# The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients

Bertrand Dumont, Marc Benoit, Juliette Bloor, Michael S. Corson, Frédéric Joly, Hayo van Der Werf

► To cite this version:

Bertrand Dumont, Marc Benoit, Juliette Bloor, Michael S. Corson, Frédéric Joly, et al.. The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients. Multifunctionality of livestock grazing systems, a lever to envision its possible futures, Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock, Apr 2024, Montpellier, France. hal-04669494

HAL Id: hal-04669494

https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04669494v1

Submitted on 8 Aug 2024

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access
archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci-
entific research documents, whether they are pub-
lished or not. The documents may come from
teaching and research institutions in France or
abroad, or from public or private research centers.

L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est
destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents
scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non,
émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de
recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires
publics ou privés.

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>

Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

# The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients

Bertrand DUMONT, Marc BENOIT, Juliette BLOOR, Michael CORSON, Frédéric JOLY, Hayo M.G. VAN DER WERF

Multifunctionality of livestock grazing systems, a lever to envision its possible futures, Montpellier, April 19th 2024

INRAO

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

L'INSTITUT
agro Rennes
Angers

As the result of the increasing demand for meat and milk at a global scale, livestock farming faces strong pressures to alleviate its negative impacts on the environment

APS deliver a number of benefits to society (biodiversity), and have positive feedbacks on cropland production (manure)

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

ipcc
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON climate change

## Climate Change and Land

An IPCC Special Report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems

**Summary for Policymakers**

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /></figure>

→ Need to account for both impacts and services
Huge management effects on the environmental
benefits/impacts of APS

RESEARCH

SUSTAINABILITY

Reducing food's environmental impacts through producers and consumers

J. Poore¹,²* and T. Nemecek²

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_10.png" /></figure>

Available online at www.sciencedirect.com

ScienceDirect

Toward a sustainable grazing management based on
biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality in
drylands

Ruiyang Zhang¹, Jinsong Wang¹ and Shuli Niu¹,²

Review

Grazing vs. mowing: A meta-analysis of biodiversity benefits for grassland management

Malin Tálea,⁴, Balázs Deákb,⁵, Peter Poschlodc,⁵, Orsolya Valkód,⁵, Lars Westerbergc,⁵, Per Milbergc,⁵

Environmental
Sustainability

Agriculture, Forestry and Environment 20 (2021) 10171-10179

<figure><img src="image_11.png" /></figure>

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

journal homepage: www.elevier.com/locate/ages

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /></figure>

A biodiversity-friendly rotational grazing system enhancing flower-visiting insect assemblages while maintaining animal and grassland productivity

Simone Ravetto Enri¹, Massimiliano Probo², Anne Farruggia³,*, Laurent Lanore², André Blanchetete¹, Bertrand Dumont¹

André Blanchetete¹, Bertrand Dumont¹

<figure><img src="image_13.png" /></figure>

OxfordMark

<figure><img src="image_14.png" /></figure>

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier

Among the promising « how? », we analyse options for sustainable APS along
two gradients: an intensification gradient for cattle in western lowlands

④ Knepp (rewilding)

<figure><img src="image_15.png" /></figure>

③ La Barge
(Beef cattle)

<figure><img src="image_16.png" /></figure>

② Trévarn
(Dairy cattle)

<figure><img src="image_17.png" /></figure>

① Derval (Conventional)
(Dairy cattle)

<figure><img src="image_18.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_19.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_20.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_21.png" /></figure>

ELSEVIER

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Agricultural Systems

journal homepage: www.elever.com/soilagric

<figure><img src="image_22.png" /></figure>

Trade-offs between higher productivity and lower environmental impacts for biodiversity-friendly and conventional cattle-oriented systems

Aymeric Mondière¹, Michael S. Conson²*, Julie Auberger², Daphné Durant², Sylvain Foray², Jean-François Giliné², Penny Green², Sandra Novak², Frédéric Signoret², Hayo M.G. van der Werf¹

