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La zone euroméditerranéenne dans la stratégie mondiale des firmes agro-alimentaires multinationales
Get PDFPotentiel des races bovines locales dans les systèmes de production extensifs sur les terres marginales de la zone méditerranéenne
Get PDFIndustrialization and its consequences on the development of farm production (intensification of production in the suitable zones and marginalization of the others) have had particularly unfortunate effects on beef production economy (high costs and disparity between milk and meat production and demand) and on the potential and balance of the natural and human environments. A new rationality in the use of space could be envisaged in answer to this situation. It includes a more global approach to the functions of space in the needs of society both on the level of research and on that of its application. It implies, as far as cattlebreeding is concerned, that more efficient systems of exploitation of complementary fodder potentials be found on both a seasonal and regional basis, in particular betwen natural vegetation zones and cropgrowing zones (byproducts). The additional costs of fodder transport and stocking, the social constraints linked to the movement of animals point up the advantages of the use of local material that is often dying out but is suited to these conditions. Situations with regard to this differ greatly between the highly industrialized and underpopulated regions (the NorthWest Mediterranean zone) and the less highly industrialized zones with more rapid population growth (Turkey, North Africa). While the use of local races will, especially in the first case, concern the development of a beef breed by crossbreeding with beefbulls taking into account the different genetic types' adaptation factors, in the second case the improvement both in milk and meat production in stockfarms where animals are milked is a priority. These considerations show how important it is to estimate the potential of local genetic material in extensive breeding systems when one takes into account the technological knowledge linked to the society's old habits in the use of this material
L'agriculture française dans la Communauté européenne et dans le monde
Get PDFFrench farming has always played a very active role in the Community's professional agricultural organization and on government level, in favour of the common agricultural policy which in 1968 was at its zenith. But the common agricultural policy soon had to face difficulties due to different causes concerning butter, dried milk, wine, beef and even the principle of common prices affected by monetary changes. These crises have particularly affected French farming. In 1968 Mr. Mansholt considered a reform of the common agricultural policy that went beyond the mere social- structural aspect cautiously introduced in 1972. The principle of the financial co-responsibility of milk production is one of its consequences. Today a difficult political choice must be made between the desire for maximum efficiency in farm businesses and an increased effort to make the feeblest catch up. The common interest and national interests come up against a difficult problem
Les inventaires des ressources naturelles par la télédétection satellite
Get PDFThe rational management of natural resources which daily becomes of greater urgency supposes a better knowlegde and, fi possible accurate measurements of the natural resources that have been used, are available, have been spoilt or are already disappearing. Multispectral télédétection by satelite enables numerical, regular and relatively detailed information to be obtained concerning all phenomena connected with the occupation and use of land. For this reason it is increasingly used as a means of inventory for natural resources — water, woodland, farm-land, quarries and gravel pits and human pressure inflicted on the environment are regularly and accurately observed. By means of the interpretation of the images and of multispectral satelite data woodland can be observed and protected, harvests can be forecast, water resources can be managed, and the potential of a natural region can be estimated. The rapid development of the material used and of applied technology means that considerable progress can be foreseen in this field which in the future will enable more accurate and more regular forecasts to be made at increasingly smaller expense
Environnement et politique forestière : quelques aspects
Get PDFThe forest is considered mainly as a source of wood for industry. This priority deserves thought. Wood as a material has properties that are of interest for the environment but its intensive production profoundly modifies forest-land. Moreover there is a certain spatial redistribution of wood-land ; there is less around towns and industrial zones and a considerable increase in areas of agricultural crisis. These two phenomena profoundly modify the landscape and living conditions
Concurrence agriculture-forêt en moyenne montagne : une responsabilité locale
Get PDFUnlike the rest of the world as a whole where forest areas are decreasing on a dramatic sale, in France woodland is progressing especially in moderately mountainous areas taking up space left by farming. This progress may well be in opposition to the objectives that have been given wide publicity, to maintain in these areas an agricultural population and activity. But the farming-forest competition is not often referred to either by politicians or by scientists. Their judgment is most often branch by branch. Even in texts intended to analyse the spatial aspects of planning there is this reticence. The term "zonage" is used to exorcise the fear of competition between grass and trees. The problems posed by this competition especially in moderately mountainous areas supposes that a choice should be made between farming and forestry objectives. Such choices cannot be made seriously bearing all the facts in mind except at a very decentralized level. They reflect local social forces. Two extreme cases are given : the Méjan Causse (1,4 inhabitants per sq. kilometre) and the Southern Vosges in Lorraine (100 inhabitants per sq. kilometre), illustrate this
La formation des prix et le marché céréalier
Get PDFIn order to discuss problems concerning farmers in the Indre Department with them (price fixing and marketing of farm products) a survey of the grain market has been undertaken. Systems theory enables the grain market to be defined as a marketing system with a purpose (to satisfy suppliers and demanders by fixing a satisfactory price) and a complex environment (transport conditions, community regulations, impact of international agreements). The system influences itself according to two tendences — one towards stability, one towards perturbation — that cannot be wholly controlled. Being influenced in this way the system cannot regulate itself, that is the market risk. The producers, the cooperatives and local traders, and users attempt to passon a great part of this risk to international trade firms (whose action seems principally to advantage industrialists who make use of them). The grain market is an evolving system, the relationships between the various agents can modify it. In the Indre department the balance between cooperatives and traders is unstable. This instability and the increase in their stocking capacity locally enable farmers to demand firm prices. The pressures of agents on the market and of the nation as a whole, lead to state intervention which also complicates still further the grain market environment. Yet, price fixing and grain marketing cannot be dissociated
