A presentation made at the WCCA 2011 event in Brisbane, Australia.

1. From a local experience of Min Till
to a strategy
for No-Till development
or… what keys to CA adoption ?
The french case study
Brisbane, World Congress of Conservation Agriculture, Sept 2011
APAD, Gérard Rass

2. Situation and problem
CA adoption in France < 1 %
Why ?
Worldwide, high adoption exists in all conditions :
cold/hot, dry/wet, all soils…
=> Human factor ? Policies ? Strategy ?
Study CA past history with international experts :
Better understand the reasons for this low adoption
Propose strategy to increase adoption

3. Summary of « Min-Till » evolution
70’s to 2000 : objectives : high level of production,
no risk, high inputs level, high invesment, with
subsidies.
From the 90’s : environment : nitrates, pesticides,
research, experts and ecologist NGO’s driven.
Alternative to plough : min-till, combined drill…
cost reduction / machinery driven,
no cover crops,
no understanding of SOM, soil biodiversity…
Adoption up to 30 / 40 %.
Limited change vs plough, limited performance.

4. Evolution of CA = No-Till + cover crop systems
From 2000 : some pioneer farmers discovered Brazil
(Semeato / AFD promoting)
Some have persisted and got results,
applying principles of CA :
Zero-Tillage with continuously covered soil.
Their neighbours have still not adopted despite results
Why ?

5. Constraints of an ordinary french farmer
Ignorance of what exists around the world,
belief he cannot…
Psychologically dependant (neighbours, unions,
research, experts, extension services, coop…
media, NGO’s…)
Subject to regulators : ex : N limitation => no
SOM improvement
No appropriate inputs (specific seeds, fertilizers…)
No support for information nor experiments
(private or officials)
95 followers, 5 % leaders…

6. Attitude of stakeholders in Europe
Media do love organic farming as THE model to
promote
NGO’s put pressure on media
Politicians follow media : organic as a model
Administrations follow politicians : limit pesticides and
N use, promote tillage as a substitute to herbicides…
Official scientists are paid by administration
Leading farmers unions follow politicians (subsidies)
Food industry follows the market : greenwashing…
Supply companies follow the market (99 % tillage)

7. What can No-Till farmers do ?
Obtain good results on their farms : profit, soil, water,
biodiversity…
Assess them : but how ?
Communicate to influencial politicians and media. How?
Lobbying :
APAD motivated a Member of European Parliament.
The Eu Commission initiated a study about CA : the
SoCo project (2007-2009)
ECAF has been able to demonstrate benefits of CA

13. The SoCo project : a success
Conclusion : very positive about the need to
support CA in Europe (2009). http://soco.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
CA is an answer to political need of CAP for :
macro-economical performance, profits on farms,
social needs,
environmental management of territories = sustainability,
Reduced public budget.
BUT : all is forgotten now !!!!
The competition was more present.

14. What have we learnt ?
The loosing strategy :
• An association of experts (APAD 1998)
• addresses big farmers unions, established
organizations, scientific institutions…,
• with a broad varieties of « CA » concepts = Min Till
The winning strategy :
• A No-Till farmers association (APAD 2010)
• addresses citizens and policy makers
• with a clear CA (No-Till) model + benefits
We must be present closer to policy makers !!!

15. What can No-Till farmers do ?
Obtain good results on their farms : profit, soil, water,
biodiversity…
Assess them : but how ?
Communicate to influencial politicians + media, how ?
Needs :
1. Assess Sustainable Agriculture
2. Communicate, and be present all the time

16. Assess Sustainable Agriculture, and communicate :
APAD has created IAD, Institute for Sustainable
Agriculture (France)
Private organization, farmers driven :
No-Till farmers, No-Till farmers associations,
Private companies : Semeato, Bertini, Coop Nouricia, PRP,
Syngenta, Monsanto.
Experts support : ECAF, FAO, CA Community, AFD…
A set of indicators for Sustainable Agriculture,
A report of proposals for policy makers: « Agriculture 2050 »
An annual International Conference about Sustainable Agriculture
This has given more audience and influence to APAD No-Till farmers

17. IAD indicators : how they have been made and what
they bring
The indicators were selected in 2008, internationally and
locally, based on criteria of relevance, neutrality, occurrence
and result measurement.
Ultimately, after 2 years testing on 160 farms, we settled a
scorecard and dashboard made of 26 indicators grouped into
7 themes.
In IAD report : « Agriculture 2050 starts here and now », are
explained :
The model of sustainable farming production
The criteria for Sustainable Production
The ecosystem services
A mechanisms of PES (Payment for Ecological Services)

