Farmers' needs and challenges in the French rangeland areas - Focus on the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur region
To identify the challenges and needs of French pastoral livestock farmers in rangeland areas, particularly in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, participants from a GO PEI operational group (PACAPIT) expressed its needs in a first step, then a workshop with 27 participants (20 livestock farmers - mainly meat sheep and cattle sectors -, 3 technicians, 3 engineers and 1 stakeholder from the regional natural park) helped to complement the diversity of viewpoints and needs. Participants highlighted major priorities to improve extensive ruminant systems: flock and protection dog locating and monitoring, surveillance of pastoral facilities (paddocks, fences, water points), and easier animal counting in large flocks. Predation management (wolves) is critical. Data exchange with advisors and veterinarians, improved management of grazing agreements with landowners, and better adaptation of digital tools to pastoral conditions were also emphasized. About how to facilitate the use and sharing of rangeland areas with different stakeholders, participants have expressed specific issues and needs. Key concerns include degradation of pastoral lands and facilities and external pressures (tourists, quad bikes, motorcycles). Farmers stressed the need to educate other users about pastoral practices and signal the presence of flocks and protection dogs. They also require tools to document incidents (e.g. dog bites), improved knowledge of grazing calendars (including climate change impacts) by forestry services, conflict mitigation with hunters, and maintenance of footpaths. Finally, regarding the development and promotion of products and services provided by these livestock farming systems in rangeland, participants highlighted key needs. These include better recognition of their role in maintaining open landscapes and shrub control, strategies to access and secure shared water resources, development of collective animal transport, and adding value to wool.
Additional information
The DIGI-Rangeland project brings together partners from 10 countries, coordinating national networks (France, Romania, Greece, Spain, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland), and also disseminating its knowledge within the Balkan network with its Croatian partner. Consult our publications and documents on the project website: https://digirangeland.eu
DIGItal innovation and data technology network for RANGELAND livestock farming systems
Ongoing | 2025-2029
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- France, Romania, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Iceland, Norway, United kingdom, Switzerland