For better integration of the principles of agroecology in the specifications of French wine geographical indications / Pour une meilleure intégration des principes de l'agro-écologie dans les cahiers des charges des indications géographiques viticoles françaises

INAO (Institut national de l'Origine et de la Qualité), France

Abstract

The French wine production is mainly produced under Geographical Indication (GI), with 378 PDO and 74 PGI wine, spread over its entire territory.

The concept of AOC, set up un 1936 by french Authorities, is entrusted to the INAO, public organization whose one of the missions is to validate the proposals of conditions of production developed jointly by producers within structures called organizations of defense and management. Compliance with these conditions is required to develop these products with a strong and not reproducible link with their terroir. However it appears difficult to develop these wines without worrying about the preservation of this terroir, which is the main tool for producers.

This concern, which seems at present more and more obvious, however, was difficult to accept until recent years by the various components of the governance of the AOC, the producers, but also in some cases the public authorities.

A first reflection to the integration of agri-environmental measures in the rules of AOC started in the early 2000s, and was suspended without being able to lead to significant changes in conditions of production contained in the rules of AOC.

With the challenge of societal expectations and particularly the pressure of environmental expectations, the INAO has defined early 2016 innovative agro-ecological targets for all official signs of quality and origin, including wine geographical indications, inviting producers to move towards the ambitious guidelines that will apply to all producers of the GI.

For the wine sector 5 main themes were selected by the INAO:

• The preservation and development of biodiversity,

• The control of fertilization and in particular mineral nitrogen fertilization,

• The reducing the use of pesticides in particular by developing the use of bio-control,

• Looking for a better water management by operators,

• Using a genetic most suited to the challenges of agro-ecology.

Factsheet of these measures will be provided to defense organizations and management of GIs. Very soon, the ODG will have the opportunity to collectively define the measures they consider most appropriate, which will then be integrated into their specifications.

All the proposed measures will make a response to the challenge of the expectations of society, in particular to strengthen an environmental approach, to enhance the credibility of a system based on the link between the product and its terroir, while preserving the collective heritage of GI French wine.