ISARA-Lyon Wageningen University Agrapole 6708 PB Wageningen, 23 rue Jean Baldassini The Netherlands 69364 LYON CEDEX 07 France DESIGNING INTERCROPPING IN VEGETABLES, SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENTS A case study implemented at Bec Hellouin Farm, Normandy, France Master Thesis Organic Agriculture & Agroecology Alexis DE LIEDEKERKE DE PAILHE 2012-2014 Date: 17/09/2014 External tutor 1: ing. C Guegan, ISARA tutor: dr. ing. Florian Célette Ferme du Bec Hellouin Wageningen tutor: dr. ing. JMS Scholberg External tutor 2: dr. ing. F Léger, AgroParisTech, UMR-SADAPT This document was written by an ISARA student in the framework of a convention with SYLVA institute. For all citing, communication or distribution related to this document, ISARA has to be mentioned. AKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Master Thesis has not only been a period during which I have learnt umpteen practical and theoretical aspects of small scale, organic and ‘ecological’ market gardening, it has also been a rich life-experience through which I have evolved. What happened in Normandy clearly went over all my initial expectations. For that, my gratefulness goes to Life, its delightful mysteries, its unquestionable forces, the precious moments it offers, and its magic touch. But here I would like to especially express my gratitude to some human fellows who cordially, in a way or another, have been part of this great journey. To start with, I would like to thank those who made this experience possible. I am grateful to my supervisors at universities who let me come up with my own Thesis topic: A. Wezel, F. Célette and J. Scholberg. Thanks also to them for their advises and availability. Then, of course, I am really grateful to those who trusted me and welcomed me on-board at Bec Hellouin Farm: F. Léger, C. and P. Hervé - Gruyer. I hope I have delivered you something. Secondly, I am thankful for those who surrounded me during this period and made my time in Normandy so pleasant and captivating. Thanks to the community of Benedictine monks and especially to Frère Jean-Marie for hosting me during the first weeks of my stay in the Bec Hellouin valley. Living in the abbey was an unique experience. I would like to give a very special dedication to my two close friends, Teddy and Justin, with whom I had so many great discussions and good laughs. You guys simply rock! It was a blast living with you. Talking about my housemates, extra thanks to Mr. & Mme Amelot and to our friends from the ‘Crêpe dans le Bec’ for the comfort they provided us. Then, I would like to say that it was great to be part of the cheerful and welcoming team of the Farm. Thanks Thomas, Isabelle, Samuel, Guilhem, Elise, Pascal, Jean-Claude, Jean-Pierre, Edith, Fabien, Sacha, Justin, Teddy, Charles and Perrine. Thank you all for the nice vibes and ideals that drive you in life. It was a pleasure seeing you every day. I wish you all good luck and beg you to take care of next trainees just as good as you did with me. Thanks also to my Belgian friends and family who were not afraid of crossing the French border to come and say hello: Dorian, Papou, Marguerite, Cerise, La Malice, Starck, Matthieu, Beuch, Florian, Midou, Hadrien, Maud, Amélie, Yves, Sophie and Mimi. Thanks also to Carlo for your stay and to Fruzsi for your time. I love you all. A special “thank you” to Charles and Perrine not only for their kindness and generosity but also for what they are doing for society and for the inspiration that I had from their very special adventure. Also, Perrine, thanks for the very interesting expedition in London. Of course, I am grateful for those who permitted me to build this Thesis as good as I could along Spring season 2014. Thanks to the Bec Hellouin Farm team for answering my questions, letting me work by their side and explaining me the way they act. Thanks also for not taking out my posts out of the ground! Then, thanks to all interviewees for their time: D. De La Porte, M. Philibert, B. Moreau, S. Massoni, G., S. Barcq, M. Suire, S. Vallet, J. Scholberg, F. Célette, D. Pépin and J.P. Thorez. Big thank to the latter for all the documents kindly loaned. Finally, I am grateful to those who supported me during the writing of this Thesis. Thanks to my grand- mother, my parents and the rest of the family for their hospitality and to Monique, Janine and Nadine for their care. Thanks to my friends who came along to write this summer: Florian, Matthias, Céline, Raphaëlle and Lucia. It was great to support each other when our eyes got squared from too much computer. Last but not least, I would like to thank Sebastian, Méline, Carlo, Hadrien and Matthias for their aid in the final writing phase. I feel lucky to be in a place with so many big-hearted people! CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 2. INTERCROPPING, ITS HISTORY, BENEFITS AND COMPLEXITY................................................ 3 2.1. History of intercropping ................................................................................................................. 3 2.1.1. An ancient practice ................................................................................................................ 3 2.1.2. Decrease in IC with modernization of agriculture ................................................................... 3 2.1.3. Resurgence of IC in western agriculture ................................................................................. 4 2.1.4. Today .................................................................................................................................... 4 2.2. Benefits provided by IC, a theoretical approach ............................................................................. 5 2.2.1. Complementarity CCs to reduce the competition .................................................................... 5 2.2.2. Mutualistic crops to increase facilitation................................................................................. 7 2.2.3. Socio-economic benefits ........................................................................................................ 9 2.2.4. A symbolic representation ...................................................................................................... 9 2.3. IC is a complex topic ................................................................................................................... 11 3. INTERCROPPING AT BEC HELLOUIN FARM:......................................................................... 12 3.1. Overview of BHF ........................................................................................................................ 12 3.1.1. Diversity of functions and people. ........................................................................................ 12 3.1.2. Agro - Bio – Diversity ......................................................................................................... 13 3.2. The farming system .................................................................................................................... 14 3.2.1. Natural characteristics .......................................................................................................... 14 3.2.2. Agricultural practices ........................................................................................................... 16 3.3. Reasons for IC at BHF ................................................................................................................. 18 3.4. Design method ............................................................................................................................ 18 3.5. Examples of Intercrops ................................................................................................................ 19 4. AIM OF THE THESIS ..................................................................................................................... 20 5. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................ 21 5.1. Phase I: monitoring and understanding the farm ........................................................................... 22 5.1.1. Field monitoring .................................................................................................................. 22 5.1.2. Learning about BHFS .......................................................................................................... 24 5.2. Phase II: Research: Gathering experts’ advices ............................................................................ 24 5.2.1. Interviews ............................................................................................................................ 24 5.2.2. Literature reviewing ............................................................................................................. 26 5.3. Phase III: Analysing intercropping systems at BHF ...................................................................... 26 5.3.1. Selecting advises of primary importance .............................................................................. 27 5.3.2. Developing an analysis tool: IC Guideline ............................................................................ 29 5.3.3. Crossing the information: applying the analysis tool ............................................................. 29 6. EXPERTS’ ADVICES .....................................................................................................................