Philippe Baret | UCLouvain (University of Louvain) (original) (raw)
Papers by Philippe Baret
The concept of agroecology is being mobilized increasingly. However, its socioeconomic dimensions... more The concept of agroecology is being mobilized increasingly. However, its socioeconomic dimensions receive little attention from academia. This study helps to clarify the socioeconomic principles of agroecology by first identifying a list of principles in popular and scientific literature and, as a second step, by putting the principles to the test of a qualitative study of two Belgian organizations. Agribio is a grain cooperative, and Les Grosses Légumes is a network of consumers, farmers, and the members of an association set up to organize the production and distribution of vegetable boxes. Semi-directed interviews of the various actors linked to these organizations were conducted and then analyzed through an approach inspired by the convention theory in order to reveal the principles that the stakeholders have adopted. The main findings are then made explicit by analysis of four strong agreements (which concern the two organizations' marketing schemes, a Participatory Guarantee System set up by Les Grosses Légumes and Agribio's flour mill). The two case studies show the gap that exists between the principles that describe the horizon of agroecology and the principles that are actually put into practice by the parties in the field through various transition pathways.
Frontiers in Genetics, 2015
Sustainable intensification (SI) is a multifaceted concept incorporating the ambition to increase... more Sustainable intensification (SI) is a multifaceted concept incorporating the ambition to increase or maintain the current level of agricultural yields while reduce negative ecological and environmental impacts. Decision-support systems (DSS) that use integrated analytical methods are often used to support decision making processes in agriculture. However, DSS often consist of set of values, objectives, and assumptions that may be inconsistent or in conflict with merits and objectives of SI. These potential conflicts will have consequences for adoption and up-take of agricultural research, technologies and related policies and regulations such as genetic technology in pursuit of SI. This perspective paper aimed at comparing a number of frequently used socio-economic DSS with respect to their capacity in incorporating various dimensions of SI, and discussing their application to analyzing farm animal genetic resources (FAnGR) policies. The case of FAnGR policies was chosen because of its great potential in delivering merits of SI. It was concluded that flexible DSS, with great integration capacity with various natural and social sciences, are needed to provide guidance on feasibility, practicality, and policy implementation for SI.
In its 2008 World Development report, the World Bank pleads for a ‘Green Revolution’ for sub-Saha... more In its 2008 World Development report, the World Bank pleads for a ‘Green Revolution’ for sub-Saharan Africa, particularly pointing to the importance of including smallholder farmers. This article focuses on the banana cropping system in Rwanda, and on the agricultural innovations introduced within this system. We first consider macro-level innovations that insert themselves into a broader logic of a modernised agricultural sector, and are thus in line with the rationale of the Green Revolution. We analyse how such ‘top-down’ innovations are received on the ground. On the other hand, we illustrate how smallholders also develop their own innovations ‘from below’ in response to or independent of top-down innovations. In our conclusion, we argue that the risk-coping rationale of small-scale farmers and their capacity to innovate ‘from below’ should receive much more attention in the elaboration of Rwanda’s agricultural strategies.
Bioluminescence And Chemiluminescence - Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium, 2001
Social-Ecological Systems (SES) are complex due to uncertainty related to their nature and their ... more Social-Ecological Systems (SES) are complex due to uncertainty related to their nature and their functions. In these systems, decision-making processes and practices of managers are often valueladen and subjective, dominated by their world-views and their own knowledge. People's knowledge are central in building their adaptive capacity but are seldom taken into account by traditional decision-making approaches in modelling SES management. In this paper, we introduce a Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping approach to study the dynamic behaviour of managers' systems of practices. As a case study, we aim to assess farmers' forage management under different climatic scenarios. Results show that summer drought have varying consequences according to farmers' systems of practices. Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping approaches are particularly relevant in studying systems of practices in SES. Their utilisation is promising for the evaluation of adaptive capacity and resilience in SES at local scale (exploitation, community) and regional scale (ecological areas, country).
Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry, 2004
Ecological Modelling, 2013
This paper presents a new cognitive mapping approach for analysing systems of practices in social... more This paper presents a new cognitive mapping approach for analysing systems of practices in social-ecological systems. These systems are mapped from people's views collected during open-ended interviews. Cognitive maps are made up of diverse variables (e.g., operations, drivers, constraints) linked to each other by a range of relationships: cause-effect, fluxes of matter, information flows and sequence of two operations. Individual cognitive maps heuristically model the practices and decision-making processes expressed by interviewees. The mathematical formulation of cognitive maps allows individual cognitive maps to be aggregated into a social cognitive map. The latter can be used to model the system of practices used by a particular group of people. Using this approach, we analysed the practices and decision-making processes linked to grassland management in a Belgian grassland-based livestock farming system. Our work confirmed that a social cognitive map could be drawn up for multiple locations. The results showed how this inductive cognitive mapping approach overcame two limitations frequently highlighted in previous studies: the diverse interpretations of variables and relationships; and the difficulty in revealing the rationale in cognitive maps.
Ecological Modelling, 2013
ABSTRACT The brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) is among the most biologically diverse vertebrate spec... more ABSTRACT The brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) is among the most biologically diverse vertebrate species. Human activities are threatening this biodiversity, and many endemic populations now face a medium-term risk of extinction. An individual-based model called DemGenTrout was developed to improve the management of these populations. The model was parameterized, optimized and validated with demographic, genetic, and environmental data collected over 7 years on the Lesse River drainage (Belgium). The sensitivity of the model to its parameters was analysed. The model was then used to assess how the demogenetics of a wild trout population might be affected by anthropogenic disturbances. From the sensitivity analysis, we found that modifications in survival and spawning parameters could lead to important changes in the demogenetics of the studied brown trout population. Two parameters were identified as the most influential in the DemGenTrout model, the survival rate of fry in the brook, and the mean of the spawner condition factor distribution. Two scenarios were simulated over 35 years and compared: (i) a barrier to upstream spawning migration, (ii) stocking with hatchery-reared trout during a 10-year period. Both of them appeared to have a strong short-term impact on the demogenetic structure of the wild trout population. The migration barrier mostly impacted abundance, while genetic issues arose when a significant number of stocked fish survived in the wild. Stocking also appeared to act on a longer time frame if hatchery and wild trout had similar survival and spawning probabilities.
Biotechnology for Biofuels, 2014
Background: The industrially important yeast Blastobotrys (Arxula) adeninivorans is an asexual he... more Background: The industrially important yeast Blastobotrys (Arxula) adeninivorans is an asexual hemiascomycete phylogenetically very distant from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Its unusual metabolic flexibility allows it to use a wide range of carbon and nitrogen sources, while being thermotolerant, xerotolerant and osmotolerant.
The concept of agroecology is being mobilized increasingly. However, its socioeconomic dimensions... more The concept of agroecology is being mobilized increasingly. However, its socioeconomic dimensions receive little attention from academia. This study helps to clarify the socioeconomic principles of agroecology by first identifying a list of principles in popular and scientific literature and, as a second step, by putting the principles to the test of a qualitative study of two Belgian organizations. Agribio is a grain cooperative, and Les Grosses Légumes is a network of consumers, farmers, and the members of an association set up to organize the production and distribution of vegetable boxes. Semi-directed interviews of the various actors linked to these organizations were conducted and then analyzed through an approach inspired by the convention theory in order to reveal the principles that the stakeholders have adopted. The main findings are then made explicit by analysis of four strong agreements (which concern the two organizations' marketing schemes, a Participatory Guarantee System set up by Les Grosses Légumes and Agribio's flour mill). The two case studies show the gap that exists between the principles that describe the horizon of agroecology and the principles that are actually put into practice by the parties in the field through various transition pathways.
Frontiers in Genetics, 2015
Sustainable intensification (SI) is a multifaceted concept incorporating the ambition to increase... more Sustainable intensification (SI) is a multifaceted concept incorporating the ambition to increase or maintain the current level of agricultural yields while reduce negative ecological and environmental impacts. Decision-support systems (DSS) that use integrated analytical methods are often used to support decision making processes in agriculture. However, DSS often consist of set of values, objectives, and assumptions that may be inconsistent or in conflict with merits and objectives of SI. These potential conflicts will have consequences for adoption and up-take of agricultural research, technologies and related policies and regulations such as genetic technology in pursuit of SI. This perspective paper aimed at comparing a number of frequently used socio-economic DSS with respect to their capacity in incorporating various dimensions of SI, and discussing their application to analyzing farm animal genetic resources (FAnGR) policies. The case of FAnGR policies was chosen because of its great potential in delivering merits of SI. It was concluded that flexible DSS, with great integration capacity with various natural and social sciences, are needed to provide guidance on feasibility, practicality, and policy implementation for SI.
