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Nous réalisons des travaux de recherche et des études stratégiques : notre équipe s’intéresse aux systèmes agricoles et alimentaires, aux défis et opportunités qu’ils rencontrent et aux processus de transformation et transition associés. Nos travaux s'appuient sur trois parti-pris : (1) L’intégration des dimensions environnementales et sociales aux enjeux productifs de l’agriculture. Ce sont bien, d’abord, les questions de durabilité des systèmes qui sont au cœur de nos recherches. Nous abordons la durabilité à travers différents angles, selon les contextes. (2) L’interdisciplinarité, que nous voyons comme une source de richesse pour aborder la complexité des enjeux. Nos travaux analysent donc de manière conjointe des aspects techniques, agronomiques des modes de production agricoles et des dimensions sociales et économiques des systèmes alimentaires. (3) La multiplicité des échelles, car les transitions s’opèrent à différents niveaux et sur différentes temporalités. L’adoption de nouvelles pratiques agricoles, les trajectoires d’évolution des organisations collectives, les visions régionales, nationales et européennes s’entrecroisent et interagissent. Nos thématiques de recherche sont : (1) Les modes de production : quels sont les caractéristiques des modes de production agricoles et d’élevage utilisés aujourd’hui ? Nous établissons un état des lieux du fonctionnement des filières agroalimentaires. Nous cherchons à comprendre les possibilités d’évolution des acteurs et des chaînes de valeurs, ainsi que les possibles phénomènes de verrouillage à la transition. Cela permet d’identifier des leviers d’action techniques, économiques et politiques. (2) Les systèmes agroalimentaires : comment s’organisent les filières agroalimentaires ? Comment les acteurs interagissent-ils ? Nous caractérisons les modes de production agricole et d’élevage, depuis leurs pratiques jusqu’aux systèmes dans lesquels ils s’inscrivent. Cette démarche rend possible une analyse concrète des forces et des défis rencontrés par les différents modèles. Nous mettons en évidence les pratiques et modèles basés sur l’agroécologie. (3) Les trajectoires de transition : quels horizons pouvons-nous envisager pour l’agriculture et l’alimentation dans nos territoires ? Nous établissons des scénarios prospectifs à horizon 2050, permettant de définir et d’accompagner une transition des systèmes agricoles et alimentaires. Ces scénarios peuvent être tendanciels ou poursuivre des objectifs de durabilité spécifiques, tel que la diminution de l’utilisation des pesticides et la prise en compte des enjeux climatiques.

International audience; Although hemp cultivation is increasingly perceived as a promising option in terms of crop diversification, especially in semi-arid conditions such as in the Mediterranean region, its adoption remains limited thus constraining the development of hemp value chains at a larger scale. Our objective was to explore suitable conditions, at farm and downstream levels, for organic hempseed oil production in Sicily, taking on an action-research perspective that involves local actors. Based on a preliminary characterisation of barriers to organic hemp development at different value chain levels, we carried out targeted complementary investigation: (i) assessment on agroenvironmental performances of integrating hemp in durum wheat-based rotations; (ii) chemical analysis of local hempseed oil; (iii) exploration of marketing opportunities and value chain development. Our results showed that the lack of technical and economic knowledge as well as the deficiencies of suitable cultivars and adequate machinery were the main barriers for the organic hemp value chain development in Sicily. The analysis of agroenvironmental performances also revealed both strengths and weaknesses of hemp introduction in durum-wheat based rotations. Despite the identified limitations, we demonstrated that the organic hemp value chains represent interesting perspectives for the Sicilian farming sector, particularly in case of substantial barriers removal or adaptation.; Bien que la culture de chanvre soit perçue de manière croissante comme une option prometteuse pour la diversification des cultures, en particulier en conditions semi-arides dans la zone méditerranéenne, le développement à large échelle de chaînes de valeur pour le chanvre est encore limité. Notre objectif était d'explorer les conditions adéquates pour l'exploitation de l'huile de chanvre biologique en Sicile au niveau de la ferme et de l'aval. Nous avons opté pour une perspective de recherche-action mobilisant des acteurs locaux. À partir d'une caractérisation préliminaire des freins au développement du chanvre biologique en Sicile à différents maillons de la chaîne de valeur, nous avons mené des recherches complémentaires ciblées : (i) évaluation des performances agroenvironnementales de l'intégration du chanvre dans des rotations à base de blé dur, (ii) analyse chimique de l'huile de chanvre locale, (iii) exploration des opportunités en termes de commercialisation et développement de chaîne de valeur. Nos résultats montrent des perspectives intéressantes pour les chaînes de valeur de chanvre biologique en Sicile avec une rentabilité prometteuse, en particulier si les freins les plus importants sont levés ou des adaptations trouvées. L'étude a également mis en lumière des points clés à considérer pour un développement futur du chanvre.

Monitoring pesticide use is essential for assessing farming practices and the risks associated with the use of pesticides. Currently, there are neither consolidated, public data available on glyphosate use in Europe, nor a standardized categorization of its major uses. In this study, data on glyphosate sales and use in Europe were collected from multiple sources and compiled into a dataset of the agricultural use of glyphosate from 2013 to 2017. The survey shows that glyphosate represented 33% of the herbicide volume sold in Europe in 2017. One third of the acreage of annual cropping systems and half of the acreage of perennial tree crops received glyphosate annually. Glyphosate is widely used for at least eight agronomic purposes, including weed control, crop desiccation, terminating cover crops, terminating temporary grassland and renewing permanent grassland. Glyphosate use can be classified into occasional uses&mdash, i.e., exceptional applications, triggered by meteorological conditions or specific farm constraints&mdash, and recurrent uses, which are widespread practices that are embedded in farming systems and for which other agronomic solutions may exist but are not frequently used. This article proposes a framework for the precise monitoring of glyphosate use, based on the identification of the cropping systems in which glyphosate is used, the agronomic purposes for which it is employed, the dose used and the rationale behind the different uses.

