Conservation agriculture is shaped through advisory schemes

Hélène Brives (1) , Pauline Riousset (2) , Stephane de Tourdonnet (3)

1 SADAPT - Sciences pour l'Action et le Développement : Activités, Produits, Territoires
2 Environmental Policy Research Center
3 UMR Innovation - Innovation et Développement dans l'Agriculture et l'Agro-alimentaire

This communication challenges the idea that participatory extension methods are required to develop more sustainable forms of agriculture. It is based on a comparison of two case studies presenting how Conservation Agriculture is promoted by a French agribusiness company. In one case a participatory extension scheme is organized when in the second case CA is promoted through technology transfer. The paper explores how do CA practices evolve when developed through participatory and non participatory methods. The main conclusion of the research is that contrasted farming practices are extended under the Conservation Agriculture label and that these farming practices are shaped by the extension methods. Farming practices extended through more participatory extension methods seem to be more sustainable than the others because participation stimulates farmers’ learning and adaptability but also in terms of agronomic techniques.

Mots clés: sustainability; sociology of innovation; conservation agriculture; participatory methods of extension

Mots clés: agriculture de conservation; sociologie de l'innovation; durabilité; approche participative

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Hélène Brives, Pauline Riousset, Stephane de Tourdonnet. Conservation agriculture is shaped through advisory schemes. 10. European IFSA Symposium : Producing and reproducing farming systems. New modes of organisation for sustainable food systems of tomorrow, International Farming Systems Association (IFSA). Europe Group, Vienna, AUT., Jul 2012, Aarhus, Denmark. 9 p. ⟨hal-01499065⟩