Co-evolution of plants, livestock and farming practices during dairy farm transformation to agroecology: an in-depth case study in France

Abstract

Agriculture contributes to and is impacted by global changes. Agroecology is recommended as a framework for transforming farming systems to address these challenges. However, research has not extensively documented transformations to agroecology, which could limit adoption by farmers. The objective of this study was to analyse the co-evolution of plants, livestock and farming practices during dairy farm transformation to agroecology, using a French experimental farm as a case study. We used qualitative and quantitative data to identify the changes in farming system composition (e.g. number and types of crop species), size (e.g. number of animals per category, area per crop), spatio-temporal organisation (e.g. biomass flows) and technical and environmental performances (e.g. productivity, nitrogen-use efficiency) over 11 years (2013–2023). We observed that such transformation takes time, requires adaptations along the way and generates trade-offs. However, compared to the initial system, the farming system in 2023 was higher diversified (i.e. plants and cattle), recycled more nutrients and was more self-sufficient in nutrients. Milk quality and livestock fertility and health increased from 2013 to 2023 with, respectively: + 6.6 and + 4.0 g kg −1 of fat and protein concentrations, + 23% success at first artificial insemination and −9.7 cows yr −1 affected by mastitis. This study is one of the first to document the details involved in the transformation to agroecology and the inherent adaptive capacity that it requires. The results show the relevance of this transformation from technical and environmental perspectives and could encourage dairy farmers to adopt such a diversified and circular farming system.