Organic farming proved a real hit at the 2009 fair, and this year SIVAL is expanding the topic even further with lectures, guided visits and the whole range of organic producers who will be exhibiting.

Programme compiled by SIVAL and the Regional Chamber of Agriculture

Organic farming lectures

Thursday 14 January 2010 - Organic market gardening

From the field to the plate in the restaurant and catering business

The number of restaurants and catering businesses using organic products has soared. However, do we have the appropriate organisation in place to enable the sector as a whole to respond to these demands? Through the experiences of the different links in the chain, from field to kitchen, we will try to throw some light on the strategies to embrace, the pitfalls to avoid, and some of the key essentials.
Starting with an end-user, the chef in a school canteen, for example, we will highlight the conditions required for successful introduction. Long-standing operators in our region, Bio Loire Océan and Manger Bio 44, demonstrate the need for planning and a highly-targeted product. Important economic players like La Rosée des Champs, regular supplier of ready-to-use fruit and vegetables to the restaurant and catering business, is adapting to the demand for organic produce.
Finally, focusing on technical committees (CDDL, CDDM, GDM 85 and Gabb) how can producers find the backing they need to enable them to respond to the needs expressed?
"From the field to the plate", or "to what extent do the demands for ingredients to make a meal have repercussions for farming conditions?" aims to demonstrate the feasibility of introducing organic products into our diet.
In collaboration with InterBio - Pays de la Loire

Thursday 14 January 2010 - Organic viticulture

Weed management in organic viticulture

The implementation of the "Grenelle de l'Environnement" directives and the "Ecophyto 2018 Plan" puts strict constraints on the use of plant protection products. In viticulture, the products having the most visible impact on water quality are herbicides.
The best way of bringing about change and meeting the objectives of these environmental action plans will therefore be to abandon the use of herbicides and take inspiration from the methods used in organic farming.
Through the personal testimony of growers, recommendations from technical experts and the results of experiments carried out by the IFV (Institut Français de la Vigne), contributors will tell us everything we need to know about methods, choice of tools, and management of consequences in terms of vine function due to the implementation of clipping and soil cultivation practices.
In collaboration with the IFV and GDDV

See the list of all lectures and panel discussions by clicking on the "Lectures" tab

Organic directory

The Organic Directory is given out at the fair and provides a list of exhibitors displaying equipment for organic farming, or having a direct link to organic farming.

Organic itinerary

More information available soon.