Study of Agro-systems of the Burren Priscille GHESQUIERE & Dorian FLECHET

Aims of the Study To understand the evolution of farming in the Burren To help select adequate solutions for its future development

How we proceeded Five Steps: –Interpret landscape features linked with farming –Grasp the recent evolution of farms in the Burren and their trends –Build a farm typology based on interviews –Calculate economic results for each type of farm –Look at the potential innovative fields

How we proceeded Five Steps: –Interpret landscape features linked with farming –Grasp the recent evolution of farms in the Burren and their trends –Build a farm typology based on interviews –Calculate economic results for each type of farm –Look at the potential innovative fields

Landscape Features Localisation, geology, soil quality –Delimitation according to the geology: Shale / Wet lands Limestone / Dry lands –Focus on the winterage: Central position in farming Subsidies area based Broader economic value (Tourism…)

(Burren-LIFE Project)

Summer lands Silage Limestone Winterage Pasture Farm Slatted House Hay, Calving sheds

How we proceeded Four Steps: –Interpret landscape features linked with farming –Grasp the recent evolution of farms in the Burren and their trends –Build a farm typology based on interviews –Calculate economic results for each type of farm –Look at the potential innovative fields

Evolution of Farming in the Burren The Traditional Farming-system after lands redistribution –Commonage on the uplands –Tillage and summer grazing in the lowlands -Finished traditional breed -Milk From 1950 –First tractors and first land reclamation –Introduction of Friesian and continental breeds

Evolution of Farming in the Burren Joining the European Union 1973 –Access to a new market, based on young continental breeds –Policy to improve the production (subsidised Land reclamations until 1992, Chemical fertilizers, introduction of silage…) –Disappearance of tillage Milk quotas 1981, aggregation of the dairy farms

Evolution of Farming in the Burren The 90’s: –Premiums system is based on production –REPS in 1994 –Economic Boom encourages Part-time farming Decoupling in 2005, extensification –Single farm payment → Easier to apply for REPS –Further development of the Part-time Farming

Effects of the History on the actual development of Farming Reluctance to sell land Readiness to adopt mainstream changes But progressive loss of traditions (Breeds, Landscape, Reputation of meat quality) Loss of independence (Labor, feed and fertilizers…) Subsidy dependency

How we proceeded Four Steps: –Interpret landscape features linked with farming –Grasp the recent evolution of farms in the Burren and their trends –Build a farm typology based on interviews –Calculate economic results for each type of farm –Look at the potential innovative fields

Interviews Random sample of farmers by Hear-say and door knocking Trying to cover every major type of farming-system in the Burren Collecting Economic and technical data Compiling several farms to create a Type

Typology of Farming Part-time farmers Full-time farmers Farmers from the BURREN

conventional organic Part-time farmers silageno silage not in REPSin REPS Typology of Farming

Suckler farms Dairy farmers Full-time farmers Small Organic MediumBig SmallBig Mixed farmers no or few winterage Typology of Farming

How we proceeded Five Steps: –Interpret landscape features linked with farming –Grasp the recent evolution of farms in the Burren and their trends –Build a farm typology based on interviews –Calculate economic results for each type of farm –Look at the potential innovative fields

Economic Results The Net Added Value (NAV) = Gross Product – Costs – Depreciation Family Income NAV – Rents – Taxes – Wages + Subsidies Global Income (Includes extra incomes)

Little Part-time Full-time

Threshold = Average Wages in building sector Small Full-time Part-time Full-time

Small Organic No Winterage Winterage Large

Part-time Suckler, Silage Full-time, Suckler Part-time Suckler, Hay

Organic in REPS Organic not in REPS

Small Mixed Large

Conclusions How does the BURREN look today? -Little diversification -Decreasing added value -Dependency on subsidies and/or extra- income  How to ensure sustainability?  How to improve?  How to innovate?

How we proceeded Five Steps: –Interpret landscape features linked with farming –Grasp the recent evolution of farms in the Burren and their trends –Build a farm typology based on interviews –Calculate economic results for each type of farm –Look at the potential innovative fields

Different types of innovation Product innovation: New product (diversification) Process innovation: new production process (transformation, techniques) Innovation Organisation innovation: Co – Op, Marketing New type of subsidies

Where are the innovations in the Burren?

Where are the innovations?

Horticulture New Breeds

Farming in the Burren relies on Subsidies –It seems the subsidies will be cut off –What are the consequences? Aggregation? From a family to industrial scale farming. Rent of the lands to bigger farms. Research of innovation for more added value (diversification, organic, pure breed cattle?) These innovations must be socially and environmentally acceptable = eco-innovations Discussion

Go raibh mile maith agat! Sláinte! Acknowledgments