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Dans le cadre du projet Bien-Être Social financé par le Conseil Scientifique de l’IFCE et porté par Odile PETIT et Sophie BOYER, une dizaine de gérant.e.s de structures équestres ont été rencontré.e.s afin de comprendre leur perception de la vie sociale des équidés et ses implications en termes d’hébergement. Cette enquête qualitative donne des clés importantes pour évaluer l’acceptabilité d’outils innovants tel que le box de rencontre et accompagner d’éventuels changements de pratiques.

Since 2012, the development of the Crispr-Cas9 system, genome editing (GE) tools have gained a major place in biological research for its simplicity of using. At this moment, the use of this technology is nevertheless not allowed on farm animals, and the application of GE in agriculture is controversial. The objective of this study was to better understand the positions of the actors of the livestock sector with respect to the use of genome editing techniques, that is to say to better understand their arguments and justifications. A qualitative survey by semi-directive interviews was conducted with different actors of the livestock sector. A total of 48 people were interviewed, the respondents belonged to four sectors (ruminants, pigs, poultry and aquaculture). Uncertainties on which the controversy is built are linked to the technology, its impact on the environment and biodiversity, on animals and on its socio-political impact. Our results allowed us to establish a typology of stakeholders in five categories (opponent, sceptical, cautious, enthusiastic, and convinced) and to characterize the main arguments associated with the position of the different stakeholders., En 2012, la découverte du système CRISPR-Cas9, outil d'édition du génome offrant la possibilité d'inactiver, de muter, de substituer ou d'insérer un gène dans un organisme vivant, a fait date au sein de la communauté scientifique par sa simplicité d'utilisation. Pour l'instant, l'emploi de cette technique sur les animaux d'élevage n'est pas autorisé en Europe, mais certaines applications sont possibles dans d'autres pays. Nos travaux visent à analyser la manière dont ces Nouvelles Technologies Génétiques (NTG) et leurs applications potentielles à l'élevage sont perçues, c'est-à-dire à mieux cerner les justifications, arguments et enjeux des différentes parties prenantes. L'enquête a consisté à conduire 48 entretiens semi-directifs avec des acteurs de la filière sélection génétique, du monde agricole, des représentants de la société civile et des pouvoirs publics. Nous nous sommes intéressés à une diversité de filières (ruminants, porcine, avicoles et aquacoles) aux problématiques variées, ainsi qu'à plusieurs applications concrètes de ces technologies possibles en élevage. Les principales incertitudes soulevées par les acteurs recouvrent tout d'abord les impacts des NTG sur l'environnement, la biodiversité et sur les animaux eux-mêmes, mais aussi des aspects sociopolitiques. La typologie des acteurs enquêtés fait apparaître cinq profils d'acteurs selon leur positionnement vis-à-vis des NTG : les « réfractaires », les « sceptiques », les « convaincus », les « enthousiastes » et les « prudents ».

International audience; Although organic animal production is based on farming systems that enable a high degree of expression of natural behaviour by the animals, there are still some welfare challenges in such systems. Our study provides a state of the art of practices that could improve animal welfare in organic productions and interviews with key informants have been conducted to identify gaps and opportunities for animal welfare. This study provides a shortlist of practices that could be used to improve animal welfare while taking into account farmer wellbeing and sustainability and so contributing to “One Welfare”.

"For several years, French livestock farming has been questioned by society. Those questions concern its environmental impact, sanitary risks or animal treatment and ask, more generally, livestock farming’s place among a society that is more and more concerned about its alimentation. Critics reflect different expectations towards agricultural systems: 25% of the French population want a gradual disappearance of intensive farming systems for the benefit of under official quality signs (organic, AOP, etc.) or implementing alternative practices; 10% want the development of intensive farming to increase the production and be more competitive; and between them many want a gradual but not radical improvement of the intensive system, with stronger environmental and animal welfare requirements."

Perception and taking into account of societal demands regarding pig production by leaders of producer groups In a context of social questioning of pig production methods, four AGROCAMPUS-Ouest students conducted interviews with leaders of seven producer groups representing 70% of national pig production, and who were invited to answer two questions: i) How do economic actors perceive the questioning of pig production by society? ii) What actions are they taking to address them? The environment was cited by 10 of the 11 leaders interviewed as being society’s primary concern, before animal welfare; the third concern of society was the reduction in antibiotic use. Social representation of associations that support these claims is disputed. Faced with these demands, the profession highlights its compliance with regulations, developing innovations to reduce the environmental impact or the use of antibiotics, or to improve animal welfare. Communication is considered to be strategic. The questioning of intensive production is not considered, nor the expansion of differentiated products. A proactive and collective strategy to respond to societal demands is not mentioned, although this route has been selected in some other countries.

International audience; During interviews carried out in 2013, stakeholders from livestock production and NGOs estimated that knowledge and interest of the general public about modes of production were very limited. So, in 2014, we conducted a survey among baccalaureate (A‐level) students to assess their knowledge, perception and concern for livestock. Thirty‐two master students from AGROCAMPUS‐Ouest (FR) had 1,083 baccalaureate students fill a questionnaire with 49 questions, divided into five themes: who are you? What do you know about farming? What image do you have of livestock? What do you eat? What are your expectations for livestock farming? The knowledge of these young adults on livestock appeared to be fairly good. It came from television (34%), environment (family, neighbours, 23%), school (18%) and Internet (11%). The image of livestock farming and of the farming profession was good for 71% and 66% of respondents respectively. It was closely connected with the students’ links to farming but not with their level of knowledge. Whereas 96% of the respondents considered that it is important to preserve livestock farming in France, animal welfare was the major challenge of livestock farming for tomorrow: this is a concern for 80% of the respondents, far ahead of the environment (54%).