecological Services (PES) example on APAD farms with 12 indicators
Results after 3 years :
160 farms assessed,
Several partners from supply or food industry involved to use IAD indicators,
3 high level international conferences on Sustainable Agriculture in Senate in Paris, with high level official sponsors, and international speakers of CA community (thanks to them !).
Report Agriculture 2050 circulated among french experts and Government, in EU Parliament and Commission.
Some recognition in France for IAD indicators of Sustainable Agriculture
Engagement of some stakeholders of agriculture
27
No-Till Farmers Food industry
Food
Feed industry
Soil management
Fertilizers
Genetics
Machinery
Plant protection
Stakehlders : everyone must be involved in sustainable agriculture
Citizens / Policy makers
We have alliances with some supply companies
IAD
To improve results on farms
29
No-Till Farmers Food industry
Food
Feed industry
Soil management
Fertilizers
Genetics
Machinery
Plant protection
Citizens / Policy makers
WEST cluster (*)
We have alliances with food / feed industry
To drive consumers demandWEST : Well Eating Sustainable Territory
We have a project partaken with some Members of European Parliament
To enable good policies, & give the signal from the top
ECAF
BUT : opposition to CA is still very strong
Policy makers do not consider farmers testimonies as valid in front of recommendations of scientists.
Official scientists have a dominent influence on policy makers.
Local scientists usually object to CA : « non organic, non natural, uses pesticides… ».
They ignore good CA practices, use old references of Min-Till
They do not collaborate with experienced No-Till farmers (« not invented here » syndrom).
From bad No-Till, they produce bad data.
Pivate sector is reluctant to move : « CA is too narrow scope, no market, »
Need for organizational improvement at European level
Stronger National Associations in key Eu countries, driven by No-Till farmers and CA experts,supported by companies
An organization of influence in Bruxelles, near of the EU Parliament and EU Commission,representing No-Till farmers, but also able to bring expertise on their behalf,
Proposed : the European Council for Sustainable Agriculture
A real movement
A real presence, with political proposals
The key need : a strong group to advocate for SA and CA to European Union :
A European Council for Sustainable Agriculture in Brussels,
with 3 pilars (IAD model) :
Farmers : ECAF farmers from key EU countries,• to drive, and advocate with the legitimacy of their results and practical
experience,
CA Scientists : • to support scientific debates, and fight objections of local scientists,
ECAF experts
international CA community (=> you ),
supported by high reputation international agencies (United Nation)
Private companies :input industries, machinery, fertilizer, crop protection, genetics…, supporting CA.
Include IAD and WEST cluster (food and feed industries)
Missions of the European Council for Sustainable Agriculture
Monitor EU and national policies : • Audit their performances vs sustainability criteria• Publish reports and recommendations to policy makers
Advocate for CA to EU Parliament and Commission
Make local missions and audits, on demand : ex : water quality in France,
Provide data and studies when needed (ex : C credits…)
Participate in studies (tender bids from EU : ex : indicators)
Provide to local operators : • strategic advices, • speakers for conferences,• communication with media
The challenge for sustainability is global. It needs a global governance.
We shall loose or win together.
Thank you
33 6 07 40 42 59
www.apad.asso.fr
