Departmental federation CIVAM of Hérault (centres of initiatives to develop agriculture and the rural environment)

The stakes of CIVAM movement are based on the construction of a new harmony today and for the future between agriculture and rural society. Our field experiments and our actions unceasingly will replace the agricultural project in a broader context, taking better into account expectations of new rural residents and the society in general.

In spite of the decrease of the number of farmers, the sustainable development of agriculture, being based on new functionalities, must make it possible to farmers to become again actors and organizers of rural areas and of a new rurality.

The National Federation CIVAM, is based on the current experiments of some 200 groups (Centres of Initiatives to develop Agriculture and rural environment).

http://fncivam.free.fr/

Institut national de la recherche agronomique

Founded in 1946, the National Institute for Agricultural Research INRA is a mission-oriented public research institution under the joint authority of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The research conducted at INRA concerns agriculture, food, nutrition and food safety, environment and land management, with particular emphasis on sustainable development.

Its principal goals are 1/ producing and disseminating scientific knowledge, 2/ developing innovations and know-how for the benefit of society 3/through its expertise, informing decision-making by public and private sector players 4/promoting scientific and technical culture and participating in the science/society debate5/training in and through research.

http://www.inra.fr/

CIRAD is a French agricultural research centre working for international development. Most of its research is conducted in partnership.

CIRAD contributes to development through research and trials, training, dissemination of information, innovation and appraisals. Its expertise spans the life sciences, human sciences and engineering sciences and their application to agriculture and food, natural resource management and society.

http://www.cirad.fr/en/le_cirad/index.php

UMR Innovation

Joint research unit CIRAD, INRA

Technical Change, Learning and Coordination in Agriculture and the Agro-Food Sector

The processes through which agriculture adapts are founded on technical and organizational innovations, on both a collective and an individual level.

The unit works to explain, model and support the dynamics of technical change and innovation, by combining agricultural science, economics, rural sociology and spatial modelling. It has a range of objectives: to generate knowledge of the nature and diversity of current innovation processes in the agricultural and agrifoods sector; to develop new methods for multidisciplinary research in partnership with technical change stakeholders; to build a common conceptual framework centring on three analytical categories (technical change, apprenticeship and coordination); and to contribute to the renewal of agricultural and professional training by analysing and supporting innovation processes.

http://www.montpellier.inra.fr/internet/recherche/unites/unites/innovation.html

Association Départementale Terres Vivantes 34, ADTV 34

"Land is not a gift from our parents. Our children lend it to us ".

Terres Vivantes 34 is a non profit association created in 1989, whose aim is supporting to creation or resumption of agricultural enterprises.

ADTV helps entrepreneurs in the technical and economical design of their project. It also provides training through traditional formations and workshops.

ADTV permanently supports 120 entrepreneurs, mainly welfare beneficiaries, non eligible to Europe and State aids. It works with any person who wishes to settle in small or organic agriculture:

- in a progressive way;

- on small farms;

- combining several activities or several trades;

by developing innovative activities or products

ADTV facilitates the organisation of entrepreneurs groups that can reinforce farms durability.

Regional federation of CUMA: Co-operative for Use of Farm equipment.

The CUMA (Co-operative for Use of Farm equipment) belongs to the family of the Co-operatives of services which place at the disposal of their members the equipment necessary to their exploitations.

The control of expenses of farm mechanization has become a real need. The CUMA is a way of reaching that point. It is also a place of exchanges, contacts between people.

There is today more than 13,100 CUMA in France. Each one has its specificities defined in its statutes and its rules of procedure. The members must subscribe shares of capital and commit themselves to use the services of the co-operative. The capital makes it possible to acquire part of the material necessary to the activity of the co-operative and to guarantee loans being used to finance the remainder.

http://www.cuma.fr/lescuma/CUMA