In its 2008 World Development report, the World Bank pleads for a ‘Green Revolution’ for sub-Saha... more In its 2008 World Development report, the World Bank pleads for a ‘Green Revolution’ for sub-Saharan Africa, particularly pointing to the importance of including smallholder farmers. This article focuses on the banana cropping system in Rwanda, and on the agricultural innovations introduced within this system. We first consider macro-level innovations that insert themselves into a broader logic of a modernised agricultural sector, and are thus in line with the rationale of the Green Revolution. We analyse how such ‘top-down’ innovations are received on the ground. On the other hand, we illustrate how smallholders also develop their own innovations ‘from below’ in response to or independent of top-down innovations. In our conclusion, we argue that the risk-coping rationale of small-scale farmers and their capacity to innovate ‘from below’ should receive much more attention in the elaboration of Rwanda’s agricultural strategies.
Bioluminescence And Chemiluminescence - Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium, 2001
Social-Ecological Systems (SES) are complex due to uncertainty related to their nature and their ... more Social-Ecological Systems (SES) are complex due to uncertainty related to their nature and their functions. In these systems, decision-making processes and practices of managers are often valueladen and subjective, dominated by their world-views and their own knowledge. People's knowledge are central in building their adaptive capacity but are seldom taken into account by traditional decision-making approaches in modelling SES management. In this paper, we introduce a Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping approach to study the dynamic behaviour of managers' systems of practices. As a case study, we aim to assess farmers' forage management under different climatic scenarios. Results show that summer drought have varying consequences according to farmers' systems of practices. Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping approaches are particularly relevant in studying systems of practices in SES. Their utilisation is promising for the evaluation of adaptive capacity and resilience in SES at local scale (exploitation, community) and regional scale (ecological areas, country).
Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry, 2004
Ecological Modelling, 2013
This paper presents a new cognitive mapping approach for analysing systems of practices in social... more This paper presents a new cognitive mapping approach for analysing systems of practices in social-ecological systems. These systems are mapped from people's views collected during open-ended interviews. Cognitive maps are made up of diverse variables (e.g., operations, drivers, constraints) linked to each other by a range of relationships: cause-effect, fluxes of matter, information flows and sequence of two operations. Individual cognitive maps heuristically model the practices and decision-making processes expressed by interviewees. The mathematical formulation of cognitive maps allows individual cognitive maps to be aggregated into a social cognitive map. The latter can be used to model the system of practices used by a particular group of people. Using this approach, we analysed the practices and decision-making processes linked to grassland management in a Belgian grassland-based livestock farming system. Our work confirmed that a social cognitive map could be drawn up for multiple locations. The results showed how this inductive cognitive mapping approach overcame two limitations frequently highlighted in previous studies: the diverse interpretations of variables and relationships; and the difficulty in revealing the rationale in cognitive maps.
Ecological Modelling, 2013
ABSTRACT The brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) is among the most biologically diverse vertebrate spec... more ABSTRACT The brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) is among the most biologically diverse vertebrate species. Human activities are threatening this biodiversity, and many endemic populations now face a medium-term risk of extinction. An individual-based model called DemGenTrout was developed to improve the management of these populations. The model was parameterized, optimized and validated with demographic, genetic, and environmental data collected over 7 years on the Lesse River drainage (Belgium). The sensitivity of the model to its parameters was analysed. The model was then used to assess how the demogenetics of a wild trout population might be affected by anthropogenic disturbances. From the sensitivity analysis, we found that modifications in survival and spawning parameters could lead to important changes in the demogenetics of the studied brown trout population. Two parameters were identified as the most influential in the DemGenTrout model, the survival rate of fry in the brook, and the mean of the spawner condition factor distribution. Two scenarios were simulated over 35 years and compared: (i) a barrier to upstream spawning migration, (ii) stocking with hatchery-reared trout during a 10-year period. Both of them appeared to have a strong short-term impact on the demogenetic structure of the wild trout population. The migration barrier mostly impacted abundance, while genetic issues arose when a significant number of stocked fish survived in the wild. Stocking also appeared to act on a longer time frame if hatchery and wild trout had similar survival and spawning probabilities.
Biotechnology for Biofuels, 2014
Background: The industrially important yeast Blastobotrys (Arxula) adeninivorans is an asexual he... more Background: The industrially important yeast Blastobotrys (Arxula) adeninivorans is an asexual hemiascomycete phylogenetically very distant from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Its unusual metabolic flexibility allows it to use a wide range of carbon and nitrogen sources, while being thermotolerant, xerotolerant and osmotolerant.