Thanks to its membership of the 10,500 farmers belonging to the Vivescia cooperative, Grands Moulins de Paris is strengthening its commitment to greater responsibility by jointly developing a 100% group channel in thesoil conservation agriculture approach. This practice combines quality production in quantity, respect for the soil and its biodiversity and better recognition of farmers for their practices. The first reference of flour from this chain will be available in the eastern quarter of France.
Soil Conservation Agriculture to preserve the environment
In France, according to INRA, about 4% of producers have adoptedconservation agriculture. At Vivescia, more than 350 farmers have joined the VIVESCIAgroscol club. For more than 10 years, the cooperative has developed expertise in this important method for soil biodiversity and the fight against global warming. A set of cultivation practices that promote plant diversity and carbon storage in the soil.
Conservation agriculture is based on a set of agronomic techniques that promote biodiversity.
This type of agriculture uses techniques that allow the retention of natural organic matter in the soil: respect for the soil, permanent soil cover with plant cover and a longer crop rotation with a greater diversity of cultivated species. In this way, the soil works on its own and regains its initial nourishing function.
We force ourselves to question ourselves daily, to offer the best to our customers. Grands Moulins de Paris is proud to belong to its cooperative farmers.
The four main principles of Coeur d'Epi
- To propose a cultivation of wheat in the North-East of France, less than 100 km from the mill of Brienne-le-Château* where it becomes flour;
- Use a cropping system that places the soil at the heart of its agronomic practices and that is beneficial in the fight against climate change (carbon storage): consider the soil as a living environment to be protected while maintaining a quality, regular and efficient production;
- To support cooperative farmers in creating value over the long term;
- Promote agricultural practices in favor of animal and plant biodiversity in the soil and in the fields: limitation of tillage, presence of companion plants and permanent soil cover and limitation of inputs.
These values are at the heart of our concerns, but also those of farmers, our customers and consumers.
According to the 2020Kantar Food 360 study, 77% of consumers are interested in food product innovations that respect the environment and the preservation of natural resources. 68% prefer food products made in their region or close to home.
First Coeur d'Epi product, close to the consumer
Grands Moulins de Paris is committed to naturalness and responsible eating. The ear of corn symbolizes the chain between the field and the finished product. The first Coeur d'Epi flour is made from French T65 wheat grown under conservation agriculture. Grands Moulins de Paris selects its wheat from the best terroirs in France. The first Coeur d'Epi reference is made with wheat from the North-East of France, the harvesting area of the Vivescia cooperative.
They are then crushed at the Brienne-le-Chateau mill. These Coeur d'Epi products will be available regionally, in order to limit the ecological impact and to reinforce the proximity between the actors of the sector: Farmers - Millers - Artisan bakers - Consumers.
Gradually this approach will be extended to the rest of France in order to offer our customers quality products that respect all the actors in the sector.
Coeur d'Epi, a supervised approach
The production of Coeur d'Epi flour is precisely controlled by various standards and specifications.
Compliance with the NFV30 standard:
- Limitation of nitrogen and phosphorus leakage;
- Planting with the aim of having a soil structure favorable to the rooting of the crop and to the biological activity of the soil;
- Reasoning about crop protection;
- Control methods adapted to each pest;
- Preventive measures against voles and field mice.
Respect of the specifications of Agriculture of Conservation Vivescia :
- Ban deep tillage below 10 cm;
- 100% coverage of intercrops;
- Combine companion plants with winter rape ;
- Use decision support tools (decision tree, notes...);
- Use certified seed.
Vivescia is also committed to a 3-year contract for farmers-co-operators.
To learn more about conservation agriculture: https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFRB-L5NEZQ
To discover testimonies of farmers involved in the sector: https: //entreprise.grandsmoulinsdeparis.com/actualites/entreprise/coeur-epi-agriculture-conservation-sols-interview-agriculteurs-filiere/
*For the first reference of the range
