Transforming the agricultural production system is essential to address environmental challenges and human health concerns. The economic dimension at the farm level is crucial for enabling a large-scale transition to agroecology. The PERFECO project focuses on understanding the economic challenges of transitioning to agroecology. By gaining insights into these economic aspects, PERFECO aims to support a broader and more sustainable shift in agricultural practices.
Funders : Terra ISARA
Agroecology is now emerging as a response to major global challenges such as food security, preservation of natural resources and adaptation to climate change. Since the late 2000s, research in agroecology has highlighted the importance of integrating the socio-economic dimension into the study of agroecological transition. One of the key challenges is to identify the socio-economic barriers and drivers to the implementation of agroecological systems at farm level. This understanding is essential in order to guide public action and enable the design of appropriate public policies.
project scale
The project operates on a regional scale, specifically within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA) region of France. It focuses on three main areas of agricultural production: livestock farming, cereal production, and market gardening.
Project objectives
The PERFECO project has two main objectives:
- First, to study the economic performance of farms in relation to their level of agroecological transition, in order to investigate whether economic performance can align with the implementation of agroecological practices.
- Second, to identify which economic models can support this balance and understand the role of public and private actors in encouraging farmers to transition towards agroecology.
By exploring these questions, PERFECO aims to provide insights and solutions for a more sustainable and economically viable agricultural sector.
One of the key challenges of the agroecological transition lies in defining economic frameworks that support this shift. At the farm level, this involves rethinking how long-term economic performance is assessed and designing effective business models within this broader perspective.
Materials and methods
The PERFECO project is based on data collected from farms located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, mainly in the Rhône, Ain and Isère departments, but also in Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Drôme. This data was obtained from interviews with farmers and their accounts.
To analyse this data, an original, mixed approach has been developed, combining quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
- Economic performance is assessed in a multidimensional way through the objectives of viability, economic independence, transferability and efficiency of the production process, in line with the IDEA4 framework, which we are using for the project
- Economic models are analysed using a widely used framework, that of Osterwalder & Pigneur, which we adapt to make it relevant in the context of agroecology.
- We also use the OASIS tool to capture agroecology.
ISARA project team
- Edwige Fain – economist, project leader PERFECO
- Ioanna Mouratiadou – agricultural economist
- Benjamin Richard – agronomist
- Laura Solaroli – agro-economist
- Alexander Wezel – agroecologist