Suchergebnisse

La mise en oeuvre à grande échelle des principes de l'agroécologie et de l'agriculture biologique est une option proposée pour répondre aux enjeux de durabilité de l'agriculture. Toutefois la capacité de tels systèmes à répondre aux enjeux de sécurité alimentaire globale reste posée. La place de l'élevage est au centre du débat, notamment en raison de son rôle dans le bouclage des cycles des éléments minéraux et du rôle des prairies dans les rotations culturales. Cependant, l'efficience de transformation par les animaux des ressources végétales reste faible, ce qui pose particulièrement problème pour les monogastriques qui rentrent fortement en concurrence avec l'homme pour l'utilisation des céréales et des oléoprotéagineux. Ainsi, la place de l'élevage dans des scénarios alimentaires durables sera déterminée par sa capacité à utiliser d'une part les ressources fourragères issues des systèmes de culture ou des prairies permanentes, d'autre part les co-produits des cultures non directement utilisables par l'homme. Nous discutons dix facteurs majeurs à mobiliser pour envisager une contribution optimale de l'élevage à une production agricole durable. Leur mise en oeuvre nécessitera d'affiner l'identification de leurs interactions et de leur adjoindre des facteurs externes de type démographique et climatique, pour élaborer et analyser des scenarios prospectifs de long terme. Abstract: The central role of livestock farming in scenarios for a more sustainable food system The implementation of the principles of agroecology and of organic farming at a large scale is an option to enhance the sustainability of agricultural systems. However, the ability of these systems to contribute to global food security is still debated. Livestock is at the centre of this debate, particularly because of its key role to close nutrient cycles in cropping systems, and because of the role of temporary grasslands to control diseases, weeds and pests in crop rotations. However, livestock feed efficiency is low, while pigs, poultry and dairy ...

The implementation of the principles of agroecology and of organic farming at a large scale is an optionto enhance the sustainability of agricultural systems. However, the ability of these systems to contributeto global food security is still debated. Livestock is at the centre of this debate, particularly because of itskey role to close nutrient cycles in cropping systems, and because of the role of temporary grasslandsto control diseases, weeds and pests in crop rotations. However, livestock feed efficiency is low, whilepigs, poultry and dairy cows compete with humans for the use of crops and soybean. Thus, movingtowards more sustainable livestock farming systems requires ruminants to be grazed on fodderresources from cropping systems and on permanent grasslands, and pigs and poultry to increase theiruse of crop by-products. Here, we discuss ten key factors that would enhance the contribution oflivestock to sustainable agricultural systems. Their implementation requires on the one hand to refinethe identification of their interactions and, on the other hand, to jointly account for demographic andclimatic factors in long-term prospective scenarios. ; La mise en œuvre à grande échelle des principes de l'agroécologie et de l'agriculture biologique est uneoption proposée pour répondre aux enjeux de durabilité de l'agriculture. Toutefois la capacité de telssystèmes à répondre aux enjeux de sécurité alimentaire globale reste posée. La place de l'élevage estau centre du débat, notamment en raison de son rôle dans le bouclage des cycles des élémentsminéraux et du rôle des prairies dans les rotations culturales. Cependant, l'efficience de transformationpar les animaux des ressources végétales reste faible, ce qui pose particulièrement problème pour lesmonogastriques qui rentrent fortement en concurrence avec l'homme pour l'utilisation des céréales etdes oléoprotéagineux. Ainsi, la place de l'élevage dans des scénarios alimentaires durables seradéterminée par sa capacité à utiliser d'une part les ressources fourragères ...

