Reintegrating livestock in a specialized vineyard region: unravelling actor perceptions in southern France.
This study by Ryschawy, J et al., (2025) published in Agronomy for Sustainable Development, found that reintegrating livestock into vineyards in southern France provides ecological benefits such as improved soil and vegetation management, but adoption is limited by weak coordination, economic constraints, and mixed stakeholder support.
Headline Findings
- Agroecological benefits: Livestock improve soil quality and help manage vegetation in vineyards.
- Coordination challenge: Success depends on cooperation between multiple actors (farmers, shepherds, institutions).
- Mixed support: Farmers and agencies are positive, but cooperatives are often sceptical.
- Key barriers: Weak coordination and lack of financial/policy support limit adoption.
- Main takeaway: Scaling this system requires better coordination, incentives, and institutional backing.
Methods
- Case study approach: Focused on a specialised vineyard region in southern France.
- Qualitative methods: Conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (winegrowers, livestock farmers, advisers, cooperatives, public actors).
- Actor-centred analysis: Explored perceptions, roles, and interactions between different actors.
- Thematic analysis: Interview data were coded to identify key themes, barriers, and opportunities.
- System perspective: Examined livestock reintegration as a multi-actor socio-technical system, not just a farming practice.
Results
- Benefits: Livestock improve soil, manage vegetation, support landscapes, and reduce wildfire risk.
- Perceptions: Farmers/agencies positive; cooperatives sceptical; livestock keepers constrained.
- Barriers: Poor coordination, limited funding, weak policy support.
- Enablers: Stronger coordination, training, incentives, and advisory support.
- Takeaway: Ecologically beneficial, but adoption is limited by social and institutional factors.
Read the original study here.
