Agrifood – Individual assignement

Mission: relocate food production/sourcing/consumption

Problem exposes by the teacher:

- Intensive farms
- Divide between upper social classes and lower social classes

Issues I found by myself:

- 2% of fruits and vegetables consumed by Parisians come from the “Ile de France”
region according to C21. However, it was 45% in 1950 and 80% in 1895.
- RER A c’est dans l’ouest la ou il y a des populations plutôt aisées donc il faut mettre
en place quelque chose collé au RER B car c’est la ou on retrouve des populations
moins aisées. (les Yvelines ont un revenu annuel median de 25100 et un taux de
pauvreté de 8,9% selon l’INSEE contre un revenu annuel median de 16600 euros et
un taux de pauvreté à 26,9% en Seine-Saint-Denis. C’est quasiment 2x plus que le
taux de pauvreté moyen de la France metropolitaine.

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Individual assignment

What will be your action plan (objectives, tasks)?

2% of fruits and vegetables consumed by Parisians come from the “Ile de France” region
according to C21. However, it was 45% in 1950 and 80% in 1895. We might wonder why such
a gap exists today, but when we look at the urbanization of the Paris region, we quickly
understand that our dynamic annual impact was too great for the price of the agricultural
fields of yesteryear. So it's vital that we act now to restore the Paris region's self-sufficiency
in food. As the statement indicates, the social landscape presents a food divide between the
upper and lower social classes. Even if there's a disparity in income in the west, it's still a
relatively comfortable income zone. Indeed, the Yvelines has a median annual income of
25100 euros and a poverty rate of 8.9% according to INSEE, compared with a median annual
income of 16600 euros and a poverty rate of 26.9% in Seine-Saint-Denis. This is almost 2x
the average poverty rate for metropolitan France. To make access to quality food a reality
for as many people as possible, it would be important to implement actions in other, more
"strategic" locations. That's why I'm obviously thinking of north-east Paris. As you can see
from the figures quoted above, this is an area with a high level of poverty, but it doesn't
exclude other social classes. Served by the RER B which passes through Châtelet-Les Halles,
at the crossroads of all destinations, this line also has the advantage of serving numerous
business locations (Paris Nord 1 and 2 International Business Park, exhibition center, 2
airports including CDG). That's why the “Mitry Claye” stop seems extremely interesting, since
it's in the middle of agricultural fields and will fit in perfectly with the concept I've come up
with. This somewhat remote area would help reduce various selling costs. Firstly, because
there will be no transportation expenses, and also because rents are cheaper than in other
Parisian zones. It could indeed be extremely interesting to involve people directly and make
them aware of everything that's going on around them. That's why one of the solutions for
me would be to set up agroforestry based on fruit trees. As mentioned in the course, this
method has many ecological benefits. Firstly, it helps to create biodiversity, as well as
enriching the soil (by stimulating mycorrhizae, providing a safety net for leached elements,
pumping nutrients, limiting erosion and improving water retention and infiltration) and thus
boosting the production of the initial crop. Fruit trees are fully integrated into the
agricultural environment, protecting crops from the wind and providing shade. They also
create a favorable environment for beneficials and pollinators (biodiversity++). And this
method can be combined with at least 18 fruit trees, according to the GRAB (organic farming
research group). Let's take the example of apple orchards. Therefore, we could envision that
people could come to purchase various products, and if they wish, they could pick their own
apples for free in the fields. This is an activity that we could open on the weekends and
would be quite family-friendly. We could imagine that people would come to fill their
baskets for the entire week. For this, some farmers could collaborate to organize a weekly
sale on Saturdays and/or Sundays featuring the various yields from their crops. This
corresponds perfectly to the Parisian population, which isn’t accustomed to being in direct
contact with the land and what nourishes them. This will obviously require the assistance of
various local stakeholders, such as the “Île-de-France Chamber of Agriculture”, which has a
keen interest in seeing this project come to fruition since it partly aims to preserve local
lands, combat climate change, and promote more sustainable farming practices. Finally,
other public actors could be involved, such as schools. Fruit picking could also provide an
opportunity to teach students about the importance of biodiversity, the role of trees in
ecosystems, and sustainable farming practices from a very young age. The activity can be
integrated into educational programs covering subjects such as biology, geography,
environmental sciences, mathematics (e.g., quantity of harvest), and even agricultural
history. So obviously, this can give rise to opposition and questions. One of the questions
that must be asked is, "What if a natural climate risk were to cause all the fruits to fall?" This
is an extremely legitimate question. Firstly, a real storm or a very significant climate change
would be needed to impact the harvests to such an extent, which is quite predictable,
especially in the Parisian region that is closely monitored. That's why protective nets
installed in advance will prevent the apples from reaching other crops. Unfortunately, it
must be admitted that this would undermine part of the concept since people would not be
able to pick their apples. However, there are alternatives, such as storing the affected apples
in controlled cold rooms to keep them fresh throughout the year (a process used in the agri-
food industry), but this comes with a cost and depends on the amount that stakeholders are
willing to invest. In this case, people may not want to make the initial trip, and we could, in
the long run, integrate the products from these farms into various points of sale in Paris with
a kind of "local agroforestry" certification. People will have already seen the process with
their own eyes, creating an attachment between the concerned produce and consumers.
Despite the transportation, we can still talk about a short supply chain since it would remain
close. Another issue could be controlling the people going into the fields (making sure they
do not encroach on other crops). In this case, it is quite simple to install route signs to
delineate different areas.

