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The Coexistence of Multiple Worldviews in Livestock Farming Drives Agroecological Transition. A Case Study in French Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Cheese Mountain Areas

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  • Patrice Cayre

    (Agriculture Ministry, Reserach and teaching general direction, AgroParisTech, 9 avenue Blaise Pascal, 63171 Aubiere, France)

  • Audrey Michaud

    (Université Clermont Auvergne, INRA, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France)

  • Jean-Pierre Theau

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France)

  • Cyrille Rigolot

    (Université Clermont Auvergne, INRA, VetAgro Sup, UMR Territoires, F63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France)

Abstract

Livestock systems contribute significantly to environmental issues and need to undergo an agroecological transition. This transition is not only technical, but also involves an evolution of farmers’ ways of seeing and interpreting the world, i.e., worldviews. We investigate livestock farmers’ worldviews and their relationships with farming practices (grazing and mowing management) in three Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheese areas in the French mountains. The study is based on quantitative and comprehensive qualitative surveys in 37 farms. We identify entities typically considered by farmers and the kind of relations they have with these entities, as well as the ontological background, sources of knowledge, and worlds of justifications. Four ideal-typical worldviews emerge: Modern; Traditional; Ecological Intensive; Holist. These four worldviews coexist in each area and also at the farm scale. Three selected farmer monographs illustrate this complexity in detail. The four worldviews are consistent with other typologies in literature. Both Ecological Intensive and Holist worldviews can be considered as “agroecological”; however, they correspond to very different conceptions of agroecology. Different worldviews imply different sustainability indicators and pathways, as well as alternative knowledge-management systems. Finally, the coexistence of multiple worldviews is a key driver of the agroecological transition, which can be enhanced by facilitating confrontation and exchanges between worldviews.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrice Cayre & Audrey Michaud & Jean-Pierre Theau & Cyrille Rigolot, 2018. "The Coexistence of Multiple Worldviews in Livestock Farming Drives Agroecological Transition. A Case Study in French Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Cheese Mountain Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:1097-:d:139824
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    1. Joël Aubin & Marc Benoit & Vincent Chatellier & Zohra Bouamra-Mechemache & Luc Delaby & Claire Delfosse & Jean-Yves Dourmad & Michel Duru & Lise Frappier & Marine Friant-Perrot & Carl Gaigné & Agnès G, 2016. "Rôles, impacts et services issus des élevages en Europe. Synthèse de l’expertise scientifique collective," Working Papers hal-01595470, HAL.
    2. Jennifer Blesh & Steven Wolf, 2014. "Transitions to agroecological farming systems in the Mississippi River Basin: toward an integrated socioecological analysis," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 31(4), pages 621-635, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bertille Thareau & Clara Pailleux & Guilhem Anzalone, 2020. "How broadening social connections changes farmers’conceptions about biodiversity. Multiple links to biodiversity explored through the different socioprofessional paths of farmers," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, INRA Department of Economics, vol. 101(2-3), pages 241-259.
    2. Swagemakers, Paul & Schermer, Markus & Domínguez García, María Dolores & Milone, Pierluigi & Ventura, Flaminia, 2021. "To what extent do brands contribute to sustainability transition in agricultural production practices? Lessons from three European case studies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    3. Thareau, Bertille & Pailleux, Clara & Anzalone, Guilhem, 2020. "How broadening social connections changes farmers’ conceptions about biodiversity," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), vol. 101(2-3), April.
    4. Alexander Wezel & Stéphane Bellon, 2018. "Mapping Agroecology in Europe. New Developments and Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-3, August.
    5. Chantal Gascuel & Michèle Tixier-Boichard & Benoit Dedieu & Cécile Détang-Dessendre & Pierre Dupraz & Philippe Faverdin & Laurent Hazard & Philippe Hinsinger & Isabelle Litrico-Chiarelli & Françoise M, 2019. "Réflexion prospective interdisciplinaire pour l’agroécologie. Rapport de synthèse," Post-Print hal-02154433, HAL.
    6. Bertille Thareau & Clara Pailleux & Guilhem Anzalone, 2020. "How broadening social connections changes farmers’ conceptions about biodiversity," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 101(2), pages 241-259, December.
    7. Junko Kimura & Cyrille Rigolot, 2021. "The Potential of Geographical Indications (GI) to Enhance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Japan: Overview and Insights from Japan GI Mishima Potato," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-12, January.
    8. Morgane Millet & François Casabianca, 2019. "Sharing Values for Changing Practices, a Lever for Sustainable Transformation? The Case of Farmers and Processors in Interaction within Localized Cheese Sectors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-18, August.

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