DEXiPM-Grapevine©: A multicriteria assessment tool of the sustainability for grapevine farming systems

Abstract

The development of innovative farming systems to reach new goals of agricultural sustainability needs new methods for efficiency assessment. DEXiPM-Grapevine^© is a multicriteria assessment tool for overall sustainability of grapevine farming systems adapted from DEXiPM arable crops (Pelzer et al, 2012). DEXiPM-Grapevine^© was implemented during the European PURE Project 2012- 2015 (Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions in agriculture) in order to assess and compare various innovative grapevine systems. This model includes 65 basic attributes describing the cropping system, which are then combined into 97 aggregated attributes, designed to assess the economic, social and environmental performances. This model is based on expert knowledge and agricultural surveys, to define thresholds of classes for each attribute and the weighting of the aggregations.

A guide helps users to adjust these parameter specific features due to local context. We tested DEXiPM-Grapevine^© on innovative grapevine systems, designed with low pesticides use, and experimented at field scale in the French EcoViti Network. We made both ex ante and ex post analyses of experimented systems in order to sort them and to adjust their strategies. Three main strategies of pesticide reduction are explored: (i) IPM, (ii) alternative products, organic and biocontrol approach, (iii) pesticide-free cropping systems based on new grapevine mildew resistant varieties. Seven prototypes are tested on INRA experimental farms in Angers (Loire Valley, center of France), Bordeaux (Atlantic region), and Montpellier (Mediterranean region). The first DEXiPM- Grapevine^© assessments show a high environmental performance of innovative biocontrol strategies, and new resistant varieties. However, IPM strategies have the best overall sustainability with better economic and social assessments. DEXiPM-Grapevine© supports the analysis of performances and helps to identify the strengths/weaknesses of the tested prototypes. This tool can be used for ex ante assessment to guide the designing of cropping systems. It can also enable to re-adjust the prototypes after field experimentations. A third use for farmers’ advisors is to help producers to modify their farming systems to enhance the sustainability of their farms.