Intégrer la biodiversité dans l'exploitation agricole

Agence Régionale de l'environnement de Normandie

6 Mar 201904:31

Summary

TLDRMichel Dallemany, a farmer in Tizi, shares his journey of transitioning from chemical and mechanized farming to working in harmony with nature. In 1981, he began by creating ponds and planting trees, which quickly led to a resurgence of biodiversity, increasing the number of wild bird species from 10 to over 43. He significantly reduced chemical treatments on his apple trees, reaching zero treatments by 2000. Dallemany further advanced his sustainable practices by joining the Biodiversity Observatory protocol, which tracks biodiversity in agricultural lands. He also improved his orchard management by planting trees that attract insects year-round and allowing natural weed growth, resulting in a near-zero treatment orchard. The narrative highlights the rapid recovery of nature and the importance of sustainable agricultural practices.

Takeaways

🌾 Michel Dallemany is a cereal farmer in Tizi who aims to work with nature rather than controlling it.
🏞️ In 1981, the farm was characterized by large fields and heavy reliance on chemical and mechanization methods for crop growth.
🐦 To work with nature, Michel created ponds and replanted areas, which quickly resulted in positive outcomes, such as an increase in bird species from 10 to over 43.
🍏 Initially, apple trees required up to 25-30 chemical treatments, but by 2000, the farm had reduced this to zero treatments, allowing nature to manage the growth.
🌿 Michel joined the biodiversity observatory protocol in 2012, which now includes around 500 plots per year across France to monitor biodiversity and its relation to agricultural practices.
🔍 The observatory conducts annual counts of earthworms and other insects, butterflies, slugs, and snails to track biodiversity trends.
🛠 Changes in farming practices were implemented based on data and discussions from the observatory, such as rethinking mowing practices in the orchard.
🌳 A second, more fertile orchard was planted with trees native to the region that bear fruit throughout the year, attracting insects and supporting the food chain.
🌼 The orchard uses natural grass seeding (RBB 2D), allowing for a variety of flowers and insects throughout the year, enhancing biodiversity.
💊 Despite being chemical-intensive, the orchard now receives very few treatments, demonstrating that nature can recover quickly with the right practices.

Q & A

Who is Michel Dallemany and what does he do?
-Michel Dallemany is a farmer who works on a small cereal farm in Tizi. He produces cereals and local products, including cider products.
What was the initial approach to farming at the farm before 1981?
-Before 1981, the farm's approach was heavily reliant on chemical inputs and mechanization to grow wheat, which resulted in a lack of biodiversity and a dead nature due to frequent use of insecticides.
What changes did Michel Dallemany make to work with nature rather than against it?
-Michel Dallemany made several changes, including creating ponds and replanting, which led to positive results and an increase in biodiversity.
How did the number of wild bird species change after the changes were implemented?
-The number of wild bird species increased from about ten to over forty-three species regularly seen on the farm.
What was the initial chemical treatment regime for apple trees on the farm?
-Initially, the apple trees received up to 25 to 30 chemical treatments per year to manage diseases and promote apple growth.
How has the chemical treatment for apple trees changed since the year 2000?
-By 2000, the farm had transitioned to zero chemical treatments for the apple trees, changing their practices to allow nature to take its course.
What is the role of the biodiversity observatory protocol that the farm is associated with?
-The biodiversity observatory protocol, which the farm joined, helps in monitoring biodiversity levels in agricultural territories and understanding the relationship between farming practices and biodiversity.
What activities are carried out as part of the biodiversity observatory protocol?
-As part of the protocol, the farm counts earthworms, insects, butterflies, snails, and other creatures monthly to track changes and evolution in biodiversity.
How did the practices change in the orchard to improve biodiversity and reduce chemical treatments?
-The farm stopped mowing regularly, replanted a second orchard on more fertile land, and chose trees native to the region that flower throughout the year to attract insects and support the food chain.
What specific changes were made regarding weed control in the orchard?
-Instead of using chemical herbicides, the farm chose to allow natural weed growth, which led to the germination of seeds present in the soil and the blooming of different flowers throughout the year.
What is the current state of biodiversity in the orchard despite it being chemically intensive?
-Surprisingly, even though the orchard is chemically intensive, nature has returned very quickly, indicating the resilience of the ecosystem and the effectiveness of the changes made.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Transition to Organic Farming and Biodiversity

Michel Dallemany, a farmer from Tizi, discusses his journey towards working with nature rather than against it. In 1981, he inherited a conventional farm with large fields dominated by chemical use and mechanization. He describes the stark contrast between the lifeless environment during chemical farming and the vibrant ecosystem that emerged after he stopped using insecticides and started creating ponds and replanting. This shift led to an increase in wildlife, with bird species jumping from 10 to over 43. He also mentions the significant reduction in chemical treatments on his apple trees, moving from 25-30 treatments to zero by 2000, allowing nature to take its course.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Agriculture

Agriculture refers to the practice of cultivating plants and livestock for food, fiber, and other products. In the video's context, Michel Dallemany, the farmer, discusses his approach to agriculture that focuses on working with nature rather than controlling it. The script mentions the shift from chemical and mechanized farming methods to more natural ones, which is central to the video's theme of sustainable and biodiversity-friendly farming practices.