Crop diversification in semiarid environments proves to be challenging at both the agroecological and socioeconomic levels. Introducing hemp cultivation in wheat-based farming systems is one of the promising options that the DiverIMPACTS case study 9 is exploring in Sicily. While various agronomic issues are still under investigation, a study carried out in collaboration with the Université Catholique de Louvain shows valuable business opportunities for Sicilian hemp-based food products. ♫ Hemp, I need some market. Hemp, not just any market. Hemp, now we know the market, hemp ♫ Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), which can contribute to seed, oil, fiber and medicinal product markets, is currently the object of an agronomic and industrial rediscovery after more than 50 years of neglect. It is one of the oldest non-food crops worldwide. However, hemp production and use has progressively declined during the 20th century due to the competition with cotton and synthetic fibers and drug phobia. Traditionally, hemp breeding as well as agronomic techniques used to cultivate hemp were designed for the production of textiles and ropes and less for food/feed uses. Because there was less interest in hemp, it was not subject to the intensive agronomic and breeding research and development that drove the improvements in other crops over the last 50 years. Recently, interest in this crop was once again stimulated by novel value chains. Moreover, from an agronomic point of view, the interest in hemp was strengthened by the fact that it requires low inputs, it can be integrated in a crop rotation to increase pest and disease resilience, and it has a very positive impact on the environment and soil structure. Although it still remains a niche market, the area of hemp cultivated in Europe and worldwide has increased exponentially in the last years due to its multiple end uses (fibre, flowers, grains). A growing demand for hemp products by the food market is one of the key drivers. In Southern Europe, the increased commercial interest for hemp in food products and a somewhat clearer legal status have stimulated a shift toward cultivation of hemp seeds as the main yield instead of biomass. In this context, DiverIMPACTScase study 9, which is carried out in Sicily byFIRABandCREAto diversify wheat-based farming systems, has identified hemp as a promising option at both the agronomic and economic levels. The Sicilian case study benefits from the involvement of pioneer farmers who have experimented with the production and processing of hemp in Sicily for a few years. They make hemp products that are mainly sold in niche markets, which promote local and healthy food. The potential development of marketing channels for hemp-based food products from Sicily should therefore be explored in order to determine the extent to which hemp production can be promoted and developed. To support this innovation, a study on the potential of value chains for Sicilian hemp-based food products was rolled out from March to June 2019 by theUniversité catholique de Louvain, in collaboration with FIRAB and CREA. The study mainly focuses on the potential of value chains for hemp-based food products, especially hemp oil and flour. Hemp oil offers a high nutritional value and is of interest from a gastronomical and nutraceutical point of view. Integrating hemp flour in pasta also seems to be interesting in terms of nutritional and food diversification. Additional opportunities exist such as blending hemp flour for bread and pastries or using hemp flowers to complement hops in beer. The study provides information on marketing opportunities, through benchmarking of hemp-based food products and pricing in a number of EU countries, marketing strategies and the possibilities of nutritional claims, and an analysis of relevant processing and market development in Sicily. The study mainly refers to organic products as the involved case study actors operate under organic certification.

Integrated Child Development Services in India through its supplementary nutrition programme covers over 100 million children, pregnant and lactating women across the country. Providing a hot cooked meal each day to children aged between 3-6 years and a take-home ration to children aged between 6-36 months, pregnant and lactating women, the Integrated Child Development Services faces a monumental task to deliver this component of services of desired quality and regularity at scale. From intermediaries or contractors who acted as agents for procuring and distributing food to procurement directly from large food manufacturers to using women groups as food producers, different State Governments have adopted a variety of strategies to procure and distribute food, especially the take-home ration. India's Supreme Court, through its directive of 2004, encouraged the Government to engage women's groups for the production of the supplementary food. This study was conducted to determine the operational performance, economic sustainability and social impact of a decentralised production model for India's Supplementary Nutrition Program, in which women groups run smallscale industrialised units. Data were collected through observation, interviews and group discussions with key stakeholders. Operational performance was analysed through standard performance indicators that measured consistency in production, compliance with quality standards and distribution regularity. Assessment of the economic viability included cost structure analysis, five-year projections, and financial ratios. Social impact was assessed using a qualitative approach. The pilot unit has demonstrated its operational performance and cost-efficiency. More data is needed to evaluate the scalability and sustainability of this decentralised model.印度整合兒童發展服務的營養補充計畫，涵蓋全國超過1 億名的兒童、孕婦及 哺乳婦。每天供應3-6 歲的兒童一餐熱食，6-36 個月的幼兒、懷孕婦女及哺乳 婦則提供可帶回家的口糧，整合兒童服務面臨提供一個包含品質、規律性及相 當規模的服務的艱鉅任務。不同的州政府採用多種採購及分發食物策略，特別 是帶回家的口糧，代理採購或分發食物的中間商或承包商，從由女性團體為食 品製造者的大型食品製造廠直接採購。印度最高法院，透過2004 年的指示， 鼓勵政府聘僱女性團體生產補充食物。印度營養補充計畫是女性團體經營的小 規模工廠的去集中化生產模式，本研究旨在評估其營運績效、經濟的永續性以 及對社會影響。透過觀察、訪談、及與利害關係者的小組討論收集資料。營運 績效是透過分析包括產品的一致性、符合品質標準的程度及分送規律等標準績 效指標。經濟生存力的評估包含成本結構分析、五年預測及財務比率。以質性 方法評估社會影響。前驅研究已證實它的營運績效及成本效益。需要更多的資 料來評估這個去集中化模式的擴展性及永續性。