Presentation

Located on the Charente coast, in the marshes between land and sea, the INRAE experimental unit in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Prée aims to support the agro-ecological transition of marsh farms. Due to its location, it is in an original position among French and European research teams. The unit manages a 160-hectare mixed crop-livestock experimental farm with 50 local Maraîchine beef cows, which is a full-scale laboratory for agroecological transition in marshland. The farm aims to provide four services: restoration of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, local human food supply, design approach based on the search for results rather than means. The unit is also experimenting with collective design approaches in multi-actor territorial projects on the trade-offs between biodiversity and water management and biodiversity and marketing channels.