Programme for the diversification of the vegetal production

Best Practice

Topics

• Protected areas
• Regional value added, Governance capacity

Short description

Since 2002 the Regional nature park Queyras leads a programme for the diversification of agriculture by encouraging new varieties in the vegetal production. In the frame of decreasing tendencies in the traditional productions fields, the aim of the project is to stimulate agriculture on the parks territory, to diversify the income sources for farmers and to motivate the settlement of new young farmers. Experimentations of the feasibility of the production of genepi (Artemisia umbelliformis), saffron (Crocus sativus), industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa), the rehabilitation of traditional cereals and different potato varieties were conducted in the frame of this project. The Regional nature park signs conventions with interested farmers fixing the production rules, finances the seedlings and assures a technical and scientific support. The park also conducts research about possible markets and facilitates the communication between the producers and the consumers.

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Participants

PNR Queyras, local farmers and local citizens, local artisans (bakers, restaurant owners,…) Technical partners: Chambre d’agriculture, ONIPPAM, CPIE, Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin (CBNA), Réseau semences paysannes

Objectives

The aim of the project is to stimulate agriculture on the parks territory, to diversify the income sources for farmers and to motivate the settlement of new young farmers by preserving in the same time the domestic and wild biodiversity. An other aim is to create new quality signs for some of the products (“Marque Parc”).

Activities

Experimentations for the production of old or alternative plant varieties with farmers. The farmers engage themselves to raise the plants following the terms of the signed convention (close to organic farming). Collaboration with French research organizations on old varieties (exchange and supply of seedlings and plants, exchange of research data). Experimentations with restaurant owners, bakers and liqueur makers on possible transformed products manufactured by using the farmers production. Creation of new sale strategies (“Marque Parc”).

Process

The project started with the culture of genepi (Artemisia umbelliformis). This plant is the basis for the production of a special liqueur. The wild plant is protected, but liqueur producers can get some special permits to cut wild genepi from the French government by the moment. The increase of the culture could allow to reduce the pressure on the wild growing protected plants and offer a good income possibility to the farmers. The same kind of experimentations are made for other plant varieties, for the potato culture, a branch that was never really structured and that offers interesting possibilities for the development of a special quality label in the Park. There are also projects for saffron (Crocus sativus), industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) and the rehabilitation of traditional cereals together with local bakers who develop new or forgotten products made out of these.

Results

A partial evaluation of all experimentations will be made by the end of the year, the programme will end by June 2006

Evaluation

The evaluations of the programme is officially made by the Regional nature park Queyras. The park will provide a first evaluation document by the end of 2005 and a final document at the end of the project. There are regular meetings with all local partners to evaluate the success of the experimentations.

Difficulties

Some problems are due to the seedlings material, the lack of experience with the unknown varieties. The backers had some problems with the characteristics of the produced flower but this is also due to a lack of experience in manufacturing the cereals and can be solved by improving the procedures.

Budget

The 3 years programme for diversification of the vegetal production is evaluated to 115 000€. (Euro)

Financial backer

Funding from the European Union, French Government, Region and from the Conseil Général (Department). The project is totally integrated in a LEADER + programme (3 years funding).

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www.pnr-queyras.fr

Publication

Publication: Alpine Network of Protected Areas (2004): Vertragsnaturschutz und Gütesiegel: Beispiele aus Ländern und Schutzgebieten der Alpen. Die Dossiers des Alpinen Netzwerks Nr. 11, available in DE,FR,IT. Alpine Network of Protected Areas, Gap (F). 140 p.

Project executive as above

Contact person as above

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

The programme contributes to the preservation of the domestic and wild biodiversity by encouraging farmers to cultivate old traditional varieties, alternatives to industrial or wild growing protected varieties and by diversifying the range of cultivated plants. The farmers engage themselves to produce following the regulations of the signed convention (close to organic farming).

Economic value added

In the frame of the cooperation between the farmers and the local artisans, the chain between the producer and the end user is very short, the added value therefore stays in the region.

Socio-cultural value added

The production of local plant varieties and the further marketing of these varieties and products made of them can contribute to the development of a local or regional identity. Special happenings in relation with the project like bread baking days in old village ovens, potatoes festival or the flowering of the saffron plants can create new cultural happenings and attract tourists.

Innovative content

Setting of an integrated concept beginning with the choice of a possible plant variety, the providing of the necessary seedlings and the support of the farmers in the cultivation and ending by the local baker or restaurant owner who sells this special local product with a certified regional origin and sometimes a quality label (label of the Regional nature park).

Good governance

The participation to the project is voluntary. The park helps the voluntary farmers buying the seedlings and supports the farming process. There are regular meetings with the farmers and the other local artisans to evaluate the results of the experimentations. The results of the experimentations are shared with the scientific partners of the project.

PR impact

The project contributes to raise the public awareness of the cultural value linked to these productions. Nevertheless, the impact is still low due of the short duration of the programme.

Multiplier effect / networking

The programme includes networking between producers and local “artisans” (restaurant owners, accommodation owners, other manufacturers). A project is planed to improve the impact and the value of the products with the local communities (in the frame of Leader + GAL) and with Italian partners (Italian Parks).

Transferability

The cultivation of old and traditional plant varieties can be transferred to everywhere. The production of local varieties can be important for local production specially in mountain areas because these plants are resistant and adapted to the extreme conditions of the territory.

Further information