Assessment objectives

Context and scope of the expertise: This Multidisciplinary Scientific Assessment, "Expertise Scientifique Collective (ESCo)" in French, carried out in response to a demand from the ministries of agriculture and ecology, takes place in a context of strong interest in biodiversity, and its consideration as an issue of major importance. This interest is due to the appreciation of current rates of biodiversity loss (linked to, amongst other factors, agricultural activity), of increasing understanding of the multiple roles of biodiversity (potential genetic resources, ecosystem services with a market value or not, capacity for the biotic regulation of agro-ecosystems...) and of the need to develop new agricultural production modes to respond to future challenges (reductions in pesticide use, adaptation of agricultural systems to climate change, reductions in fossil fuel use...). Biodiversity largely determines the capacity of agro- ecosystems to adapt to such challenges.

The issue of biodiversity in agriculture More so than in any other sector of human activity, agriculture is indivisibly linked with biodiversity. It can benefit from biodiversity, modify biodiversity and can contribute to its maintenance. For agriculture, biodiversity is thus an object of vital and increasing importance at all levels of agricultural policy. Agricultural activity generally implies the management and control of ecosystems in the areas that it exploits. Questions of relationships between agriculture and biodiversity are thus often posed in terms of compromises or co-existence. However, agriculture can also have beneficial effects on biodiversity, at different scales and levels of organisation. In addition, the benefits of agriculture for the maintenance of biodiversity can be numerous, for agricultural production is due to, in its largest sense, "ecosystem services" provided within agricultural areas. The current political situation and the need for the assessment When the request was made for the ESCo, at the beginning of 2007, a number of political actions were being announced: at the European level, a renegotiation of the common agricultural policy based on the conditions for governmental aid for agriculture, and discussions as to the definition of objectives to halt biodiversity loss in the context of the international convention of biological diversity. In France, numerous initiatives were also underway with the establishment of a national strategy for biodiversity, and in particular the initial development of a sector strategy for agriculture, the mid-term revision of the French national rural development plan (PDRH) and re- negotiation of national agro-environmental measures after their establishment in 2007, as well as preparations for the 9th conference of parties (COP 9), in May 2008, which undertook a detailed examination of agriculture. Since then, political interest in these questions has only grown, with consideration of the question of biodiversity in the context of the Grenelle summit for the environment, which resulted in the creation of a foundation for biodiversity research, and resulted in the establishment of various on-ground projects, such as the development of a network of "green veins", a national strategy for protected areas, and conservation plans for 131 endangered species, including pollinators. In addition, during the French presidency of the European Union, an international scientific meeting for policy makers on the topic of "Agriculture and biodiversity" was organised.

The questions addressed by the ESCo In this context, and in response to these issues, the ministries in charge of agriculture and ecology requested INRA to carry out a review of the current state of multidisciplinary knowledge of relationships between agriculture and biodiversity, with an aim of providing all stakeholders with all of the necessary elements required to adequately inform policy measures and decisions. The questions, formulated by the ministries in a letter outlining the terms of reference addressed to INRA, concerned the effects of agriculture on biodiversity, the roles and possible benefits of biodiversity for agriculture, the possible technical opportunities for the better integration of biodiversity into agriculture, and finally the economic, technical and social feasibility of this integration.

The scope of the ESCo The multidisciplinary scientific assessment is focused on biodiversity overall, only considering the biodiversity of domesticated species as one of the components of production systems likely to impact on total biodiversity. Geographically, the ESCo is only concerned with continental France. Aquatic environments and forests are also not within the terms of reference of the ESCo.

The multidisciplinary scientific assessment (ESCo) The ESCo is a support mechanism for government decision making. The exercise consists of responding to a complex question posed by a government body by establishing, on the basis of an extensive worldwide bibliographic review, the current state of multidisciplinary scientific knowledge surrounding the question including the known facts, uncertainties, gaps in knowledge and controversies. The ESCo does not carry out any research of its own to respond to the questions asked. Neither does it provide advice or recommendations, nor does it include a consideration of future trends or scenarios. The assessment was carried out by a group of scientists, with specialists from different disciplines and working for a diverse range of research organisations. The assessment resulted in the production of a report summarising the contributions of each of the experts and of a synthesis destined for use by policy makers and managers.

