INNOVATION 4: Building local value chains of minor species to reterritorialise agricultural supply chains

What it is: 

An initiative to help farmers commit to climate adapted, water‑ efficient crops while guaranteeing them market outlets: this is the aim of FIBANI, an initiative launched by the Montpellier Metropolis that also enables the delivery of high‑ quality‑ local products to canteens (more information here)

Origin:

• An initiative launched by Montpellier Métropole and its partners in 2024 to help sustain agriculture in the region by growing water-efficient and climate-adapted crops, especially legumes and hardy cereals (e.g. einkorn wheat and heritage wheat varieties) (more information here)
• The objective is to reterritorialise‑ agricultural value chains, and consequently the land areas cultivated with crops (more information here).

Actions developed during the project:

• Production of chickpeas, lentils and einkorn wheat, transformed in Occitanie and locally distributed in Montpellier

Inspiration for the Aude Demontration Site (and other Demo Sites):

• The issue of water-efficient food crops for local supply is a relevant topic for consideration in the Aude DS, as several of the producers are winegrowers who have switched to a new line of work
• The coalition of stakeholders that has been brought together is fairly similar to the  group with which the MORFeuS project is already working: the Urban Community, the Chamber of Agriculture, CIVAM, INRAE, and the network of organic businesses in Occitanie, with a local representative which could be the Aude à Table cooperative
• Issues relating to contract compliance (failure to purchase locally produced seeds that have been sorted outside the region from the processor, and failure to purchase seeds from a local producer) and logistics (bagging at production sites in 500kg sacks, whilst the catering sector uses 5kg sacks) call for careful planning when establishing new partnerships linking producers with processors and distributors.
• One must remain vigilant regarding these emerging supply chains, as production and purchase costs – even when publicly subsidized – may run counter to the original quality specifications: in Montpellier, it was necessary to purchase organic lentils from Canada (containing glyphosate residues, as it is authorised in that country) to make up for what the city authorities were unwilling to buy locally.
• Strengthen the technical agricultural advisory service in sectors where expertise is no longer available (pulses, heritage cereals).