Phosphorus (P) is subject to global management challenges due to its importance to both food security and water quality. The European Union (EU) has promoted policies to limit fertiliser over-application and protect water quality for more than 20 years, helping to reduce European P use. Over this time period, the EU has, however, become more reliant on imported agricultural products. These imported products require fertiliser to be used in distant countries to grow crops that will ultimately feed European people and livestock. As such, these imports represent a displacement of European P demand, possibly allowing Europe to decrease its apparent P footprint by moving P use to locations outside the EU. We investigated the effect of EU imports on the European P fertiliser footprint to better understand whether the EU's decrease in fertiliser use over time resulted from P demand being 'outsourced' to other countries or whether it truly represented a decline in P demand. To do this, we quantified the 'virtual P flow' defined as the amount of mineral P fertiliser applied to agricultural soils in non-EU countries to support agricultural product imports to the EU. We found that the EU imported a virtual P flow of 0.55 Tg P/yr in 1995 that, surprisingly, decreased to 0.50 Tg P/yr in 2009. These results were contrary to our hypothesis that trade increases would be used to help the EU reduce its domestic P fertiliser use by outsourcing its P footprint abroad. Still, the contribution of virtual P flows to the total P footprint of the EU has increased by 40% from 1995 to 2009 due to a dramatic decrease in domestic P fertiliser use in Europe: in 1995, virtual P was equivalent to 32% of the P used as fertiliser domestically to support domestic consumption but jumped to 53% in 2009. Soybean and palm tree products from South America and South East Asia contributed most to the virtual P flow. These results demonstrate that, although policies in the EU have successfully decreased the domestic dependence on mineral P fertiliser, in order to continue to limit global potential mineral P supply depletion and consequences of P losses to waterways the EU may have to think about its trading partners.

International audience ; Phosphorus (P) is subject to global management challenges due to its importance to both food security and water quality. The European Union (EU) has promoted policies to limit fertiliser over-application and protect water quality for more than 20 years, helping to reduce European P use. Over this time period, the EU has, however, become more reliant on imported agricultural products. These imported products require fertiliser to be used in distant countries to grow crops that will ultimately feed European people and livestock. As such, these imports represent a displacement of European P demand, possibly allowing Europe to decrease its apparent P footprint by moving P use to locations outside the EU. We investigated the effect of EU imports on the European P fertiliser footprint to better understand whether the EU's decrease in fertiliser use over time resulted from P demand being 'outsourced' to other countries or whether it truly represented a decline in P demand. To do this, we quantified the 'virtual P flow' defined as the amount of mineral P fertiliser applied to agricultural soils in non-EU countries to support agricultural product imports to the EU. We found that the EU imported a virtual P flow of 0.55 Tg P/yr in 1995 that, surprisingly, decreased to 0.50 Tg P/yr in 2009. These results were contrary to our hypothesis that trade increases would be used to help the EU reduce its domestic P fertiliser use by outsourcing its P footprint abroad. Still, the contribution of virtual P flows to the total P footprint of the EU has increased by 40% from 1995 to 2009 due to a dramatic decrease in domestic P fertiliser use in Europe: in 1995, virtual P was equivalent to 32% of the P used as fertiliser domestically to support domestic consumption but jumped to 53% in 2009. Soybean and palm tree products from South America and South East Asia contributed most to the virtual P flow. These results demonstrate that, although policies in the EU have successfully decreased the domestic dependence on ...

Phosphorus (P) is subject to global management challenges due to its importance to both food security and water quality. The European Union (EU) has promoted policies to limit fertiliser over-application and protect water quality for more than 20 years, helping to reduce European P use. Over this time period, the EU has, however, become more reliant on imported agricultural products. These imported products require fertiliser to be used in distant countries to grow crops that will ultimately feed European people and livestock. As such, these imports represent a displacement of European P demand, possibly allowing Europe to decrease its apparent P footprint by moving P use to locations outside the EU. We investigated the effect of EU imports on the European P fertiliser footprint to better understand whether the EU's decrease in fertiliser use over time resulted from P demand being 'outsourced' to other countries or whether it truly represented a decline in P demand. To do this, we quantified the 'virtual P flow' defined as the amount of mineral P fertiliser applied to agricultural soils in non-EU countries to support agricultural product imports to the EU. We found that the EU imported a virtual P flow of 0.55 Tg P/yr in 1995 that, surprisingly, decreased to 0.50 Tg P/yr in 2009. These results were contrary to our hypothesis that trade increases would be used to help the EU reduce its domestic P fertiliser use by outsourcing its P footprint abroad. Still, the contribution of virtual P flows to the total P footprint of the EU has increased by 40% from 1995 to 2009 due to a dramatic decrease in domestic P fertiliser use in Europe: in 1995, virtual P was equivalent to 32% of the P used as fertiliser domestically to support domestic consumption but jumped to 53% in 2009. Soybean and palm tree products from South America and South East Asia contributed most to the virtual P flow. These results demonstrate that, although policies in the EU have successfully decreased the domestic dependence on mineral P fertiliser, in order to continue to limit global potential mineral P supply depletion and consequences of P losses to waterways the EU may have to think about its trading partners.