Method and scope of the ESCo Encompassing the necessary expertise to respond to the questions asked required that the assessment consist of experts from the areas of ecology and agronomy at all of the various relevant scales (field, farm, production system, landscape), economics, sociology and legal studies. This association of disciplines allowed integration across increasing levels of complexity, from biological organisms to the landscape, and ultimately to the structures of decision making. The ESCo involved some twenty experts form various research organisations in France (INRA, CNRS, IRD, Agronomy teaching institutes) and overseas (Agroscope and Institute of environmental sciences from Zurich, Louvain-la-Neuve University). The work of these experts was based on the analysis of some 2000 bibliographic references, comprising of scientific articles, international reports and technical documents, from which the experts extracted, analysed and summarised useful elements to respond to the questions.

Content of the document: The assessment is structured in five parts. It begins with a preliminary section outlining the definitions, concepts and issues for the theme "agriculture and biodiversity". The first chapter explores the modes of action of agriculture on biodiversity, via agricultural practices at the field level, and also at the landscape scale (chapter 1). Subsequently the assessment describes the services provided by biodiversity that can contribute to increasing the productivity and stability of agro-ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on factors external to agricultural fields and which constitute the landscape matrix (chapter 2). Next, the integration of the elements and services of biodiversity into agriculture is examined in the context of production systems and their constraints Chapter 4 analyses the legal foundations and legal instruments used by government for biodiversity management; in particular an examination is made of the results of agri-environmental measures (MAE) and possible models for their organisation and management. Finally, chapter 4 also analyses the conditions required for the successful implementation of policy measures.

Mandate for the assessment

The French ministries in charge of agriculture and ecology requested INRA (French Institute for Agricultural Research) to carry out a review of the current state of multidisciplinary knowledge of relationships between agriculture and biodiversity, with an aim of providing all stakeholders with all of the necessary elements required to adequately inform policy measures and decisions. The questions, formulated by the ministries in a letter outlining the terms of reference addressed to INRA, concerned the effects of agriculture on biodiversity, the roles and possible benefits of biodiversity for agriculture, the possible technical opportunities for the better integration of biodiversity into agriculture, and finally the economic, technical and social feasibility of this integration.

The final report of the multidisciplinary scientific assessment, on which the synthesis document is based, was written by the group of scientific experts (from France and other countries) independently of their employers and / or funding bodies, or INRA, or Ministries. Responsibility for the contents of the report rests solely with the authors.

Conceptual framework and/or methodology used for the assessment

Other (please specify)

The methodology used, i.e. multidisciplinary scientific assessment (ESCo), is well established, with clearly defined rules in France. In short, the ESCo is a support mechanism for government decision making. The exercise consists of responding to a complex question posed by a government body by establishing, on the basis of an extensive worldwide bibliographic review, the current state of multidisciplinary scientific knowledge surrounding the question including the known facts, uncertainties, gaps in knowledge and controversies. The ESCo does not carry out any research of its own to respond to the questions asked. Neither does it provide advice or recommendations, nor does it include a consideration of future trends or scenarios. The assessment was carried out by a group of scientists, with specialists from different disciplines and working for a diverse range of research organisations. The assessment resulted in the production of a report summarising the contributions of each of the experts and of a synthesis destined for use by policy makers and managers. Method and scope of the ESCo = Encompassing the necessary expertise to respond to the questions asked required that the assessment consist of experts from the areas of ecology and agronomy at all of the various relevant scales (field, farm, production system, landscape), economics, sociology and legal studies. This association of disciplines allowed integration across increasing levels of complexity, from biological organisms to the landscape, and ultimately to the structures of decision making. The ESCo involved some twenty experts form various research organisations in France (INRA, CNRS, IRD, Agronomy teaching institutes) and overseas (Agroscope and Institute of environmental sciences from Zurich, Louvain-la-Neuve University). The work of these experts was based on the analysis of some 2000 bibliographic references, comprising of scientific articles, international reports and technical documents, from which the experts extracted, analysed and summarised useful elements to respond to the questions.

