What was the challenge/problem addressed?

The challenge is to maintain the production potential of the wine cooperatives, and therefore the network of these economic structures in the territories, in the face of several challenges:

– The renewal of generations in agriculture (unfavorable age pyramid, lack of attractiveness of the profession of cooperative winegrower, new forms of installation often outside the family framework)

– The development of agricultural wastelands and land retention

– Urban pressure and consumption of agricultural land by development projects

– The evolution of cultivation practices towards agro-environment to meet the new demands of the downstream market (certification) and to meet the challenges of territorial integration of the viticultural activity (recovery of water quality in the catchment areas, preservation of biodiversity in the Natura 2000 sectors, prevention of conflicts of use linked to treatments)

– Increased pressure from game damage and climate change

How did you solve the problem?

Implementation of multi-issue territorial approaches led by the wineries, involving several stakeholders in their collection area (local authorities, appellation syndicates, technical organizations, inhabitants, institutions)

Mobilization of animation means for the implementation of action plans specific to each cooperative with regard to local issues (mapping, consultation, land mediation, etc.)

What is innovative in your practical case?

Territorial approaches led by economic actors and not by local authorities : evolution of the perception of the role of these cooperatives, which are becoming, beyond their status of local enterprises, real actors of territorial development

Leverage effect on the mobilization of funding and regulatory tools thanks to the collective dimension provided by the cooperative = better adhesion of farmers

Combination of several tools to achieve a common objective of preserving the viticultural potential of a territory

Development of animation methods or specific tools tailored to each approach

 

What are the success factors in solving the problem?

Commitment of the directors of the cooperative wineries

Communication with members

Adhesion of the communes and communities to the approach, which allows to make it credible

 

Lessons learned

Need to clearly define the initial needs and motivations, 1 cooperative winery = 1 specific approach, no replicability of tools and actions between wineries, but the ethics and values of this project deserve to radiate

What role does the advisor or advisory service play with the practical case?

The advisor plays a role in accompanying the process from its emergence phase to the implementation phase:

– Clarification of the cooperative’s needs: identification of its specificities in terms of agricultural production, of its territorial area of influence, and of its internal and external operating modes

– Realization of a territorial diagnosis: collection and analysis of available data, identification, solicitation and consultation of the different actors, crossing of the stakes (agricultural, spatial planning, environmental, social) realization of a synthesis and restitution, networking of the actors

– Definition of an action plan: proposal of targeted support and intervention in response to the issues identified in the diagnosis, prioritization of actions and phasing

– coordination of the implementation of the actions: construction of tools and methods of animation, interface with the communities, organization of the moments of exchange and dialogue, communication

 

Can your approach be transferred and/or adapted for other innovation challenges and regions?

Yes

Estimated transferability on a scale from 1 to 5

(where 1 is easy and 5 very difficult)

4

 

For sharing the experience on the good practice, please contact

Nicolas Giraud

nicolas.giraud@aude.chambagri.fr +33 (0) 6 43 59 53 81

Link to external information