Ensuring the smooth running of the Agrosyst information system, dedicated to characterising innovative cropping systems on DEPHY network farms, and facilitating the use of its data

The DEPHY network, launched in 2009 within the framework of the Ecophyto plan, brings together more than 2,000 farms and 40 experimental projects for crop systems that use plant protection products sparingly.

The Agrosyst dedicated information system was created in response to a desire to gather data on the cultivation practices of the network’s members. Its purpose is to centralise all the data on the cropping systems monitored and tested by the network, and to produce economic, social and environmental performance indicators.

Thanks to this data on farm production systems, Agrosyst should be able to provide farmers with benchmarks obtained in real-life situations in order to support an approach aimed at extending the use of practices that economise on plant protection products. The data is available to network members and to the DEPHY national coordination unit for studies and publicity purposes. Scientific work is also based on the analysis of this data.

A showcase of innovative practices for INRAE

For both INRAE and the profession, Agrosyst is a showcase for innovative practices, carried out without financial compensation. The data generated concerns cropping systems, equipment, practices and farmers’ decisions. These data are used by the research units to study the chosen methods of transition to sustainable agriculture and explore alternatives to plant protection products. In particular, this can lead to the identification of alternatives already in use that can be proposed as substitutes for products under investigation when comparative analyses are carried out.

A partnership with the Ministries of Agriculture and the Environment

Its governance involves the DEPHY-30 000 strategic committee, jointly chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty (DGPE) and the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion (DEB), bringing together all the partners. A partners’ committee, chaired by INRAE, is steering the project in collaboration with the players involved. Interoperability with other tools in the DEPHY network is improved during working meetings. Access to data requires joint authorisation from the scientific directors of INRAE and ACTA for people outside DEPHY.