La Communauté de Communes du Val de Drôme (Val de Drôme Community of Municipalities)

Transcription

1 La Communauté de Communes du Val de Drôme (Val de Drôme Community of Municipalities) A regional rural projet to integrate farming and sustainable development Hugues Vernier hvernier@val-de-drome.com EC Presentation in Brussels 28th January 2016

2 THE BIOVALLÉE PROJECT 97 municipalities inhabitants Uniting 3 communities of municipalities: -Communauté de Communes du Val de Drôme -Communauté de Communes du Crestois et du Pays de Saillans -Communauté de Communes du Diois

3 DIVERSE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

4 VAL DE DRÔME COMMUNITY OF MUNICIPALITIES 30 years of intercommunal cooperation DEVELOPMENT SOLIDARITY ENVRONMENT First global blueprint for water management First benchmark agri-environmental territory First Territorial Export Contract (water management)

5 Development Background Top-down and silo approaches: State Region Department Agriculture Economy Tourism Environment

6 Strengthening links and cohesion Giving meaning LOCAL TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT AGRICULTURE HOUSING TERRITORY ECONOMY SOCIETY TOURISM

7 FARMING AS A STRATEGY FOR THE DRÔME VALLEY TO ADDRESS TERRITORIAL CHALLENGES Living environment: farming, the historic identity of the territory Quality of life: fostering a supply of high-quality, locally sourced farm products 6 challenges facing the territory Environment: supporting and promoting environmentally-friendly measures Economy: based mainly on agriculture and its related activities Space management: protecting and managing agricultural land and meeting local territorial expectations Society: maintaining a strong local dynamic within and across communities, and nurturing links with other sectors

8 BIOVALLÉE A COMMON TERRITORIAL PROJECT Sending out a political message over 15 to 20 years. Objective-driven and not budget-driven. Strong political commitment centred around a common project: A strategic vision for the territory s long-term future in terms of stimulating local dynamics (priority actions) A list of objectives to develop a more ecological and energy-saving farming system An action scheme including: - Structural measures that can be remodeled, and act as a trigger for change - Innovation activities and experimental projects to meet the needs and expectations of farmers and address territorial challenges

9 WHAT TYPE OF TERRITORIAL PROJECT? TURNING OUR TERRITORY INTO A REFERENCE MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT renewable energy energy saving waste management business eco parks eco-friendly construction agroecology organic farming sustainable farming water management: - quantitative - qualitative

10 GENERAL OBJECTIVES CURRENT AIMS IN PLACE 50% Organic Farming 50% Decrease in chemical inputs 80% organic and/or local ingredients for local collective catering NEW AIMS TO BE INTRODUCED X% decrease in eregy consumption Y% decrease in greenhouse gases Z% increase in rebewable energy production (or MWh) + measures to adapt farming systems to the effects of climate change Maintain added value (in energy efficiency)

11 A LEADING TERRITORY IN ORGANIC FARMING % of the UAA (utilised agricultural area) certified organics + in conversion 2012 Statistics

12 WHERE IS FARMING HEADING IN THE BIOVALLÉE? committed to promoting local consumption and short supply chains Economically viable and socially acceptable diversified involved in local development schemes Farming of the future will be soil-friendly, respecting biodiversity and human beings adapted to climate change more energy efficient and energy autonomous

13 Heading towards new production modes Production factors: biological (leguminous plants and organic manuring, biological pest control) Organic Intensive deep tillage Integrated Preserving the soil, no-till farming Responsible Conventional Production factors: chemical (fertilizer, plant protection products)

14 FARMING A BROAD-BASED APPROACH SOCIAL CHALLENGES HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY CHALLENGES Encourage young farmers to set up business ECONOMIC CHALLENGES Develop local consumption and local supply chains Promote the processing and marketing of agricultural products ENERGY CHALLENGES Foster research and innovation HEALTH CHALLENGES CLIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

15 ENCOURAGE FARMING, START-UPS AND ORGANIC CONVERSIONS, AND SET UP GROUP TRAINING Building networks for local and regional stakeholders Farm business incubator Local land acquisition and development funds Setting up business incubators within farms

16 DRIVE INITIATIVES FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION AND LOCAL SUPPLY CHAINS List of local producers Innovative supply systems Raising consumer awareness Supporting the project ça bouge dans ma cantine, to promote locally sourced, organic products in schools

17 PROMOTE THE PROCESSING AND MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS Supporting downstream operators Setting up a supply and demand logistics centre Creating workshops for processing agricultural products Building an Organics Hub: an exclusively organics-only area Setting up collective sales outlets

18 FOSTER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION TO CREATE A EXPERIMENTAL TERRITORY Promoting permaculture Essential oils Agroecology Energy Provider Eco-friendly construction (hemp, wood ) Research partnerships (INRA, FIBL )

19 Focusing on the systems approach Changing our habits and ways of thinking (not sector-specific but more transversal) Opening up to new partners and stakeholders Shifting the balance in decision-making powers (calling into question the current system in place) Sharing an overall diagnosis, a territorial project and a shared strategy Needing time, dialogue, organization and concrete action to ensure more lasting results

20 OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR RESEARCH To forecast a clearer vision of future prospects To develop new methods of analysis To experiment with new ways of thinking To experiment with new development methods To reinforce direct links between research and stakeholders.

21 BIOVALLÉE A COMMON TERRITORIAL PROJECT It is a long-term approach and strategy; It is a territory-wide venture, and not exclusively agricultural; It is a vision of the future, with unavoidable risk-taking; It is also the solid, sustainable goal of giving meaning to a project; It is a way of gaining recognition that will grow and develop in time; It is a shift from an alternative approach to the recognized mainstream; It is above all a strong political commitment; It is a broad-based and systematic approach; It is the drive to create links and cohesion across all actions and initiatives; It is a way of opening up to new partners and stakeholders. Today s dreams, alternative solutions and utopia are the classic models of the future.

22 BIENVENUE EN BIOVALLÉE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!