La multifonctionnalité des prairies en France II. Conciliation des fonctions de production et de préservation de l'environnement

Abstract

Grasslands and forage crops are a main component of the French agricultural area. They provide herbivore herds feed, thus contributing to a major economic sector. Analysis of environmental functions shows that grasslands significantly reduce soil erosion and limit nitrogen loss under adequate management. They may also reduce fossil energy consumption through reduction of nitrogen fertilizers and of feed concentrates. They may preserve flora and fauna biodiversity thanks to their own plant diversity, their life duration and their contribution to the landscape mosaic. It may be concluded that grasslands are not multi-functional per se. In order to combine production and environment preservation objectives, tools at paddock scale include use of swards with complex flora with a significant contribution of legumes and management practices that will facilitate sward persistence. Share of acreage dedicated to grazing or to production of feed stocks, geographic location of the various crops on the farms and hedgerows will be key tools for economic systems which will be viable, secure and flexible, while remaining relevant with a preserved environment. Animal objectives will also be important. At a territorial scale, interaction between animal and grain-producing farms must be re-assessed. However, an uncertainty is raised concerning the possibility of re-shaping territories already fully specialised in either animal or grain production. Farmers play a major role in achieving this economic and societal objective. However, their commitment to combine production and environment preservation offers action opportunities to other stakeholders such as companies, coops and rural extension services.