Les céréales bio en Belgique : production et importations

Le nombre de producteurs bio est en constante augmentation. cependant, 84% des terres converties en bio en Belgique sont des prairies. avec une demande en constante augmentation, ceci laisse supposer un déficit en de nombreux produits agricoles. Les céréales n’échappent pas à la règle et de nombreux produits céréaliers bio doivent être importés. le CRA-W, dans le cadre du projet Biogéocarbo, s’est posé la question de savoir quels étaient les volumes échangés ainsi que les principaux pays fournisseurs de céréales biologiques. En effet, les données sont quasi-inexistantes tant sur les pays d’origine que sur les volumes échangés. le CRA-W a donc procédé à une série d’enquêtes auprès des producteurs, des organismes certificateurs et de certains transformateurs

Plus ou moins de mycotoxines en bio qu’en conventionnel ?

Ce 9 juin 2016, l’émission Pour ou contre de RTL-TVI posait la question « Manger bio est-il dangereux ? ». Si nous n’avons pas l’espace pour passer en revue l’ensemble des arguments évoqués qui mériteraient un dossier plus complet, nous voulions néanmoins revenir et faire le point scientifique sur le premier élément qui a été invoqué : les mycotoxine

Organic Versus Conventional Farming: The Case of wheat Production in Wallonia (Belgium)

The environmental impact of wheat production was assessed through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Local data were collected to characterize Walloon conventional and organic wheat production systems. Two functional units (FU) were investigated: 1kg of wheat grains at 15% humidity and 1ha used for wheat cropping. An uncertainty analysis assessed the significance of differences between conventional and organic systems. Using 1kg of grains as FU, results are not significantly different in global warming and cumulative energy demand. Very highly significant differences for soil acidification and eutrophication, and significant differences for agricultural land occupation were found to be in favor of conventional wheat production. Due to the high yield level in conventional farming (8.5 t/ha at 15% humidity against 4.5 t/ha for organic wheat), organic winter wheat has an equivalent or even, in some impact categories, a higher impact than conventional winter wheat. Using 1ha as FU, organic production is less impacting than conventional production, except for soil acidification and eutrophication. The choice of the FU has proven to be very sensitive. This study could be improved by accounting for rotation effects, by using more specific models to calculate emissions due to organic and mineral fertilization, and by accounting for carbon storage in soil

Organic Versus Conventional Farming: The Case of wheat Production in Wallonia (Belgium)

The environmental impact of wheat production was assessed through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Local data were collected to characterize Walloon conventional and organic wheat production systems. Two functional units (FU) were investigated: 1kg of wheat grains at 15% humidity and 1ha used for wheat cropping. An uncertainty analysis assessed the significance of differences between conventional and organic systems. Using 1kg of grains as FU, results are not significantly different in global warming and cumulative energy demand. Very highly significant differences for soil acidification and eutrophication, and significant differences for agricultural land occupation were found to be in favor of conventional wheat production. Due to the high yield level in conventional farming (8.5 t/ha at 15% humidity against 4.5 t/ha for organic wheat), organic winter wheat has an equivalent or even, in some impact categories, a higher impact than conventional winter wheat. Using 1ha as FU, organic production is less impacting than conventional production, except for soil acidification and eutrophication. The choice of the FU has proven to be very sensitive. This study could be improved by accounting for rotation effects, by using more specific models to calculate emissions due to organic and mineral fertilization, and by accounting for carbon storage in soil

Organic Versus Conventional Farming: The Case of wheat Production in Wallonia (Belgium)

The environmental impact of wheat production was assessed through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Local data were collected to characterize Walloon conventional and organic wheat production systems. Two functional units (FU) were investigated: 1kg of wheat grains at 15% humidity and 1ha used for wheat cropping. An uncertainty analysis assessed the significance of differences between conventional and organic systems. Using 1kg of grains as FU, results are not significantly different in global warming and cumulative energy demand. Very highly significant differences for soil acidification and eutrophication, and significant differences for agricultural land occupation were found to be in favor of conventional wheat production. Due to the high yield level in conventional farming (8.5 t/ha at 15% humidity against 4.5 t/ha for organic wheat), organic winter wheat has an equivalent or even, in some impact categories, a higher impact than conventional winter wheat. Using 1ha as FU, organic production is less impacting than conventional production, except for soil acidification and eutrophication. The choice of the FU has proven to be very sensitive. This study could be improved by accounting for rotation effects, by using more specific models to calculate emissions due to organic and mineral fertilization, and by accounting for carbon storage in soil