18. The model : based on the 3 fundamental functions of
the ecosystem

19. 26 indicators assessing the key relevant
parameters of farming activity
Theme 1: economic viability Theme 3: efficiency of input use
EBITDA per ha and/or per IFT ‐ Pesticide treatment
livestock unit frequency index
EBITDA/labour unit NPK balance (nitrogen ‐
Production costs per ha or phosphorous ‐ potassium)
livestockunit Energy balance
Theme 2: social viability Energy independence rate
Full‐time equivalent working Water consumption (irrigation)
hours Food autonomy rate
(1,800 hours/year) Yield ha, livestock farm
SI ‐ Satisfaction Index

20. IAD Indicators (continued)
Topic 4: Greenhouse gas Theme 6: water quality
GHG level NO3 level ‐ boreholes and
Theme 5: soil quality wells
Yield/ha UAA NO3 level – rivers
Yield/ha main fodder area Theme 7: biodiversity
Soil tillage index Soil utilisation
Annual soil cover rate Biodiversity surface area
Organic matter level Crop diversity
Soil biological activity STOC "birds" (common bird
mapping)
STERC "insects" (common
insect mapping)
19 of these indicators are able to measure directly or indirectly the ecological
services in accordance with the scientific references available in the
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

21. Scorecards for sustainable agriculture
indicators

22. Mechanism of Payment for Ecological Services (PES)
example on APAD farms with 12 indicators

23. Results after 3 years :
160 farms assessed,
Several partners from supply or food industry involved to use IAD
indicators,
3 high level international conferences on Sustainable Agriculture in
Senate in Paris, with high level official sponsors, and international
speakers of CA community (thanks to them !).
Report Agriculture 2050 circulated among french experts and
Government, in EU Parliament and Commission.
Some recognition in France for IAD indicators of
Sustainable Agriculture
Engagement of some stakeholders of agriculture

24. Stakehlders : everyone must be involved in
sustainable agriculture
Citizens / Policy makers
Soil management
Food
Fertilizers
Genetics No-Till Farmers Food industry
Machinery
Feed industry
Plant protection
27

25. We have alliances with some supply companies
IAD
To improve results on farms

26. We have alliances with food / feed industry
Citizens / Policy makers
Soil management
Food
Fertilizers
Genetics No-Till Farmers Food industry
WEST cluster (*)
Machinery
Feed industry
Plant protection
WEST : Well Eating To drive consumers demand
Sustainable Territory 29

27. We have a project partaken with some Members
of European Parliament
ECAF
To enable good policies,
& give the signal from the top

28. BUT : opposition to CA is still very strong
Policy makers do not consider farmers testimonies as
valid in front of recommendations of scientists.
Official scientists have a dominent influence on policy makers.
Local scientists usually object to CA : « non organic, non
natural, uses pesticides… ».
They ignore good CA practices, use old references of Min-Till
They do not collaborate with experienced No-Till farmers
(« not invented here » syndrom).
From bad No-Till, they produce bad data.
Pivate sector is reluctant to move :
« CA is too narrow scope, no market, »

29. Need for organizational improvement at
European level
Stronger National Associations in key Eu countries,
driven by No-Till farmers and CA experts,
supported by companies
A real movement
An organization of influence in Bruxelles,
near of the EU Parliament and EU Commission,
representing No-Till farmers,
but also able to bring expertise on their behalf,
Proposed : the European Council for Sustainable Agriculture
A real presence, with political proposals

30. The key need : a strong group to advocate for SA
and CA to European Union :
A European Council for Sustainable Agriculture in Brussels,
with 3 pilars (IAD model) :
Farmers : ECAF farmers from key EU countries,
• to drive, and advocate with the legitimacy of their results and
practical experience,
CA Scientists :
• to support scientific debates, and fight objections of local scientists,
ECAF experts
international CA community (=> you ),
supported by high reputation international agencies (United Nation)
Private companies :
input industries, machinery, fertilizer, crop protection, genetics…,
supporting CA.
Include IAD and WEST cluster (food and feed industries)

31. Missions of the European Council for Sustainable
Agriculture
Monitor EU and national policies :
• Audit their performances vs sustainability criteria
• Publish reports and recommendations to policy makers
Advocate for CA to EU Parliament and Commission
Make local missions and audits, on demand :
ex : water quality in France,
Provide data and studies when needed (ex : C credits…)
Participate in studies (tender bids from EU : ex : indicators)
Provide to local operators :
• strategic advices,
• speakers for conferences,
• communication with media

32. The challenge for sustainability is global.
It needs a global governance.
We shall loose or win together.
Thank you
gerard.rass@wanadoo.fr
33 6 07 40 42 59
apad.asso@laposte.net
www.apad.asso.fr