Presentation of the adaptation options
Note :
Case studies E6 (San Giuliano) and C18 (CH M&L) were already involved in a design process when the CANTOGETHER project started; for this reason, the workshops #1 and #2 did not take place for these case studies.
Whatever the case study, we use the schematic representation presented in Unit 1. Size of a sphere depend on its relative importance (in surface for crops and grasslands, in herd size for animals) in the farm/territorial system; overlapping corresponds to spatial coordination between spheres. C means crops; G means grasslands; A means animals.
Example : San Giuliano (E6)
San Giuliano is a commercial farm evolving in time and collaborating with other farms of the Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige.
According to San Giuliano case study leader (the person of the CANTOGETHER project who follows this case study), farms of the region are mainly specialized and intensive practices are performed on most productive lands. Furthermore, major stakes for innovation are:
the development of green energy;
the protection of landscape for tourism;
the improvement of water quality;
the sustainability of farming systems.
Two complementary options are proposed.
As this case study is in a mountainous region, an option concerns the exchange of lands between dairy farmers (in uplands) and arable farmers (in lowlands) willing to diversify crop rotation. In lowlands, potato growers do not have enough land to cultivate the potato area they want to while respecting the minimum period of time between two potato crops (6 years). Exchange of lands allows farmers (i) to grow potatoes in new fields and (ii) to take advantages of the introduction of grasslands in their crop rotation (e.g. weed control, carbon sequestration).
The other option concerns the methanization of dairy manure and the export of digestate: raw digestate is spread locally on croplands of the mountainous region whereas dried digestate is exported to lowlands where it is spread on croplands.
These two options require coordination (contracts, agreements) between farmers to organize land exchange as well as digestate transport.
Only a small part of crops produced in lowlands is used for animals in uplands, and partly straw from cereals. Crops cultivated in uplands, in rotation with grasslands, are mainly potatoes.
The following video presents this case study and the options in details:
Example : Aveyron (C13)
Aveyron case study is a regional-level case study including crop production areas and livestock breeding areas on the territory of the water basin of river Aveyron (France).
According to results of workshop #1, upstream farming is dominated by livestock farms (grazing, forage production on irrigated lands); downstream farming is dominated by irrigated maize production and rainfed farms (wheat, sunflower). Major stakes for innovation are:
the water deficit, the restrictions on irrigation and conflicts between users of water;
the difficulty for young farmers to settle;
the autonomy of livestock farms;
the specialization of productions;
the large size of farms and the decrease of labor force in farms leading to unsatisfying management of some areas;
the acceptability of livestock buildings for residents;
the social demand for local products and quality;
the landscape as well as the biodiversity preservation.
Several options were proposed during Workshop #2.
Some options are related to the technical system:
increase in fodder production by using cover crops as fodder and by improving grassland management to get enough fodder all year round (it involves an adaptation of grassland composition and an adaptation of grassland fertilization);
optimization of manure spreading to avoid nitrogen losses;
diversification of crop rotations with legumes (such as alfalfa) and temporary grasslands in lowlands.
As far as grasslands are concerned, it is also proposed to use less productive areas in uplands for grazing (striped ellipse in the scheme).
Another option is related to the development of collective methanization units to generate biogas and manage livestock wastes.
These options rely on the interactions between uplands where animals are concentrated and lowlands where field crops dominate.
Example : CH M&L (C18)
This case study focuses on an analysis of supra-regional collaboration between mountain and lowland farmers. The following production systems are considered: milk production, meat production from surplus calves and culled cows from the dairy production system and meat production from beef cattle (suckler cows). Major stakes for innovation are:
due to climatic and topographic conditions, crop production is only possible in the lowlands;
grasslands of mountain farmers are less productive, therefore intensive production systems such as dairy farming depend on concentrate feed imports;
large difference in income between mountain and lowland farmers. Many mountain farmers therefore are depending on side jobs.
In this case study, main option aims at "bringing the animals to the feed", instead of "bringing the feed to the animals" (consequently, reliance on bought feedstuff is reduced). It is based on the contractual rearing of heifers. Dairy farmers from the lowlands sell their weaned female pure bred dairy calves to mountain farmers. The latter raise the heifers and sell them back to the lowland farmers when they are pregnant and close to calving. Contract between farmers specifies prices for calves and pregnant heifers.
Other options are proposed:
cross bred calves from lowland dairy farmers are sold to mountain farmers. There, the animals are fattened in an extensive grassland based system;
weaned suckler cow calves from mountain farmers are sold to lowland farmers and fattened at lowland farm based on farm grown feed;
summer pasture, where animals from lowland farmers are transferred to summer pastures in the mountains.
Options rely on the organization of circulation of animals between lowlands and mountains.
The following video presents this case study and the options in details: