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Research as a guidance for future actions Aline Lapierre Grignon Energie Positive AgroParisTech - France

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Grignon Energie Positive (GE+) : a farm-level applied research program Applied research program on the whole farm system, initiated in 2006, extended in 2010, Alliance of various partners around a common project : industrials, cooperatives, interbranches, banks, regional authorities, technical institutes, public establishments, Involvement of research key stakeholders (INRA*). * INRA : French national institute for agricultural research

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GE+ objective and values What are the possible and desirable adjustments of milk production to face the fossil fuel scarcity and global warming issues ? Two lines of work : Demonstration & innovation Positive communication Three analysis axes for milk production performance. Energy consumptions GHG emissions Farm food performance Revenues Energy consumption and GHG emissions of 100/ 440 persons. Vs 7500/9500 persons potentially fed

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Farms involved in the program (1/2) the Grignon farm Near Paris, the Grignon farm is at the heart of the program between 2006 and 2009. Mixed farming system : 130 dairy cows, 350 hectares (cereals, maize, forage crops and pastures) Milk processing on farm (Grignon yoghurt) An educational resource opened to a wide audience An exceptional framework of education for talented students and research

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Farms involved in the program (2/2) the dairy farms network Since 2010, the improvement process initiated in Grignon was subsequently deployed in a dozen dairy farms, making up the GE+ farms network. Mountain and piedmont, with maize Lowland > 30% maize Lowland, 10-30% maize Lowland, grassland GE+ farms distribution and profile (2011) :

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The GE+ approach GE+ is based on a long-term monitoring of farm performances : Initial diagnosis of the farm, identification of key actions to improve the environmental performances of milk production (with a modeling tool), Implementation of the identified key actions at the farm, 3 year-long monitoring of the milk production environmental (GHG and energy consumption) results.

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Evolution of GHG score for milk production at Grignon (in g CO 2 e/ liter of milk) : Significant results After four years, significant results are produced : Improvement is possible, Various solutions exist, according to the system considered, Improving the environmental impact may match with high- productivity systems. Some solutions implemented in Grignon :

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Close evaluation of environmental impact With its own applied research instruments, GE+ program includes the measurement of real in situ impact factors. Field measurement of N 2 O emissions with a static chamber (Grignon, 2009) GHG score of milk production according to the impact factor considered for soil direct N 2 O emissions (in g CO 2 e/ liter of milk) : - 50g CO 2 e

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Communication and education Information campaigns to both professionals and students are performed : Positive agriculture meetings, technical training to farmers, Academic training on environmental issues of agriculture to students (AgroParistech engineering school).

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Positive communication GE+ aims at reconnecting agriculture to society by: Promoting modern agriculture to general public, Explaining the mechanisms underlying environmental issues (to children), Raising peoples awareness of progress routes for agriculture. Examples of educational tools developed and broadcasted by GE+ teams : the Positive farm model and the game good on my plate, for me and my planet!

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Thank you for your attention ! www.grignonenergiepositive.fr aline.lapierre@agroparistech.fr