Implementing the agroecological transition: weak or strong modernization of agriculture? Focus on the mycorrhiza supply chain in France.

Valérie Angeon (1, 2) , Marie Chave (3)

1 URZ - Unité de Recherches Zootechniques
2 CEREGMIA - Centre de Recherche en Economie, Gestion, Modélisation et Informatique Appliquée
3 ASTRO - Agrosystèmes tropicaux

The modernization of agriculture is under scrutiny. It is currently debated within the growing concept and practice of agroecology that applies ecological fundaments to the design and the management of sustainable agroecosystems. In matter of ecologization of agriculture, agroecological transition may be considered as a privileged pathway. It relies on two main forms: the weak (that intends to reduce the use of chemicals by alternative practices such as their substitution by biological inputs) versus strong modernization of agriculture (based on the valorization of biodiversity providing ecosystemic services). In this article, through an analysis of the technological innovations used for the enhancement of mycorrhiza (symbiotic interactions between plants and soil microorganisms) as an illustration of the implementation of the agroecological transition in France, we wonder in what extent a strong modernization of agriculture is likely to occur. This paper shows how the conceptual framework of socio-technical regime is useful to analyze the dynamics of the agroecological transition. Our demonstration relies on an empirical material (survey of the main actors of the mycorrhiza supply chain) that permits to understand how is structured the dominant system and how it impedes the development of the alternative niche. We then give some prerequisites in terms of public action to define in what extent the niche can be supported and can compete the current system.

Mots clés: new technology; public policy; agorecological transition; socio-technical regime; mycorrhiza; technological paradigm; evolutionary economics

Mots clés: processus d'écologisation; processus écologique; biodiversité; service environnemental; innovation; innovation technologique; mycorhize; politique publique; valorisation de la biodiversite; paradigme technique; économie évolutionniste; régime socio-technique; service écosystémique; france; europe

Domaines: Economies et finances

Valérie Angeon, Marie Chave. Implementing the agroecological transition: weak or strong modernization of agriculture? Focus on the mycorrhiza supply chain in France.. 54. ERSA Congress "Regional development & globalization: Best practices", European Regional Science Association (ERSA). Louvain-la-Neuve, BEL., Aug 2014, Saint-Petersburg, Russia. ⟨hal-01606449⟩