<figure><img src="image_23.png" /></figure>

① bis: Sustainable intensification
Same total milk yield as ② with
farm ① production efficiency

→ Area returned to nature

<figure><img src="image_24.png" /></figure>

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier
## LCA allowed calculating environmental impacts in the five APS

<table><thead><tr><th>Options for animal production</th><th>Agricultural Rewilding (Knepp)</th><th>Paysans de Nature (La Barge)</th><th>Agroecological (Trévarn)</th><th>Sustainable Intensification</th><th>Conventional (Derval)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Human edible protein kg/ha.yr</td><td>5.0</td><td>11.0</td><td>110.6</td><td>124.5*</td><td>238.6</td></tr><tr><td>Gross climate change kgCO<sub>2</sub>eq/ha.yr</td><td>562</td><td>2553</td><td>4488</td><td>4671</td><td>8949</td></tr><tr><td>Soil C sequestration</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C stored in woody biomass</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Net climate change kgCO<sub>2</sub>eq/ha.yr</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

## LCA allowed calculating environmental impacts in the five APS

<table><thead><tr><th>Options for animal production</th><th>Agricultural Rewilding (Knepp)</th><th>Paysans de Nature (La Barge)</th><th>Agroecological (Trévarn)</th><th>Sustainable Intensification</th><th>Conventional (Derval)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Human edible protein kg/ha.yr</td><td>5.0</td><td>11.0</td><td>110.6</td><td>124.5*</td><td>238.6</td></tr><tr><td>Gross climate change kgCO<sub>2</sub>eq/ha.yr</td><td>562</td><td>2553</td><td>4488</td><td>4671</td><td>8949</td></tr><tr><td>Soil C sequestration</td><td>-3615</td><td>-2780</td><td>-2087</td><td>-2168</td><td>-654</td></tr><tr><td>C stored in woody biomass</td><td>-3056</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>-2268**</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Net climate change kgCO<sub>2</sub>eq/ha.yr</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

<footnote>* 238.8 kg / ha.yr in the agricultural area of SI farm (42%)</footnote>

<footnote>Dumont et al. in prep.</footnote>

<footnote>B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier</footnote>

<footnote>* 238.8 kg / ha.yr in the agricultural area of SI farm (42%)</footnote>

<footnote>Dumont et al. in prep.</footnote>

<footnote>** in the area returned to nature</footnote>

<footnote>B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier</footnote>
## LCA allowed calculating environmental impacts in the five APS

<table><thead><tr><th>Options for animal production</th><th>Agricultural Rewilding (Knepp)</th><th>Paysans de Nature (La Barge)</th><th>Agroecological (Trévarn)</th><th>Sustainable Intensification</th><th>Conventional (Derval)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Human edible protein kg/ha.yr</td><td>5.0</td><td>11.0</td><td>110.6</td><td>124.5*</td><td>238.6</td></tr><tr><td>Gross climate change kgCO<sub>2</sub>eq/ha.yr</td><td>562</td><td>2553</td><td>4488</td><td>4671</td><td>8949</td></tr><tr><td>Soil C sequestration</td><td>-3615</td><td>-2780</td><td>-2087</td><td>-2168</td><td>-654</td></tr><tr><td>C stored in woody biomass</td><td>-3056</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>-2268**</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Net climate change kgCO<sub>2</sub>eq/ha.yr</td><td>-6109</td><td>-227</td><td>2401</td><td>234</td><td>8295</td></tr></tbody></table>

Dumont et al. in prep.

