Living with it: A utopia for animal and plant health management in agriculture?

In the agricultural sector, the management of animal and plant diseases, as well as that of invasive species, has historically relied on eradication strategies. Today, these strategies are increasingly being questioned by some members of the public and stakeholders in the agricultural sector, particularly due to the harsh nature of health management measures for regulated pests—such as culling herds and uprooting crops—but also in light of the recurring health crises in agriculture, which are often perceived as a product of modern agricultural practices.

In response to these findings, numerous initiatives have emerged, drawing on solutions that work with nature rather than against it, on animal and plant health management based on a partnership with living organisms, and on production systems that may be less efficient in the short term but are also less vulnerable. This symposium thus offers a collective reflection on research and field experiences that enable us to rethink health in agriculture from the perspective of caring for living beings.

The program will be organized around three thematic sessions and a roundtable discussion, focusing on new health management practices in agriculture—both at the local level and within production systems—as well as on the development of tools for collective action aimed at supporting the greening of health in agriculture and livestock farming. The day will conclude with a public lecture by Mr. Jacques Tassin (CIRAD), titled “Invasive Plants: A Constant Adaptation to Our World.”

This event, part of the CLAPAS flagship initiative, is fully aligned with the major challenges addressed by the I-SITE Program of Excellence (PEI), in line with its overarching scientific vision centered on the themes of “Feeding – Healing – Protecting.” We chose to hold it atthe Charles Flahault Amphitheater at the Institute of Botany to highlight the University of Montpellier and its proximity to downtown, thereby making the event more accessible to the general public.