3.2 Agricultural Productivity, Climate Mitigation and Biodiversity: The Example of Agro-Ecology In France - Aline Boy. Biodiversity Workshop 25 October 2017

1. Agricultural productivity, climate
mitigation and biodiversity – the
example of agro-ecology in France
Biodiversity, Climate Change and
Agriculture: Towards Coherent
Approaches
25th October 2017 – OECD
Aline Boy – French ministry of
agriculture and food

2. A strong need for a coherent approach
●For a long time, mainly sectoral policies
●Common agricultural policies : grain, cattle production
●From direct support measures
●Change in EU context: environmental regulations, CAP
●Growing economic, environmental, social challenges
●Necessary change of approach : strengthen a cross-cutting
approach of the entire farm system = systemic approach
●→ Need for policies that support transition and
encourage sustainable productive agricultural systems

3. Limiting trade-offs through clear Ministry mandates
and responsabilities in the policy making
●Climate, environment policies :
→Min. of Ecology, with a strong involvement of the Min. Agriculture
●Much joint work,
→ interministerial arbitration under the Prime Minister when necessary
●Specific policies launched by the Min.
of Agriculture :
→ implementation of the EU Common
Agricultural Policy reform,
agricultural transition

4. Agroecology as a clear major goal French
agricultural policy
Agroecology in the very first article of a new law :
Law for the future of Agriculture, Agrifood & Forest (Oct 2014)
●Art 1 : Definition :
« Public policies will promote agroecological
production systems, that combine
economical, social, environmental and
sanitary performances. (...)
They contribute to climate change
mitigation and adaptation ».

5. The French agroecological project: designed as
a cross-cutting policy
●Combining economic, environmental performance, and social aspects
●Systemic approach : efficiency (inputs), substitution (change crop
varieties), reconception (crop rotation, agroforestry)
●Supports biodiversity and biological regulations (agroforestry, hedgerows,
diversified crop rotation...)
●Reduces inputs (feed, fertilizers, pesticides...) and increases autonomy
(livestock effluents, renewable energy)
●Closes N and C cycles (livestock-crops synergies, carbon storage in
grassland and biomass...)
●Contribution to mitigation and adaptation to climate change
5

6. Agroecology policy designed to tackle synergies
in institutions
●Interministerial:
●Contribution to the National Low Carbon Strategy
●Revision of the National Plan for climate change adaptation
●Law for the Recovery of Biodiversity, Nature and Landscapes
●Ministry of agriculture:
●Actions defined with the main stakeholders like training, development,
subsidies...
●10 thematic action plans (Agroforestry, changes in seed evaluation,
Ecophyto (to reduce use of pesticides), Ecoantibio...)
●Guideline for the regional authorities:
●Regional development of the agroecology project by the local authorities

7. Agroecology for the synergies in agricultural
development
●Creation of local dynamics for innovation
(Economic and Environmental Groups)
●Combining environmental and economical objectives
●Networking with other stakeholders
●Recognition at regional level
●Mobilisation of extension services, agricultural and rural associations

8. Agroecology enhencing research-innovation-
education synergies
Coordination between research institutions, research in
higher education institutions, networks for
technological innovation :
●Promotion of fundamental and applied research
–MOUs with research institutes,
–fostering farmers groups innovation through calls for proposals
●Training for farmers : programm to teach to produce differently

9. The link with the demand side: food policies
●National Food Program
●Reducing food waste
●Territory-based projects
●Education
●Partnerships with private sector
●National food convention
●14 working groups
●Private sector - civil society
●11 ministries

10. Monitoring of this policies
● Regular monitoring and evaluation: the results and impact of the
agroecology action plan are included in an annual report and
indicators are used to monitor the progress achieved (fulfillment,
results and impacts)
● Good results in Dephy farms (discrease of the use of pesticids)
● Similar indicators in national low carbon strategy, for example
methanisation, carbon storage in soils, also about soil
artificialisation..
● Working about soil quality, but evolution in a long term

11. Conclusion
●A mobilising project for the French agriculture to produce
better and more, combining economic, environmental and
social peformance at farm level as well as territorial level
● Success factors :
●Co-construction with the stakeholders, mobilisation of all
stakeholders, at each level
●Importance of regional and local dynamics
●Integration of the entire value-chain, including the agri-food sector
●Question of the scaling up issues of projects
●→ Agroecology : a key role for mitigation & adaptation to
climate change, for food security, biodiversity
and for sustainable productivity