Preserving biodiversity: GEVES commitments
GEVES is committed to supporting French agriculture in its agro-ecological transition, in line with the objectives defined by the seeds and seedlings sector (SPAD 2 plan). This commitment is one of the mainstays of our strategy for 2030, as well as our R&D policy for 2024-2028, (Objectif 2 – Better evaluating varieties and seeds adapted to agro-ecology, contributing to the conservation and study of biodiversity in relation to varieties) which aims to innovate in terms of variety evaluation for agro-ecology within our trial networks and our experimental sites.
In its 2030 strategy, GEVES aims to strengthen its agro-ecological transition in its 5 experimental areas by:
- Significantly reducing the use of plant protection products, particularly those classified as CMR or EP (endocrine disruptors);
- reinforcing the preservation of water resources and reducing the use of mineral fertilisers;
- assessing the biodiversity present on its experimental sites and restoring it where necessary.
Biodiversity is at the heart of the principles of agro-ecology. Through natural regulation, it provides some of the ecosystem services that help to reduce the use of inputs in our farming systems. Adapting our practices and encouraging biodiversity at our experimental stations is therefore a key issue when it comes to evaluating the varieties of tomorrow.
That’s why each site encourages the use of environmentally friendly farming practices, the establishment and maintenance of agro-ecological infrastructure (hedges, ponds, fallow land, grassed strips, etc.) or any other action such as the installation of nesting boxes, perches, beehives, etc., which helps to maintain or even increase biodiversity in our plots and surrounding areas. To illustrate this point:
- All 5 of our experimental stations have linear woodland areas around their fields, and these are still being planted. Over the last 2 years, Le Magneraud (17) and Brion (49) have installed new hedges. The next project will be launched this autumn at l’Anjouère (49).
- the Montpellier station (34) illustrates some of the diversity of insects, reptiles, mammals and birds that can be found there. At Cavaillon (84), almost 20% of the farm’s surface area is occupied by agro-ecological infrastructure (hedges, ditches, grass strips, fallow land, etc.).
- at Le Magneraud (17), 20% of the plot is given over to fallow land and leguminous and grassy meadows, and there are currently 2,600 m of hedges and 3,000 m of grass strips on the site.
- Two of our stations carry out monthly biodiversity surveys. Boards for terrestrial invertebrates and nesting boxes for pollinators have been installed to monitor changes in the biodiversity present on the fields and to contribute to the referencing carried out on a regional scale to assess the impact of changes in our agricultural practices. GEVES is also taking part in the Agricultural Observation of Biodiversity (OAB) as part of its involvement in the ARBRE network, a network of farmers in Pays de la Loire, to make progress in reconciling biodiversity and agriculture.
- At the Cavaillon station (84), osmia hotels were installed by the ornamental teams last April. These hotels are made up of small bamboo trees packed close together, into which these wild bees burrow to lay their eggs.
- At Brion (49), hedges and nest boxes attract birds and bats, which also appreciate the shelter provided by the greenhouses, as illustrated by this photo of a family of birds installed a few months ago in a pot of Buddleia directly on the breeding shelf.
- Across all GEVES units, the use of plant protection products has been reduced by almost 50% between 2018 and 2022, thanks to a rethought crop rotation and better reasoning behind plant protection programs.
These non-exhaustive examples demonstrate the commitment of GEVES and its staff to preserving and enhancing biodiversity on its farms. Multiplying the practices and actions deployed in favour of the environment will enable GEVES to achieve its ambitions. And to assess and consolidate these good practices, the 5 GEVES units are committed to a level 3 “High Environmental Value (HEV)” environmental certification process for farms.
Among the assessment criteria for HEV certification, the diversity of crop rotation (regarding our homogenising crops), the ratio of agro-ecological infrastructure to farm surface area, and the limited size of plots are 3 levers that encourage biodiversity on farms.
This certification will consolidate this ambition to reconcile biodiversity and agriculture, by assessing the practices implemented based on relevant and recognised indicators.
