Assessing biodiversity on dairy farms: the Biotex toolJennifer Huet (Cniel)

EDA – 28 September 2017

1. Why was the Biotex tool developped?

2. How does it work?

3.Example

CNIEL in a few words

CNIEL is the French dairy inter-branch organisation. It was set up in 1974 as an association approved by public authorities.

CNIEL is a private, non-profit organisation, which has the responsibility for organising the dairy sector in a coherent way and for developing its economic potential.

10 CRIEL Regional dairy inter-branch

organisations

12 dairy inter-branch laboratories

FNPLConfédération Paysanne

Coordination RuraleFarmers’ federations

FNILNational Federation of Private

Dairy Processors

62 000 farms 340 co-ops 130 private processors

FNCLNational Federation of Dairy

Cooperatives

CNIEL in a few words

Main fields of action:

1. Economic relations between producers and processors: market monitoring,economic indicators, organisation of laboratories, sanitary quality of milk, qualitylabels (PDO, organic).

2. Promotion of dairy products and consumer’s information.

3. Collective research and management of dairy product safety, security and quality: food safety, good farming practices, sustainable development, nutrition and health requirements.

The Eurodairy project

Funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme, 14 countries involved, 120 innovating dairy farmers across Europe to demonstrate best practice, and push boundaries in the application of new knowledge

Objective : foster the development and dissemination of practice-based innovation in dairy farming, targeting key sustainability issues

Main themes: socio economic resilience, resource efficiency, animal care, and the integration of milk production with biodiversity objectives.

http://eurodairy.eu

A global assessment of biodiversity

Extraordinary biodiversity

Describe goals and ways used to protect extraordinary species/habitats (depending of the national strategy) at the dairy farm and region scale

Ordinary biodiversity

Assess the capacity of farm to maintain grassland areas and semi naturals habitats, by comparing the dairy farm and region scale BIOTEX Tool

The Biotex tool: main principles

Easily implemented- A 3 step survey- Based on available data

Time effective- ¼ day on farm for data collection- ½ day in the office for data analysis- A « ready to use » template for auditors

Understandable by farmers- Simple concept- Link between the farm and its region- Promotion of farmer’s every-day work- A 1 page feedback after the audit

Keywords:- Easy to use- Science based- Indirect indicators- Comparison to a region

The Biotex tool: 3 steps process

Step 1: describe the landscape mosaicIndicator: land use through crops diversity

Step 2: describe the landscape diversity

Step 3: grassland management

Indicator: presence of agroecologicalelements

Indicator: grazing and fertilization practices

The Biotex tool: 3 steps process

Step 1: describe the landscape mosaic

parcel

The Biotex tool: 3 steps process

Step 1: describe the landscape mosaic

Surface area (ha)

Usable agricultural area

Cereals

Oilseed crops

Protein rich plants

Forage crops

Maize area (forage and silage)

Sown pasture

Area under permanent grass

Vegetable cropping

Perenial crops

The Biotex tool: 3 steps process

Step 2: describe the landscape diversity

The Biotex tool: 3 steps process

Step 2: describe the landscape diversity

D

The Biotex tool: 3 steps process

Step 2: describe the landscape diversity

AEI type Category Nb

Hedges 100m Low hegdes, width 2m (nb)

100m Low hedges, width 5m (nb)

100m high hedges with one species, width

10m (nb)

100m high and low hedges with several

species (nb)

Group of trees Small group of trees (ha)

Trees nb small tree alone(Φ [7.5 – 22.5 cm [)

nb medium tree alone (Φ [22.5 – 47.5 cm [)

nb large tree alone(Φ≥47.5 cm)

Fruit trees Density 50-100 trees

Density 100-250 trees

Grassland Ha of grassland

Others Ha of grass strip along river

100 m hedges along forest

1 ha field border

1 ha Jachère

1 ha pit

1 m pond perimeter

1 m river and « fossé » perimeter

1 m linéaire de Talus, walls

Agroforestry : 1 ha (medium trees)

100 m riverine woodlands

The Biotex tool: 3 steps process

Step 3: grassland management

Example of a French farm

Surface area (ha)

Usable agricultural area 146

Cereals 17

Oilseed crops 0

Protein rich plants 5

Forage crops 40

Maize area (forage and silage) 12

Sown pasture 20

Area under permanent grass 32

Vegetable cropping 1

Perenial crops 0

AEI type Category Nb

Hedges 100m Low hegdes, width 2m (nb)

100m Low hedges, width 5m (nb)

100m high hedges with one species,

width 10m (nb)

100m high and low hedges with

several species (nb)

100

Group of trees Small group of trees (ha) 0,5

Trees nb small tree alone(Φ [7.5 – 22.5 cm

[)

nb medium tree alone (Φ [22.5 –

47.5 cm [)

nb large tree alone(Φ≥47.5 cm) 106

Fruit trees Density 50-100 trees

Density 100-250 trees

Grassland Ha of grassland 16

Others Ha of grass strip along river 0,5

100 m hedges along forest 100

1 ha field border

1 ha Jachère

1 ha pit

1 m pond perimeter

1 m river and « fossé » perimeter

1 m linéaire de Talus, walls 5000

Agroforestry : 1 ha (medium trees)

100 m riverine woodlands

Farm located in Haute Savoie, 90 cows

16 ha

Example of a French farm - results

Landscape mosaic : agricultural land use and species

conservation

Farm’s contribution to the landscape mosaic issuperior to the small region’s it belongs to. Themosaic of agricultural areas generates favorableresources and areas for species.

Territory’s H’ = 1.22 < Farm’s H’= 1.73

Available developed biodiversity area : landscapediversity and shelter capacity

The farm maintains the equivalent of 175ha of biodiversity. Compared to TFA, it is a slightly positive contribution. For 1 ha of cultivated land, the farm generates 1,2ha of biodiversity area.

0 30% 50% 70% 90%

BDA = 175 ha ; TFA = 146 BDA/TFA = 1.2

Permanent grassland : a biodiversity ressource, withconditions

Farm’s grassland management practices have alimited impact on fauna and flora.

16 ha of more intensively managed grassland arenot considered as a regulation area, they are notconsidered as rendering equivalent services asagroecological infrastructures.

Surface Bdv0 (Unfavorable)

Surface Bdv1 (Neutral)

Surface Bdv2 (Favorable)

16 ha 16 ha 0 ha

0% 20% 30% 40%50%

Bdv1 + Bdv2

Bdv0 + Bdv1 + Bdv2

Conclusion

The Biotex tool is:

Science based

Easily implemented and understadable

Designed to give an overview of farm’s situation

The Biotex tool is not meant to:

Compare farms / farming systems

Give farmers recommendations of actions

A tool to help promote dairy farming contribution to biodiversity ?

Thank you

Jennifer Huet – jhuet@cniel.com