Development of a pilot production unit in organic agriculture - PILOTAB

The objectives of the PILOTAB project are: to establish a pilot production unit for bananas, plantains and pineapples within diversified agroforestry systems with organic certification; to build a diagnostic and experimentation system within a network of organic farmers around this unit; and to use the pilot production unit and the network experimentation system as a basis for training and knowledge transfer in the field of organic agriculture, aimed at farmers, technicians and students.

Mise en carton de bananes AB © Elodie Dorey, Cirad Guadeloupe

Issues

Organic farming has developed rapidly in Guadeloupe in recent years. Between 2014 and 2020, the number of certified producers increased sixfold, to reach 181 across all types of production, and certified organic farmland grew from 68 to 465 hectares (Source: Agence Bio).

Agriculture in Guadeloupe is characterised on the one hand by an agro-industrial model for two monocultures, sugarcane and bananas, and on the other by an agricultural diversification model aimed at local consumption. Some pioneering banana export farms have already obtained organic certification. More recently, similar steps have been taken for sugarcane. At the same time, the diversified sectors are trying to meet local demand for organic products, but their supply is still a long way from satisfying the market. There is also a revival of traditional high-value crops grown under cover (coffee, cocoa, vanilla), whose production declined sharply in the 20th century.

Despite a strong desire to produce within organic systems, converting farms to organic farming can be challenging due to a lack of knowledge about appropriate farming techniques and to often highly empirical and imperfect evaluations of the effectiveness of these techniques, which undermine the profitability of farms. The pilot unit will provide references on the innovative techniques tested and serve as a basis for training and dialogue with farmers.

Description

The project has two components:

  • the first focuses on support for a network of organic farmers, with diagnostic activities to identify technical obstacles and propose solutions in real conditions;
  • the second concerns the development of a pilot organic production unit at the 热博体育 Neufchâteau site to conduct on-station assessments of prototype innovative cropping systems (whose implementation on farms is risky), to optimise fruit harvesting and processing operations for commercialisation, and to serve as a teaching aid for agricultural professionals and students.

Expected results

  • The development of innovative organic farming systems that are co-constructed with the different stakeholders in agricultural production and assessed in experimental stations as well as in real conditions;
  • The provision of reliable technical references for farmers enabling them to use post-harvest packaging and processing techniques to produce and market products suited to the target market;
  • The establishment of a pilot unit as a basis for assessment, exchanges and training around systems adapted to organic farming;
  • Ultimately, the conversion of farmers in Guadeloupe to organic farming.
Operational partners: Groupement de développement de l'agriculture écologique et biologique de Guadeloupe (Group for the development of ecological and organic agriculture in Guadeloupe GDA Ecobio); Association de la Promotion de l'Agroforesterie en Guadeloupe (Association for the Promotion of Agroforestry in Guadeloupe APAGwa); producers.