Description du sujet. Depuis les années 1990 au Cameroun, l'agriculture biologique a de la peine à émerger au sein des politiques publiques. A travers ses opportunités et contraintes, l'agriculture biologique suscite une réflexion sur sa capacité à participer à une transformation technologique et institutionnelle en vue de contribuer à la sécurité alimentaire. Objectif. L'étude vise à caractériser et à analyser les relations entre les différents types d'agriculture biologique ainsi leur impact sur la sécurité alimentaire au Cameroun. Méthodes. Les données ont été collectées à travers une enquête qualitative réalisée dans les villes de Douala et de Yaoundé. Des entretiens semi-directifs conduits auprès de 17 experts et deux ateliers participatifs qui ont réunis 43 participants comprenant des scientifiques, le secteur privé, les politiques et des acteurs de la société civile ont été effectués. Les données obtenues ont été analysées à l'aide de deux grilles d'analyse qui ont été utilisées au Bénin mais qui ont été amendées dans ce travail. Résultats. Les résultats ont montré l'existence de trois types d'agriculture biologique à Douala et à Yaoundé : une agriculture biologique certifiée selon les normes internationales, une agriculture biologique entrepreneuriale (auto-certification) et une agriculture biologique "naturelle". Chacun de ses types a une influence variable sur chaque dimension de la sécurité alimentaire. Conclusion. L'agriculture biologique contribue à la transformation structurelle de l'économie camerounaise, c'est-à-dire en participant à des changements technologiques et intentionnels. Cette étude permet d'éclairer le rôle que joue l'agriculture biologique, sa trajectoire technologique et institutionnelle innovante ainsi que sa contribution à la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle au Cameroun.

International audience ; The unanticipated international food price spike of 2008 has raised concerns about global food security. Might food systems lastingly fail to supply, trade, and distribute food? Might widespread unsustainable agricultural practices irreversibly alter ecosystems? Or might large scale food shortages trigger political unrest? To answer these questions, we reflect upon the concept of systemic risk and conduct a review of the literature on systemic risks and food security. First, we present the concept of systemic risk and current trends in systemic risk research. We then analyze contributions on systemic risk and food security. We first show that the literature has so far focused on a) agricultural production and correlated yield-losses, and on ways of pooling risk at regional or global-level, and b) the role of international trade in increasing or decreasing systemic risk. We then identify avenues for further research, highlighting the impact of intensive farming on ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the concept of systemic risk: we show that scholars need to be careful when assuming that there exists just one global food system; we show that systemic risk can be understood in various ways, beyond the domino effect paradigm.

International audience ; The unanticipated international food price spike of 2008 has raised concerns about global food security. Might food systems lastingly fail to supply, trade, and distribute food? Might widespread unsustainable agricultural practices irreversibly alter ecosystems? Or might large scale food shortages trigger political unrest? To answer these questions, we reflect upon the concept of systemic risk and conduct a review of the literature on systemic risks and food security. First, we present the concept of systemic risk and current trends in systemic risk research. We then analyze contributions on systemic risk and food security. We first show that the literature has so far focused on a) agricultural production and correlated yield-losses, and on ways of pooling risk at regional or global-level, and b) the role of international trade in increasing or decreasing systemic risk. We then identify avenues for further research, highlighting the impact of intensive farming on ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the concept of systemic risk: we show that scholars need to be careful when assuming that there exists just one global food system; we show that systemic risk can be understood in various ways, beyond the domino effect paradigm.