<figure><img src="image_25.png" /></figure>

→ 2 climate neutral options: land sharing at low SR / land sparing once I have grown

<figure><img src="image_26.png" /></figure>

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier

## Land use matrices provide ecosystem services and biodiversity indicators

<figure><img src="image_27.png" /></figure>

### Ecosystem services in columns

* Ecological integrity

* Regulating services

* Cultural services

<figure><img src="image_28.png" /></figure>

Does not account for
land management

scale for assessing capacities:

<figure><img src="image_29.png" /></figure>

Burkhard et al. 2012, 2014

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier

<footnote>* 238.8 kg / ha.yr in the agricultural area of SI farm (42%)</footnote>

<footnote>** in the area returned to nature</footnote>
Land use matrices provide ecosystem services and biodiversity indicators

<table><thead><tr><th>Options for animal production</th><th>Agricultural Rewilding (Knepp)</th><th>Paysans de Nature (La Barge)</th><th>Agroecological (Trévarn)</th><th>Sustainable Intensification</th><th>Conventional (Derval)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Local climate regulation</td><td>3.7</td><td>2.0</td><td>2.0</td><td>3.4</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr><td>Water purification</td><td>3.7</td><td>2.9</td><td>2.6</td><td>2.4</td><td>0.0</td></tr><tr><td>Landscape aesthetics</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Natural heritage</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Biodiversity</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Dumont et al. in prep.

Land use matrices provide ecosystem services and biodiversity indicators

<table><thead><tr><th>Options for animal production</th><th>Agricultural Rewilding (Knepp)</th><th>Paysans de Nature (La Barge)</th><th>Agroecological (Trévarn)</th><th>Sustainable Intensification</th><th>Conventional (Derval)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Local climate regulation</td><td>3.7</td><td>2.0</td><td>2.0</td><td>3.4</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr><td>Water purification</td><td>3.7</td><td>2.9</td><td>2.6</td><td>2.4</td><td>0.0</td></tr><tr><td>Landscape aesthetics</td><td>4.3</td><td>3.9</td><td>3.6</td><td>2.9</td><td>1.0</td></tr><tr><td>Natural heritage</td><td>4.0</td><td>2.9</td><td>2.6</td><td>2.4</td><td>0.0</td></tr><tr><td>Biodiversity</td><td>4.3</td><td>4.9</td><td>4.6</td><td>3.0</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr><td>Human edible protein kg/ha.yr</td><td>5.0</td><td>11.0</td><td>110.6</td><td>124.5*</td><td>238.6</td></tr></tbody></table>

Dumont et al. in prep.

<figure><img src="image_30.png" /></figure>

→ The agroecological option may represent a good compromise

<footnote>B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier</footnote>

<footnote>B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier</footnote>
## Valuing the overall supply of ESs from contrasting human perspectives

<table><thead><tr><th>Weight given by stakeholders</th><th>Ecotourism sector</th><th>Environmental protec. agency</th><th>Farmers</th><th>Researchers</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Edible proteins</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C sequestration</td><td>0.10</td><td>0.30</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Water purification</td><td>0.20</td><td>0.60</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Land aesthetics</td><td>0.50</td><td>0.00</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Biodiversity</td><td>0.20</td><td>0.10</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Perspective | Published: 16 February 2018

### Redefining ecosystem multifunctionality

Peter Manning, Fons van der Plas, Santiago Soliveres, Eric Allan, Fernando T. Maestre

Mark J. Whittingham & Markus Fischer

Nature Ecology & Evolution 2, 427–436 (2018) | Cite this article

<figure><img src="image_31.png" /></figure>

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier

## Valuing the overall supply of ESs from contrasting human perspectives

<table><thead><tr><th>Weight given by stakeholders</th><th>Ecotourism sector</th><th>Environmental protec. agency</th><th>Farmers</th><th>Researchers</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Edible proteins</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.70</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C sequestration</td><td>0.10</td><td>0.30</td><td>0.10</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Water purification</td><td>0.20</td><td>0.60</td><td>0.10</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Land aesthetics</td><td>0.50</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Biodiversity</td><td>0.20</td><td>0.10</td><td>0.10</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Perspective | Published: 16 February 2018

### Redefining ecosystem multifunctionality

Peter Manning, Fons van der Plas, Santiago Soliveres, Eric Allan, Fernando T. Maestre

