Forage and Grasslands in a Sustainable Agriculture: New Challenges for Breeding

Abstract

Grasslands and forage crops are major components of the agri-food systems worldwide and must provide a wide range of ecosystem services, from the production of feed and food to the preservation of the environments. This paper presents the stakes associated to the three pillars of sustainability, with special attention given to the farmers and their expectations regarding farming systems. We suggest that risk aversion of farmers must be especially taken into account for the defi nition of new production systems and for the implementation of innovations. Implementation of production systems combining annual grain crops and perennial forage crops or associating plant and animal productions either at farm or territory scales make it possible to maintain production and economical performance and to improve environmental performances. The production systems as well as the breeding and registration systems are involved in lock-in situations that are a complex equilibrium of stakeholders and their activity around a series of standards of production and utilisation. These situations hinder the implementation of "disruptive" innovation that could move the systems to higher levels of productivity and environmental service. The conditions to escape from such situations are explained. Innovative conception theory provides a frame for identifying new concepts and for searching knowledge to support those who are creating the innovations. Adoption of innovations by farmers is a critical issue and tools to facilitate the implementation of innovation by farmers are identifi ed, especially work in farmers groups, advisory systems and, on a long term perspective, training and education. It is also necessary to consider the heterogeneity of farmer communities. The early adopters must be targeted as they are opinion leaders who will fi rst implement the innovations and disseminate them to neighbours and partners.

Root responses to domestication, precipitation and silicification: weeping meadow grass simplifies and alters toughness

“…The domestication of turf grasses, in particular, has generally targeted shoot traits such as colour, fine texture, seed quality and tiller density (Huyghe and Brummer 2013).…”