International audience ; The unanticipated international food price spike of 2008 has raised concerns about global food security. Might food systems lastingly fail to supply, trade, and distribute food? Might widespread unsustainable agricultural practices irreversibly alter ecosystems? Or might large scale food shortages trigger political unrest? To answer these questions, we reflect upon the concept of systemic risk and conduct a review of the literature on systemic risks and food security. First, we present the concept of systemic risk and current trends in systemic risk research. We then analyze contributions on systemic risk and food security. We first show that the literature has so far focused on a) agricultural production and correlated yield-losses, and on ways of pooling risk at regional or global-level, and b) the role of international trade in increasing or decreasing systemic risk. We then identify avenues for further research, highlighting the impact of intensive farming on ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the concept of systemic risk: we show that scholars need to be careful when assuming that there exists just one global food system; we show that systemic risk can be understood in various ways, beyond the domino effect paradigm.

International audience ; The unanticipated international food price spike of 2008 has raised concerns about global food security. Might food systems lastingly fail to supply, trade, and distribute food? Might widespread unsustainable agricultural practices irreversibly alter ecosystems? Or might large scale food shortages trigger political unrest? To answer these questions, we reflect upon the concept of systemic risk and conduct a review of the literature on systemic risks and food security. First, we present the concept of systemic risk and current trends in systemic risk research. We then analyze contributions on systemic risk and food security. We first show that the literature has so far focused on a) agricultural production and correlated yield-losses, and on ways of pooling risk at regional or global-level, and b) the role of international trade in increasing or decreasing systemic risk. We then identify avenues for further research, highlighting the impact of intensive farming on ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the concept of systemic risk: we show that scholars need to be careful when assuming that there exists just one global food system; we show that systemic risk can be understood in various ways, beyond the domino effect paradigm.

International audience ; The unanticipated international food price spike of 2008 has raised concerns about global food security. Might food systems lastingly fail to supply, trade, and distribute food? Might widespread unsustainable agricultural practices irreversibly alter ecosystems? Or might large scale food shortages trigger political unrest? To answer these questions, we reflect upon the concept of systemic risk and conduct a review of the literature on systemic risks and food security. First, we present the concept of systemic risk and current trends in systemic risk research. We then analyze contributions on systemic risk and food security. We first show that the literature has so far focused on a) agricultural production and correlated yield-losses, and on ways of pooling risk at regional or global-level, and b) the role of international trade in increasing or decreasing systemic risk. We then identify avenues for further research, highlighting the impact of intensive farming on ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the concept of systemic risk: we show that scholars need to be careful when assuming that there exists just one global food system; we show that systemic risk can be understood in various ways, beyond the domino effect paradigm.

International audience ; Abstract: Shared crops and collective biogas plants, towards more sustainable systems? Recent developments in agriculture in France have been marked by the emergence of collective projects, associating farmers around shared crop areas or bio-gas plants. The potential for sustainability of these projects is discussed. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of two agricultural projects involving crops and livestock, with significant exchanges and coordination. One shared crop area and one collective biogas plant were investigated. We aimed to evaluate the main effects of these projects on the sustainability of agricultural systems, and to analyze how they question agricultural systems' organization and methods for evaluating their sustainability. Results show an increase of the social sustainability of farms, while a tendency to intensify systems was observed. Nevertheless, these projects benefited mainly to a variety of individual projects. They helped to significantly change the identity of farmers within the group (breeders turned into seed farmers for example). The study highlights the interrelations between the individual and collective scales, which raises questions about the methods of evaluation and action to be implemented for more sustainable systems. ; Les systèmes agricoles connaissent aujourd'hui de profondes mutations, notamment l'émergence de démarches collectives, qui questionnent les modèles organisationnels traditionnels. Des projets associent agriculteurs et éleveurs autour de dispositifs collectifs comme des assolements, élevages ou méthaniseurs. Le potentiel de ces dispositifs en termes de durabilité est questionné. Notre objectif est d'évaluer deux projets contrastés associant cultures et élevages autour d'un dispositif collectif: un assolement en commun et un méthaniseur collectif. Nous souhaitions évaluer les principaux effets de ces dispositifs sur la durabilité des systèmes agricoles, et analyser en quoi ils questionnent l'organisation des systèmes agricoles et ...