A PCR-microarray method for the screening of genetically modified organisms

A new method to screen and to identify genetically modified organisms (GMO) is presented in this paper. It is based on the detection of multiple genetic elements common to GMO by their amplification via PCR followed by direct hybridisation of the amplicons on microarray. The pattern of the elements is then compared to a database of the composition of EU-approved GMO and an identification of the GMO is then proposed. The limit of detection of the method was ≤0.1% GMO content (w/w) expressed as the amount of target DNA present in the template for single unprocessed material. The DNA targets were detected both in reference materials and in mixtures with the same detection limit. The specificity for the detection of the different elements was found to be very good with no cross-reaction even in samples with two GMO present at different concentrations. The paper presents examples of GMO identification and discusses the potential and limitation of such approaches and how they can facilitate the work of private and enforcement detection laboratories.This study was supported by the European Commission through the FP5 program “GMOchips” (contract G6RD-CT2000-00419 2000-2003), the Belgian SSCT program and the Integrated Project “Co-Extra”, contract no. 007158 2005-2009, under the 6th Framework Programme, priority 5, food quality and safety.Peer reviewe

Développement de méthodologies pour la détection des plantes génétiquement modifiées

Les nouvelles lignées de plantes génétiquement modifiées et la diversité des constructions transgéniques ne font que croître. Pouvoir continuer à détecter les organismes génétiquement modifiés (OGM) est donc un défi d’actualité et implique de disposer de moyens de contrôle appropriés. Cette thèse a pour but de contribuer à l’implémentation de méthodologies qui permettent une détection efficace des OGM. Pour cela, des informations concernant les plantes génétiquement modifiées ont été recensées dans une base de données dynamique. Celle-ci a permis de mettre en évidence un certain nombre de besoins analytiques. Ceux-ci concernent des cibles spécifiques aux espèces végétales, des cibles qui permettent de mettre en évidence les éléments structurels couramment rencontrés dans les constructions transgéniques (promoteurs, terminateurs et gènes) et des cibles focalisées sur les organismes donneurs de ces éléments structurels. Des tests par PCR en temps réel ont été développés pour combler les lacunes. Ces tests ont été évalués selon divers critères de performance comme la spécificité, la sensibilité et la robustesse. Différents paramètres susceptibles d’affecter les performances des tests PCR ont aussi été étudiés : la dégradation de l’ADN, la taille des cibles et les effets de compétition. Enfin, plusieurs études de cas concrets ont permis d’évaluer les possibilités de détection sur des produits commerciaux ou hautement transformés, ainsi que l’apport des cibles de criblage pour la détection des OGM connus et inconnus. Au final, la thèse propose un ensemble de stratégies cohérent et complet pour la détection des plantes génétiquement modifiées, en soulignant aussi les évolutions constantes de ce domaine.(AGRO - Sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique) -- UCL, 201

Organic farming - A business perspective

peer reviewedOrganic farming is more and more considered as a credible alternative to conventional agriculture, being able to solve current problesm, notably with respect to environment, employment and food safety. In the South of Belgium, Wallonia, organic farming represents today a significant part of agriculture. The goal of this paper is to show the growth of organic farming in Wallonia, to examine the present situation and to analyse the public support granted to organic farming, through direct payments but also through a new regional development plan including research, extension, promotion and the definition of quantified targets concerning economic activity and consumption. The results are based on statistical data collection and on a Survey among organic cereals producers, in order to contribute to the assessment of the economic relevance of organic farming

Development of organic farming in Wallonia : past, present and perspectives

peer reviewedOrganic farming is today fully recognized as an alternative to conventional agriculture and its problems (water and air pollution, large use of pesticides and possible impacts on human health, vegetal and animal diseases, overproduction, ..) and is clearly supported by the Common Agricultural Policy and its "greening". Belgian (and Walloon) agriculture is an intensive one, with a high "labour force/agricultural area" ratio and high yields thanks to good soils, but also the use of large quantities of inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. However, organic farming increased in importance during the last years and th Walloon regional government has just launched a development plan in June 2013. So, this paper aims to analyse the evolution of organic farming in Wallonia and to present the goals and the measures of the new development plan

Is organic farming the solution for the future of Walloon agriculture ?

peer reviewedOrganic farming is considered to be one of the solutions for the problems of sustainability faced today by the agriculutral sector. This paper describes the growth of the Walloon organic sector during the last years thanks to the support of the regional authorities through financial incentives and a new regional strategic development plan. It also presents some results collected during an on-farm survey concerning organic cereals. It appears that organic farming has significantly developed thaks to public support even if the prices of organic products are exceeding by 30% those of conventional products. Organic farming can play a significant role in the future of Walloon agriculture. However, due to the high conversion rate during these last years, it is not guaranteed that the financial support could be conserved at a such level