Système agraire et qualité de l'eau. Efficacité d'un concept et construction négociée d'une recherche

Abstract

-Agrarian system and water quality. Concept validity and negotiated elaboration of research company asto the limits and subdivisions of the a rea needing protection are the two controversial points laken as examples. The authors of this article present and analyse the overall approach used in an interdisciplinary research programme for which they were responsible. The programme was initiated by the following question, put forward by an important industrial company producing mineral water, Société Vittel: 'What changes are required concerning the farming activity used on the site, and under what conditions, in arder to reduce the rate of nitrates fou nd beneath the roots of cultivated plants and grassland, and to en sure that this rate remains beneath the limit of 10 mg per litre?' This led them to question the relevance and the limits of the agrarian system concept, as the concept on which an interdisciplinary approach was based. ln the first part, the authors present the merging th at occurred within this research programme of the agrarian system concept with that of sustainable development and with the systems approach. Drawing on past experience with this concept and several previous research projects, they locus on two perspectives. First, an agrarian system is a complex reality which links on a local level the people involved, the activities and a land area undergoing development. The second perspective underlines the graduai elaboration of the agrarian system; how it is formed by th ose involved. Keeping these two points of view in mi nd, an agrarian system madel is presented here, which served as the basis for organising and conducting the research programme. Once the programme objectives had been discussed and the scientific structure established, the decision was made to conduct the research in a reactive way according to its own development and the evolution of the agrarian system being formed. This option was facilitated by the existence of a 'mediator' between the research team and the other players within the agrarian system. The authors propose the notion of ·negotiated research' to describe this approach. This sa me agrarian system madel is used by the authors to make a critical analysis of the research programme itself; it serves as an analyser for controversial points. The water catch ment area as an emerging spatial entity, or the difference in the points of view held by the researchers and the The evolution of local relationships between the people involved played a crucial raie in solving the problem of water quality, and th us in building the agrarian system, through the development of learning processes by the different players: the industrial company, the farmers and the researchers. ln short, in arder to fulfil the two conditions required for sustainable development, i.e. first the creation of negotiation and consultation opportunities, and second the creation of knowledge, reference to the agrarian system concept appears relevant. The authors consider, as shawn by the Vittel res...

Innovative assessment tools to improve water quality and watershed management in farming areas

“…The need to consider this level of organization was a primary consideration (Naiman 1992; USEPA 2005). We have found such approaches in numerous programs, such as—considering 3 very different experiences—the Chesapeake Bay (http://www.chesapeakebay.net/restrtn.htm) at a larger spatial scale, or in the Devon and Cornwall rivers (Rickart 2006), or in the watershed of the famous Vittel waters in France (Deffontaines et al 1994; Deffontaines and Brossier 2000). In the 3 cases, farming activity is a key point and the watershed perspective has led scientists to propose innovative tools and methods, as well as develop important educational activities.…”

“…The case of Vittel corresponds to the watershed of a famous natural mineral water, a small farming area (3500 ha) with few farmers, and important private economic stakes. Scientists proposed a negotiated elaboration of research (Deffontaines and Brossier 2000), leading to an evolution of the cropping system, the proposition of new agricultural practices to the farmers, a review of progress, and an assessment of the changes, in agreement with the different stakeholders. Obviously, the economic dimension of the issue made it easier to mobilize the stakeholders.…”

Bilan scientifique d'une recherche interdisciplinaire entre agronomes, hydrologues et économistes : le point de vue des économistes

“…Nous montrons qu'une taxation des engrais aurait un impact limit6 sur la qualite de l'eau ; par contre, la modulation des primes Scop6 pourrait permettre d'infkhir les assolements ou d'encourager des pratiques culturales moins polluantes (Mollard et al, 2000). (Deffontaines et Brossier, 1999). Malgre tout, elle mit sept ans pour achever son programme de recherche.…”

Les agriculteurs et la pollution des eaux. Proposition d'une géographie des pratiques

“…Nous nous rapprocherons ainsi des travaux situés à l'interface entre l'agronomie et la géographie, notamment ceux qui abordent l'exploitation agricole et le territoire d'action environnementale comme des lieux de diffé-renciations et de coordinations spatiales des pratiques (Deffontaines et Brossier, 2000 ;Papy, 2001). Mais nous nous inspirerons aussi des recherches situées à l'interface entre la géographie et les sciences sociales, et qui prennent comme objet d'étude, soit les confrontations entre savoirs savants et vernaculaires dans la gestion éco-logique des milieux (Blanc-Pamard, 1986), soit les agencements spatiaux qui accompagnent l'inscription dans le territoire des normes et des actions environnementales (Rémy et al, 2004).…”