See also

CIRAD at the Paris International Agricultural Show: working towards agriculture that is both ecological and intensive (CIRAD press release, 02/02/2010)

Contact

Patrick Caron
Montpellier, France
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Michel Griffon
Paris, France
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Is ecologically intensive agriculture a pipe dream?

21/04/2010 - Article

How can we build a form of agriculture capable of feeding nine billion people by the year 2050, and providing them with energy and biomaterials while preserving the environment? This question now needs to be addressed. To come up with some answers, CIRAD organized a day of round tables on 2 March 2010, during the Paris International Agricultural Show (SIA 2010), involving experts, politicians and farmers. A four-page report on the highlights (in French) is now available.

The report looks at the two round tables organized by CIRAD on 2 March, during the 2010 Paris International Agricultural Show. The first looked at existing solutions already being used by certain farmers: direct seeding, mulch-based conservation agriculture; agroforestry; and biological control are some examples. The second centred on the support policies needed to reform agriculture. A representative from Laos reported on the success of experiments there, while in Costa Rica, there is a law authorizing payment for ecological services. In particular, that law could serve as a lever for extending ecologically intensive agriculture in the country.

Farmers were also given the chance to express themselves, and the report reflects this, and also the views of Michel Griffon, Deputy Director General of the Agence national de la recherche and author of numerous books, including Nourrir la planète (Odile Jacob, 2006).

Download the report [PDF, 468 kB]