URL or copy of conceptual framework developed or adapted

see above

System(s) assessed

• Cultivated/Agricultural land
• Grassland

Species groups assessed

all

Provisioning

• Food
• Water
• Timber/fibres
• Genetic resources
• Energy/fuel

Regulating

• Air quality
• Climate regulation
• Moderation of extreme events
• Regulation of water flows
• Regulation of water quality
• Erosion prevention
• Pollination
• Pest and disease control

Supporting Services/Functions

• Habitat maintenance
• Nutrient cycling
• Soil formation and fertility
• Primary production

Cultural Services

• Recreation and tourism

Drivers of change in systems and services

Yes

Impacts of change in services on human well-being

Yes

Options for responding/interventions to the trends observed

Yes

Explicit consideration of the role of biodiversity in the systems and services covered by the assessment

Yes

Year assessment started

2007

Year assessment finished

2008

If ongoing, year assessment is anticipated to finish

Periodicity of assessment

Unknown

Website(s)

-

Report(s)

Communication materials (e.g. brochure, presentations, posters, audio-visual media)

Journal publications

Training materials

Other documents/outputs

Tools and approaches used in the assessment

• Modelling
• Trade-off analysis
• Geospatial analysis
• Indicators
• Scenarios
• Economic valuation
• Social (non-monetary) valuation
• Synthesis of studies which had used all these tools

Process used for stakeholder engagement in the assessment process and which component

• initial query by the French ministries in charge of agriculture and ecology that requested INRA to carry out a review of the current state of multidisciplinary knowledge of relationships between agriculture and biodiversity, with an aim of providing all stakeholders with all of the necessary elements required to adequately inform policy measures and decisions.
• regular updates by the experts on the ongoing work, with oral presentation and discussion with representatives of the two Ministries.
• presentation of the results of the expertise (before publication) by experts to a range of stakeholders (list provided below)
• Launch of the conclusions of the expertise during a national conference, with both scientific experts and stakeholders invited (list provided below)
• Follow-up :
• publication as a book in French and a version in English
• many presentations and debates based on the results of the expertise (list of stakeholders targeted below) after the publication of expertise results

Key stakeholder groups engaged

• upstream : the ministries in charge of agriculture and ecology that requested INRA to carry out a review of the current state of multidisciplinary knowledge of relationships between agriculture and biodiversity. Surveyed the advancement of the work, without influencing it but being able to indicate important aspects to be addressed during the work.
• A range of stakeholders (farmer organisations, NGOs, nature conservation bodies, firms, policy makers...) were targeted to present expertise results and discuss them

The number of people directly involved in the assessment process

10-100

Incorporation of scientific and other types of knowledge

• Scientific information only
• Citizen science

Supporting documentation for specific approaches, methodology or criteria developed and/or used to integrate knowledge systems into the assessment

This expertise is a support mechanism for government decision making. The exercise consists of responding to a complex question posed by a government body by establishing, on the basis of an extensive worldwide bibliographic review, the current state of multidisciplinary scientific knowledge surrounding the question including the known facts, uncertainties, gaps in knowledge and controversies. The ESCo does not carry out any research of its own to respond to the questions asked. Neither does it provide advice or recommendations, nor does it include a consideration of future trends or scenarios. The assessment was carried out by a group of scientists, with specialists from different disciplines and working for a diverse range of research organisations. The assessment resulted in the production of a report summarising the contributions of each of the experts and of a synthesis destined for use by policy makers and managers.