Mark J. Whittingham & Markus Fischer

Nature Ecology & Evolution 2, 427–436 (2018) | Cite this article

<figure><img src="image_32.png" /></figure>

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier
## Valuing the overall supply of ESs from contrasting human perspectives

<table><thead><tr><th>Weight given by stakeholders</th><th>Ecotourism sector</th><th>Environmental protec. agency</th><th>Farmers</th><th>Researchers</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Edible proteins</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.70</td><td>0.32</td></tr><tr><td>C sequestration</td><td>0.10</td><td>0.30</td><td>0.10</td><td>0.19</td></tr><tr><td>Water purification</td><td>0.20</td><td>0.60</td><td>0.10</td><td>0.10</td></tr><tr><td>Land aesthetics</td><td>0.50</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.16</td></tr><tr><td>Biodiversity</td><td>0.20</td><td>0.10</td><td>0.10</td><td>0.23</td></tr></tbody></table>

Perspective | Published: 16 February 2018

### Redefining ecosystem multifunctionality

Peter Manning, Fons van der Plas, Santiago Solliveres, Eric Allan, Fernando T. Maestre

Mark J. Whittingham & Markus Fischer

Nature Ecology & Evolution 2, 427–436 (2018) | Cite this article

<figure><img src="image_33.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_34.png" /></figure>

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier

## Efficient lamb production systems under contrasting pedoclimatic conditions

Agrology for Sustainable Development ©2019 39-40

http://agrology.org/18_10001713503_0119-0088-0

### RESEARCH ARTICLE

<figure><img src="image_35.png" /></figure>

Optimising economic and environmental performances of sheep-meat farms does not fully fit with the meat industry demands

Marc Benoit¹, Rodolphe Sabatier², Jacques Lasseur³, Philip Creighton⁴, Bertrand Dumont¹

<figure><img src="image_36.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_37.png" /></figure>

Performance assessed through 2 key variables

* ✓ Concentrate feeds / ewe.yr (64% of costs)

* ✓ Ewe annual productivity (correlated with net income)

<figure><img src="image_38.png" /></figure>

Rangelands, vineyard inter-rows

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier
Five synthetic indicators to assess overall performance

<figure><img src="image_39.png" /></figure>

* Grassland-based farms had the best economic and environmental performance, while limiting feed-food competition

* Optimizing economic and environmental performance doesn't fit with meat industry demand for a regular production

Benoit et al. 2019

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier

An integrated graphical approaches for explicitly representing the whole range of services and impacts (Ryschawy et al. 2019)

<figure><img src="image_40.png" /></figure>

Accounts for dimensions that are often neglected
(Plieninger et al. 2013)

<figure><img src="image_41.png" /></figure>

Accounts for disservices
(summer drought, predation risk)

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier
The framework was developed as a serious game to facilitate dialogue on APS

* Representing the current situation, then a sustainable future for the area

* Each player responsible for one interface

* Participants share their knowledge and collectively exercise their analytical skills by learning to position their own vision relative to that of others

* A safe environment to express contrasted and sometimes antagonist perceptions and values among players (Dernat et al. 2022, 2023)

* We reach out people who are traditionally excluded from scientific knowledge (Sterling et al. 2017)

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier

<figure><img src="image_42.png" /></figure>

## Take home messages

* Monocriteria assessments only reveal a small part of the story and do not help to think about a sustainable future for APS

* Valuing impacts and services from contrasting human perspectives (contrasts in farmer narratives in groups that may be perceived as homogeneous)

* Tools for participants to share their knowledge and values, and collectively exercise their analytical skills

Thank you for your attention!

<figure><img src="image_43.png" /></figure>

@bdumontAE

<figure><img src="image_44.png" /></figure>

@bdumontae.bsky.social

<figure><img src="image_45.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_46.png" /></figure>

B. Dumont - The multiple values of European grass-based farms along pedoclimatic and stocking density gradients, 19 April 2024 - Montpellier