Pest management and biodiversity in organic fruit production: the case of apple orchards

Numerous pesticide applications are required for orchard protection, regardless of the guidelines. Organic fruit production (OFP) mainly relies on the use of mineral fungicides and microbiological or naturally-occurring insecticides. The environmental impact of this type of production does not significantly differ from that of conventional production when assessed in terms of synthetic indicators. However, the abundance of earthworms, as well as the abundance and specific richness of arthropod pests and beneficials in the orchards and surrounding hedges, is greater in OFP than in conventional orchards. Generalist predators are usually less affected by OFP compounds than by the chemical pesticides applied in conventional orchards. OFP also benefits avian communities, and above all, insectivorous birds, for which organic orchards offer a suitable habitat similar to that of undisturbed natural areas. In addition to this general trend, discrepancies may be observed in the protection responses of different insect groups. The abundance of hymenopteran parasitoids is the lowest in organic orchards in which outbreaks of phytophagous mites are also recorded in relation to the intensive use of sulphur for scab protection. Biological insecticides often act in ways that are similar to those of chemical ones, and the restricted choice of available compounds is likely to induce resistance selection in insect pests. Although maintaining biodiversity is not a direct result of the implementation of OFP guidelines, it seems to be widely considered as an option by organic growers, both alone and as a complementary tool for pest regulation

Accommodating Islamophobia: how municipalities make place for Muslims in Paris

International audienc

États généraux de la Francophonie scientifique: Actes des " États généraux de la Francophonie scientifique ", Paris (France), 17 février 1995

ISBN : 2-9200-2157-5Confrontée aux bouleversements que subit la planète, aux révolutions technologiques et scientifiques, la Francophonie doit se positionner face à une évolution mondiale pour faire entendre sa voix dans le concert des régions et recrutements politiques, économiques ou culturels. Les États généraux de la Francophonie scientifique ont réuni les spécialistes des sujets définis comme autant de priorités pour l'avenir du français comme langue de communication internationale. Cet ouvrage qui présente l'ensemble des interventions de personnalités politiques, scientifiques et universitaires, propose des solutions concrètes à la définition d'une politique globale en faveur de la promotion de la langue française dans les secteurs d'activité stratégiques : les autoroutes de l'information, l'économie, l'enseignement, l'ingénierie linguistique, les médias, la science