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Observing farm plots to increase attentiveness and cooperation with nature: a case study in Belgium

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Listed:
  • Margaux Alarcon

    (Institut national de recherche pour l’agriculture, l’alimentation et l’environnement, ETTIS)

  • Pascal Marty

    (Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne et UAR 3129 CNRS « Maison française d’Oxford »)

Abstract

In intensive European agricultural areas, the control of weeds and wildlife within plots is of great importance. Yet, we can observe in many farming systems a renewal of farmers’ relationships with nature. Using the theoretical framework of care ethics, this paper aims to answer the following question: how observing plots allows farmers to develop more cooperation with nature in field crops? We base our results on an ethnographic survey conducted in Wallonia (Belgium) in 2019 among farm advisors and farmers in conventional, organic and conservation agriculture. The 19 in-depth interviews crossed partly with micro phenomenological interviews and participant observation sessions revealed that: (1) Observing plots increase farmers’ attentiveness to plots and plants, and favor care and knowledge based on direct contact with nature ; (2) Such observations renew how farmers take care of their plots and plants, towards adaptation, limitation and reduction of pesticides; (3) They also allow farmers to cooperate with specific species. In conclusion, we underline the importance of direct knowledge on agrosystems based on attentiveness to enable farmers to diversify how they relate to non-humans and especially how they care for their plots and plants. The attentiveness developed through plot observations thus enables farmers to establish more complex relationships with nature, made up of ecological care, based in particular on cooperation with non-humans. This emphasizes the value of the ethic of care in order to build communities. Declaration of competing interest.

Suggested Citation

  • Margaux Alarcon & Pascal Marty, 2024. "Observing farm plots to increase attentiveness and cooperation with nature: a case study in Belgium," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 41(2), pages 525-539, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:41:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s10460-023-10497-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-023-10497-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Knowler, Duncan & Bradshaw, Ben, 2007. "Farmers' adoption of conservation agriculture: A review and synthesis of recent research," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 25-48, February.
    2. Diana Stuart, 2008. "The illusion of control: industrialized agriculture, nature, and food safety," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 25(2), pages 177-181, June.
    3. Cameron M. Pittelkow & Xinqiang Liang & Bruce A. Linquist & Kees Jan van Groenigen & Juhwan Lee & Mark E. Lundy & Natasja van Gestel & Johan Six & Rodney T. Venterea & Chris van Kessel, 2015. "Productivity limits and potentials of the principles of conservation agriculture," Nature, Nature, vol. 517(7534), pages 365-368, January.
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