Luc Delaby – INRAE Research Engineer(testimonial from the dossier “From the European Nitrates Directive to green algae plans in Brittany: the contributions of INRAE scientists” – 2022)
“I’ve been working on ruminant nutrition for 35 years and when INRAE moved to Rennes in the 1980s, I concentrated on feeding dairy cows on pasture. This work led to the development of grazing management tools designed to optimise production costs. The 1990s saw the advent of environmental concerns driven by the ‘Nitrates’ directive, and given concrete form in Brittany by green algae. Nitrogen emissions from dairy cows had to be quantified, particularly when grazing. When we move away from the animal and assess them as part of an overall system, grazed grasslands become an asset in the regulation of nitrogen flows. Made up of grasses and legumes, grassland remains the only active plant cover in autumn that limits nitrate leakage. Grassland systems are environmentally beneficial and inexpensive production methods. However, they are still difficult for farmers to manage, which is why pasture management tools are so important. Today, reintegrating long-term grassland into the landscape is a challenge that requires making it profitable”.
Testimonial from our special report
Thematic dossier
From the European Nitrates Directive to green algae plans in Brittany: the contributions of INRAE scientists
Since the 1970s, researchers at the Institute have been studying the flow of nitrates of agricultural origin from the plot to the catchment area and their impact on the biological balance of aquatic environments. The agri-hydrological models they have developed have provided a better understanding of nitrate flows and helped local players to implement regional policies. With the deployment of plans to combat green algae in Brittany (PLAV), scientists have gradually moved from the position of experts providing advice to that of mediators supporting the various stakeholders by sharing scientific knowledge on the subject. These years of experience have led to the creation of a training course dedicated to new elected representatives who are likely to become involved in the PLAV, capitalising on the knowledge of former elected representatives and on scientific knowledge.