Throughout this assessment, the experts analysed a large number of scientific publications, international reports and technical documents. Five INRA information officers provided support for these experts by searching for appropriate documentation from the different sources of information, compiling a body of documentation, providing documents and formatting the list of literature references in the final report. Principal sources of information used Web of Science. Produced by Thomson Scientific (ex-ISI), it is "the" reference database for thousands of scientists around the world. The areas covered represent all of the disciplines in the sciences and social sciences allowing searches crossing numerous disciplinary fields as well as publications at the interface of numerous disciplines. CAB Abstracts. Produced by CABI Publishing (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau), this database is specialised in the theme of "agriculture" in its largest sense (plant production and crop protection, animal production and veterinary sciences, forestry, food safety, management and conservation of natural resources, rural economics and sociology). Econlit. Produced by the American Economic Association, this database is specialised in economics and management. It contains journal articles (400 titles), monographs, chapters from collective volumes, workshop proceedings, theses and working papers. Business Source Premier. Produced by EBSCO Publishing, this database is specialised in the areas of economics, management, business management, finance, and accounting. It gives access to the complete text of general interest journals such as Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, etc., as well as more academic journals such as the Harvard Business Review, Journal of Finance... Francis. Produced by INIST, this database is specialised in the human and social sciences. It contains journal articles, books, theses, conference proceedings and other reports. French and European documents are given priority. Working methods The bibliographic databases were interrogated using complex equations combining several layers of keywords validated by the experts. Numerous rounds of interaction between the information officers and the experts were used to define the key words and refine the searches. For example, for chapter 2, the search equations used combined 292 keywords corresponding to three levels of analysis (groups, agricultural systems, parameters). Multiple thousands of literature references were provided to the experts in the form of lists in WORD or Endnote. For example, the experts writing chapter two examined a total of 13481 references, of which only 700 were selected for citation in the report. Some statistics for the references cited in the report In total, more than 2000 references were selected by the experts and integrated into the report. The experts primarily used recent publications, with 44% of the references being published in the last 5 years. They also principally cited articles appearing in international scientific journals (78%), in agreement with the definition of the exercise as a scientific assessment. The main scientific journals used were: Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Applied Soil Ecology, Aspects of Applied Biology, Biological Conservation, Biological Control, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Ecology Letters, Environmental Entomology, Journal of Applied Ecology, Oecologia. The experts also made reference to books or book chapters (12%) published by the major scientific editors: Academic Press, British Crop Protection Council, Cambridge University Press, Editions Quae, Marcel Dekker, Quest Environmental, Springer, University of California Press. The experts also made use of what is referred to as "grey literature" in the form of scientific reports edited by international institutions (OCDE, European Union Commission) (3%), conference proceedings (2%), theses (1%) and articles appearing in technical journals (4%). It should be noted that for chapter three, the experts analysed a considerable amount of agronomic data published in reports or technical journals or presented at conferences (18%), while for chapters one and two, the experts preferentially compiled articles published in international scientific journals (84%).

The methodology is detailed in the publication.

Assessment reports peer reviewed

Yes

Accessibility of data used in assessment

Throughout this assessment, the experts analysed a large number of scientific publications, international reports and technical documents. Five INRA information officers provided support for these experts by searching for appropriate documentation from the different sources of information, compiling a body of documentation, providing documents and formatting the list of literature references in the final report. Principal sources of information used Web of Science. Produced by Thomson Scientific (ex-ISI), it is "the" reference database for thousands of scientists around the world. The areas covered represent all of the disciplines in the sciences and social sciences allowing searches crossing numerous disciplinary fields as well as publications at the interface of numerous disciplines. CAB Abstracts. Produced by CABI Publishing (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau), this database is specialised in the theme of "agriculture" in its largest sense (plant production and crop protection, animal production and veterinary sciences, forestry, food safety, management and conservation of natural resources, rural economics and sociology). Econlit. Produced by the American Economic Association, this database is specialised in economics and management. It contains journal articles (400 titles), monographs, chapters from collective volumes, workshop proceedings, theses and working papers. Business Source Premier. Produced by EBSCO Publishing, this database is specialised in the areas of economics, management, business management, finance, and accounting. It gives access to the complete text of general interest journals such as Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, etc., as well as more academic journals such as the Harvard Business Review, Journal of Finance... Francis. Produced by INIST, this database is specialised in the human and social sciences. It contains journal articles, books, theses, conference proceedings and other reports. French and European documents are given priority. Working methods The bibliographic databases were interrogated using complex equations combining several layers of keywords validated by the experts. Numerous rounds of interaction between the information officers and the experts were used to define the key words and refine the searches. For example, for chapter 2, the search equations used combined 292 keywords corresponding to three levels of analysis (groups, agricultural systems, parameters). Multiple thousands of literature references were provided to the experts in the form of lists in WORD or Endnote. For example, the experts writing chapter two examined a total of 13481 references, of which only 700 were selected for citation in the report. Some statistics for the references cited in the report In total, more than 2000 references were selected by the experts and integrated into the report. The experts primarily used recent publications, with 44% of the references being published in the last 5 years. They also principally cited articles appearing in international scientific journals (78%), in agreement with the definition of the exercise as a scientific assessment. The main scientific journals used were: Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Applied Soil Ecology, Aspects of Applied Biology, Biological Conservation, Biological Control, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Ecology Letters, Environmental Entomology, Journal of Applied Ecology, Oecologia. The experts also made reference to books or book chapters (12%) published by the major scientific editors: Academic Press, British Crop Protection Council, Cambridge University Press, Editions Quae, Marcel Dekker, Quest Environmental, Springer, University of California Press. The experts also made use of what is referred to as "grey literature" in the form of scientific reports edited by international institutions (OCDE, European Union Commission) (3%), conference proceedings (2%), theses (1%) and articles appearing in technical journals (4%). It should be noted that for chapter three, the experts analysed a considerable amount of agronomic data published in reports or technical journals or presented at conferences (18%), while for chapters one and two, the experts preferentially compiled articles published in international scientific journals (84%).

