Second meeting in Toulouse and Auch, May 2019

The AGFOSY project partners met in Toulouse, France on May 23 – 24th. The meeting during the first day took place at J’GO, an innovative restaurant that works with local farms to bring both their food and theirs stories to the table. The farmers produce their products in a sustainable way, which includes incorporating agroforestry measures alongside their farming activities. It is also a way for customers and farmers to reconnect, and bring part of rural life to the city. During the day, discussions included summary reports, case studies, project dissemination and workshops. Partners from France, Spain, Belgium, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic all shared their unique viewpoints and research so far. Depending on the country, support and development of AF measures vary. The second day included a field visit to farms in the Auch region, and members of project partner Association Française d’Agroforestrie. The first was Ferme Blagny-Albiges, a Chicken farm, that also has arable crops and bee-keeping. Over the last 20 years the farmer has integrated AF measures onto his farm. The use of trees and shrubs offer the birds a habitat and protection which enables them to roam freely, whilst the man-made lake and ditches built for irrigation help reduce the amount of runoff from the water. The second farm visit was to La Ferme En Coton, a mixed crop-livestock farm (pig, sheep, chicken, laying hens, arable crops, and vegetables). Diversity of crops and livestock across the landscape are key on this farm which was established in 2001 with currently around 45ha of agroforestry. It is an organic farm with the integration of trees and shrubs, where the animals can roam.