💡Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of life in all its forms and interactions within a given habitat or ecosystem. The video emphasizes the importance of biodiversity in agriculture, as the farmer's practices lead to an increase in the number of wild bird species from 10 to over 43. The script also discusses the farmer's involvement with the biodiversity observatory, which monitors and counts various organisms to assess the health of the ecosystem and the impact of farming practices on biodiversity.

💡Chemical Farming

Chemical farming is an agricultural practice that heavily relies on the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to increase crop yields. The video script contrasts the past reliance on chemical farming with the current practices of the farmer, who has moved away from chemicals to more natural methods, highlighting the negative impact of chemicals on the environment and biodiversity.

💡Cereal Crops

Cereal crops are grasses cultivated for their edible grains or seeds, such as wheat, rice, and corn. In the video, the farmer initially grew cereal crops using conventional methods, which involved heavy use of chemicals and mechanization. The shift away from this approach is part of the narrative of transitioning to a more sustainable and nature-friendly farming system.

💡Cidric Products

Cidric products refer to items produced from the process of fermenting fruit juice, typically apples, to make cider. The script mentions that the farm also produces cidric products, indicating a diversification of the farm's offerings and a commitment to producing local and traditional products that contribute to the local terroir.

💡Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms, such as plants, animals, and microbes, interacting with each other and their physical environment. The video's theme revolves around the restoration and maintenance of a healthy ecosystem on the farm, as evidenced by the creation of ponds and the reintroduction of natural processes, which support a thriving biodiversity.

💡Farming Practices

Farming practices refer to the methods and techniques used in agriculture to cultivate crops and raise livestock. The video discusses a significant shift in farming practices from chemical and mechanized to more sustainable and nature-oriented approaches, which has led to positive outcomes such as increased biodiversity and healthier ecosystems.

💡Insecticides

Insecticides are substances used to kill insects that are considered pests. The script describes a past scenario where the presence of clouds would trigger the use of insecticides, leading to a 'dead' nature. The farmer's move away from such practices is a key part of the video's message about the harmful effects of chemicals on the environment.

💡Nature-Oriented Farming

Nature-oriented farming is an approach to agriculture that seeks to work in harmony with natural processes and ecosystems. The video's main character, Michel Dallemany, embodies this approach by creating ponds, planting trees, and allowing nature to take its course in managing pests and promoting biodiversity, which is a central theme of the video.

💡Pesticides

Pesticides are chemicals used to prevent, control, or kill pests that can damage crops. The script mentions the reduction of pesticide use on the farm, which is a significant aspect of the transition to more sustainable farming practices. The move towards zero chemical treatments is highlighted as a positive change that benefits both the environment and biodiversity.

💡Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture is farming with an emphasis on long-term sustainability in terms of environmental health, economic viability, and social responsibility. The video showcases sustainable agriculture through the farmer's various initiatives, such as creating habitats for wildlife, reducing chemical inputs, and participating in biodiversity monitoring programs, all of which contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly farming model.

Highlights

Michel Dallemany is a farmer in Tizi who grows cereals and local products, including cider.

He aims to work with nature rather than trying to control it.

In 1981, he started with large fields that were heavily reliant on chemicals and mechanization.

Nature was almost dead due to the excessive use of insecticides.

He decided to work with nature by creating ponds and replanting, which quickly yielded positive results.

The number of wild bird species increased from 10 to over 43.

Initially, apple trees required up to 25-30 chemical treatments; now they have zero.

He changed farming practices to allow nature to do its work.

He joined the biodiversity observatory protocol to track and understand biodiversity.

The observatory has been active since 2012, with about 500 plots surveyed annually across France.

It provides insights into the state of biodiversity in agricultural territories and the relationship between farming practices and biodiversity.

They count earthworms monthly and observe other insects, butterflies, snails, and spiders to track changes.

These observations have led to changes in farming practices, such as how the orchard is managed.

Regular mowing was found to have more disadvantages than benefits, affecting the food chain and insect populations.

A second orchard was planted on more fertile land, with a focus on native trees that bloom year-round.

They chose trees that attract insects and have a long blooming period.

They opted for natural weeding, allowing seeds in the soil to germinate and grow naturally throughout the year.

This approach has recreated the food chain and resulted in very few treatments for the orchard.

Despite being chemical-intensive, the nature is returning very quickly.