WP1. Direct access to scientific knowledge by the designers of

intervention measures

Christophe Giraud & Agnès Ricroch

EBP_BIOSOC

22-23 February 2007

The main objective of our investigation is

to build up an analytical frame to analyze the way in which it is taken account of limits of empirical validity of the scientific knowledge mobilized in public intervention.

The main tasks are

(i) to gather scientific sources of knowledge used in the design of measurements of agri-environmental public policies,

(ii) to identify difficulties encountered to the direct access and to the use of this scientific knowledge,

(iii) and to examine the way in which the empirical validity of scientific knowledge is taken into account in the design of public interventions.

The method we will use consists in surveys and interviews.

In France, our work will concern 3 agri-environmental measures.

The method

1. Sustainable Farming Contracts (CAD in French) with biodiversity and landscape objectives

2. Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (BCAE in French) : the Buffer strip (or grassland strip)

measure as an environmental cover is a measure of eco-conditionality.

3. Protected areas in which constraints posed to agricultural practices will be studied

The three agri-environmental measures are

Ille-et-Vilaine

Loir-et-Cher

Manche

Vendée

Ardèche

2

4

1

4

2

3

The five selected areas of our study

Definition and application of the 3 measures will be observed

in 5 departments in France :

1

4

2

3

5

5

Sustainable Farming Contracts

CAD

Buffer strips = Good Agricultural and Environmental

Condition

BCAE

Protected areas

European Community

France

Brittany region

Ille-et-Vilaine department

Centre region

Loir-et-Cher department

Basse Normandie region

Manche department

Pays de Loire region

Vendée department

Rhône Alpes region

Ardèche department

These observations will be carried out at different levels (national, regional, and local), depending on the institutions

in which the regulations are built up :

Measure 1

Sustainable Farming Contracts (CAD)with biodiversity and landscape objectives

Sustainable Farming Contracts were built in 2002.

One difficulty :

There is a list of numerous measures with “biodiversity” and “landscape” objectives for each department.

We propose :

– to choose a common topic to the 5 French departments

– and/or to choose a specific topic for each one.

Measure 2

Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (BCAE in French)

Environmental Cover : the Buffer strips

The origine of Buffer strips (grassy strips) measure is found in the Commission Decision 91/616 concerning the use of nitrates in agriculture (water quality).

It is an eco-conditionality measure to which financial support of the first pillar is contingent.

It is applied at the national level and regional level.

One difficulty :

Today, Buffer strips do not correspond strictly to the present EC Decision.

Buffer strips are also considered as an environmental cover with a biodiversity objective (for example, preservation of the avifauna).

Measure 3

Constraints due to agriculture practices in protected areas

An open question : what site to study ?

• Protected areas in various regions to be defined by Aurélie Trouvé and Patrick Bonnafous.

The 4 steps of the investigation according to the Evidence-Based Decision

method to follow are:

• Step-1 : to send a letter (in order to identify the designers of intervention measures)

• Step-2 : to carry out surveys and interviews about difficulties of access to the scientific information and to identify the documentation used by the designers

• Step-3 : to analyse results of surveys and interviews and to draw conclusions from the literature reviews (steps 1 & 2)

• Step-4 : to undertake complementary interviews

• Step 0 : to identify law texts for each of the three measures.

WP1 Calendar

The distribution of tasks

1) Julia Agerberg & Florence Clermont (Dir. Catherine Laurent and Patrick Bonnefous)

two junior engineers

a training course at AgroParisTech – master 1

5 weeks from December 2006 to March 2007

Julia & Florence’ tasks

– to study (during 15 days) one department in order to identify and to conduct interviews with the redactors

– to identify at least the services (perhaps the persons) for the 3 other departments

– to carry out a literature review of 5 journals.

2) Agnès Ricroch and Christophe Giraud

to write surveys and the standard guidelines of

interviews which will be done by the students.

3) Audrey Boisron (Dir. Agnès Ricroch)

Master studentA training course of the Master 2 «Ecology, Biodiversity and Evolution » at Orsay University and AgroParisTech From 31 January to 31 August, 2007 (7 months)

Audrey’s tasks :

– participation in the preparation of surveys and interviews

concerning the 3 measures (Sustainable Farming

Contracts, Buffer strips, and Regional Natural Park )

– investigation on the Sustainable Farming Contracts on the

common topic for the 4 departments

– and/or investigation on the Sustainable Farming Contracts

on a specific topic for each of the four departments (as to

be defined).

4) Anne Surault (Dir. Agnès Ricroch)

junior engineer

a training course at AgroParisTech – master 1

from 26 February to 6 April 2007 (for 5 weeks)

Anne’s tasks– to write in English surveys for Sustainable Farming

Contracts (in particular the specific questions)– to identify the public services (and maybe the

persons) to be interviewed in the 4 departments.

– to study the literature review of 3 journals from 2000

to 2002.

• February-April 2007 Ist plenary meeting

22th-23th February

• Validation of surveys and identification of persons for interviews

• Presentation of the Buffer strips surveys:work of junior engineers Julia Agerberg & Florence Clermont (Dir. Catherine Laurent et Patrick Bonnefous)

• Presentation of the Sustainable Farming Contracts:work of the junior engineer Anne Surault (Dir. Agnès Ricroch)

• First report concerning the adaptation of the EBD method to the three measures

• Presentation of results of step 1 and step 2.

• Critical analysis of the EBD method

• Presentation of Sustainable Farming Contracts:work of the Master student Audrey Boisron (Dir. Agnès Ricroch)

• Intermediate report (surveys analysis and results)

Timetable

1st March

6th April

4th October

• July 20072nd plenary meeting

• June 2007

• May 2008

• October 2007

Thank you for your attention