Two hands in the earth

Towards an agroecological transition

In the course of his journey, his perspective on agriculture evolves as he realises that a farmer can be a genuine “climate saviour” and a driver of regional renewal.

Fred is a cereal farmer who is looking to expand, whereas his wife Mel has started to question his mode of production. But their disagreements are personal not professional, and indeed they feel closer than ever as they await the birth of their first child. Eight years pass and the farm has grown and been modernised, but Fred feels completely reliant on his cooperative. His wife’s criti- cisms over the years have finally seeped in and forced him to take stock. He announces to his wife that he is going to start over from scratch, which brings them closer together and wins him Mel’s active support.

At the outset, Fred has no fixed idea in mind, but he informs himself through podcasts, conferences and discussions with others. He is constantly guided by his daughter Thémis, who encourages him, surprises him, and even on occasion reproaches him. In the second phase, he explores alternative practices, visiting another farm, talking things over with a neighbouring farmer, and meeting a farmer who selects his own seeds. Having laid the groundwork, Fred then proceeds to transform his farm and his farming practices

The technical details are given in a dossier at the end of the book, the main text focusing on the human dimension to this personal odyssey.

The book has been supported by the Biocoop Grand-Ouest network and the Agir pour l’environnement association.