According to you, what are the main ethical issues to address to achieve at best this
agrifood transition, here pushed forward by/through the implementation of a PAT?

Fairness

Firstly, I believe that equity is one of the ethical issues I address the most with my PAT. The
socio-economic disparity in the Parisian region, highlighted by differences in median annual
income and poverty rates between areas like Yvelines and Seine-Saint-Denis, raises
significant ethical concerns within the same zone. Access to quality food is a fundamental
right, and combating this type of inequality is crucial for building a fair and equitable food
system. The implementation of the PAT in the north-eastern Paris region, characterized by
higher poverty rates, is, in my opinion, a step toward addressing this ethical concern. By
establishing agroforestry systems with fruit trees and organizing community activities such
as fruit picking, the initiative can directly involve local residents, including social classes that
typically do not have access to such activities. This inclusive approach contributes to bridging
the socio-economic gap by providing affordable access to locally produced fresh food while
offering more equitable education and food awareness for all.

Diversity

The decline in the consumption of locally produced fruits and vegetables in the Parisian
region over the years reflects a lack of diversity in food sources. This is notably a result of the
overexploitation of many soils, such as monoculture or a limited range of crops, which can
lead to nutritional deficiencies and have a negative impact on the environment. In the case
of the previously proposed solution, agroforestry based on fruit trees, specifically focusing
on at least 18 varieties of fruit trees as suggested by the GRAB, is a robust solution that could
further address this issue. By diversifying the crops, the agroforestry system promotes
biodiversity and enhances the resilience of the agricultural ecosystem. This contributes to
better nutrition for the community and reduces the environmental risks associated with
monoculture. Additionally, incorporating diverse crops into the agroforestry system
maintains soil health and reduces the risk of pests and diseases. To promote the beauty of
diversity, considering the different taste perceptions of each individual, involving local
communities in the selection of fruit tree varieties, taking into account their preferences and
nutritional needs, could also contribute to enriching this ethical pillar.

Resilience

Climate risks and natural disasters can pose significant threats to agricultural productivity.
Strengthening the resilience of the agroecosystem is crucial for adapting to changing
environmental conditions. Agroforestry, with its integrated approach, enhances the
resilience of the agricultural system. The combination of fruit trees with other crops creates
a diverse and adaptable ecosystem, capable of better withstanding extreme weather events.
As mentioned earlier, this aligns perfectly with the originally established crops, such as the
creation of shading and protection against strong winds. Moreover, practices such as water
management and disaster preparedness can be integrated to further strengthen resilience. It
is, therefore, the entire community that must demonstrate resilience through the intelligent
use of this technique, as studied in class (agroforestry alley cropping and contour planting to
mitigate climate-related risks). Integrating traditional knowledge from local communities
regarding climate patterns and adaptive practices into the agroforestry management plan
will also enhance the pride of this ethical emblem.