26 November 2013

France: another agriculture is possible

Solagro, a non-profit company and association created by a team of expert agronomists, environmental sciences and energy engineers, and economists based in Toulouse and created in 1981, published the result of its work initiated in 2010 on the future of France’s agriculture in a first draft report (in French) entitled: ‘‘Afterres2050: quelle utilisation des terres en 2050 en France?’’ (What land use in France in 2050?). The report shows that it is possible to feed the projected French population of 70 million in 2050 while reducing the climatic footprint of French agriculture, provided there is change in culture and in food and agricultural policies.

Solagro, assisted by its members, its community of supporters and the Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer pour le progrès de l’homme, has tried to build a sustainable, credible, understandable and quantitative food and agriculture scenario for France by 2050 and open up a debate on the effective creation of the required conditions for this scenario to come true.

The main results of this work can be summarised in a few key points: by 2050 a changed agriculture, 50% organic and 50% integrated, secures enough food for the French population and generates a surplus for use by neighbouring countries, provided that:

1. 1. •The composition of the French diet changes (more cereals, fruits and vegetables, and much less meat, sugar and milk)
      

   2. •Land is cultivated permanently to give as much as six harvests a year (cereals, green manure, fruit, wood, etc,) compared to just one today
      

   3. •Herd size is halved, particularly in the case of cattle for beef and intensive livestock production
      

   4. •Livestock production is made more extensive and, for cattle, is based on the use of pastures
      

   5. •A reduction is achieved in losses and wastage observed in the food industry, in retail shops and in kitchens
      

   6. •Organic waste is being recycled.
      

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These changes in agriculture would free around 5 to 8 million ha for the production of biomass for energy, ‘‘green chemistry’’ and construction materials. They would also allow the reduction by 50% of GES emitted by the French food and agricultural sector.

Projected change in the origin of proteins in the French diet between 2010 and 2050

The report also stresses the health benefits that can be expected from the projected change in diet (less diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, etc.)

From the agricultural point of view, the scenario, to become real, would require in-depth changes: a strong development of organic agriculture that would grow from around 1 million ha in 2012 to cover 50% of harvested area in 2050, the rest being used by an integrated agriculture characterised by:

1. 1. •Long crop rotations including a generalisation of crop associations, particularly between cereals and legumes
      

   2. •The use of biological pest control, rather than the application of pesticides
      

   3. •A massive reduction of the use of chemical inputs
      

   4. •A much lighter soil preparation, possibly even the use of direct sowing, which would allow improving soil fertility
      

   5. •Intercropping to keep a permanent soil cover
      

   6. •A massive presence of agroecological infrastructure such as hedges, trees and wetland.
      

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This new agriculture, which would see about 20% of the areas covered by agroforestry, would hardly use 25% of the chemical inputs conventional agriculture is using today in France. Animal feed imports would be eliminated and cereal exports considerably reduced. This agriculture would produce energy through methanisation of animal manure, crop residues and intercrops. 

The result of this work shows that it is possible to envision in the mid-term a very different agriculture in France that would be at the same time productive and environment-friendly, the establishment of which would imply a change in food habits that would evolve towards a healthier and more sustainable food consumption. It supports and contextualises for France the results of prior work conducted at world level. [read here]

The report however does not say much in terms of the consequences of these changes on the farm structure in France or on the changes that would need to be brought to agricultural policies and particularly to the EU/CAP (European Union Common Agricultural Policy) for this scenario to become reality.

This lacuna will certainly be filled in the final and detailed Afterres2050 report that is eagerly expected.

Last update:    November 2013

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