The list of all the references cited can be provided, and traceability of the publication search was ensured by INRA.

Impacts the assessment has had on policy and/or decision making, as evidenced through policy references and actions

The expertise outputs have influenced the implementation of a 'Green infrastructure' approach by the French Ministry of Environment, part of the 'Grenelle de l'Environnement', with a strong focus on the importance of landscape scale and on the percentage of natural/semi-natural environments in the landscape matrix.

Independent or other review on policy impact of the assessment

No

Lessons learnt for future assessments from these reviews

Usefulness of such interdisciplinary synthesis and expertise on complex issues as 'biodiversity and agriculture'

Capacity building needs identified during the assessment

see below

Actions taken by the assessment to build capacity

Network and sharing experiences, Access to funding, Sharing of data/repatriation of data, Workshops, Developing/promoting and providing access to support tools, Communication and awareness raising

How have gaps in capacity been communicated to the different stakeholders

Mostly through INRA

Gaps in knowledge identified from the assessment

see the conclusions of the expertise in the book published

How gaps in knowledge have been communicated to the different stakeholders

Directly by INRA, and through many conferences and meetings with a range of stakeholders (Ministries, farming organisations, French Parliement/Senate, NGOs, protected areas managers, agrochemical and seeds companies, etc.)

Articles in national newspapers and interviews on national radios, eg. : Le Roux X. 2008. Interview sur le thème ‘Agriculture et biodiversité’ par la radio RFI Le Roux X. 2008. Interview sur le thème ‘Agriculture et biodiversité’ dans le journal Le Monde. Le Roux X. 2010. Interview sur la biodiversité dans le journal Libération.

Book chapters targeting a general audience, eg. Le Roux X. 2009. Agriculture et biodiversité : quels grands enjeux pour demain ? in: Humanité et biodiversité: manifeste pour une nouvelle alliance. Descartes & Cie. p 177-182.

Movies: 2008: Film INRA “agriculture-biodiversité” 2010: Film “La biodiversité, c'est aussi près de chez vous” - C. Production Chromatiques / CAP CANAL : http://www.capcanal.tv/video.php?rubrique=5&emission=4&key=kuxy8TGdEV 2009: Film de la présentation des résultats de l’expertise scientifique collective “Agriculture & biodiversité” par le Pôle “Activités rurales, agricultures et territoires en Rhône-Alpes’ : http://www.psdr-ra.fr/spip.php?rubrique44 2012: Documentaire “Dessine-moi un paysage bio; paysages et agricultures biologiques”, Ministère de l’Agriculture & Bergerie nationale, 108 min.,: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xo2vne_dessine-moi-un-paysage-bio-version-courte_webcam?ralg=behavior-meta2#from=playrelon-2

Publications in magazines targeting key stakeholders, eg. : Le Roux X. 2009. Les liens entre agriculture et biodiversité auscultés par la communauté scientifique. Revue des oenologues, 132: 1-2. Le Roux X. 2009. Agriculture et biodiversité. Revue du club parlementaire sur l'avenir de la recherche agronomique. AGORA, avril 2009, 1-4. Le Roux X. 2010. Agriculture en quête de nature. Campagnes et Environnement 11: 16-18.

Several oral presentations (list of some of them attached)
Some_oral_presentations_ESCo_Agriculture___BDV.doc