Farmers have big projects, we support them

Pierre Coisnon is hard at work to win the BeeFriendly label. BeeFriendly is a response to the challenge of protecting bees in France, where bad agricultural practices are one of the causes of their disappearance. It is also a proven solution for preserving biodiversity on farms. Blédina is committing to its farmers by accompanying them humanly and financially in obtaining this label. To achieve this, Pierre has already put several actions in place, including the construction of a dedicated space in which are planted flowerbands that allow bees to have resources to feed and develop.

To meet the strict charter of infant food, Pierre Coisnon is mobilizing for a healthy and sustainable agriculture. He makes every effort to limit the use of pesticides and water expenses. He also gives his time by working hand in hand with distributors on the reduction of chemicals through testing of bio-controlled products or prevention by sharing the observations of his colleagues with the Regional Chamber of Agriculture (insects, symptoms...) to set up information sheets on the risks of diseases and pests.

But the story does not end there, and Pierre still has many other ambitious projects such as the installation of photovoltaic panels on his farm or a biogas project in partnership with ADEME by 2020. With Blédina, Danone supports daily infant food agriculture, the strictest and most controlled in France, to guarantee healthy and tasty food for future generations.

The development of industrial agriculture comes with an increased risk of nitrate pollution. 60% of surface land over the Evian spring’s watershed is used for agriculture, but mineral water has to meet very strict quality standards for purity, composition, stability and nitrate levels. Adapting farming practices to respond to these risks requires major investment, which threatens the livelihoods of family farmers who can’t afford such expenditure. With the support of the Danone Ecosystem Fund, Evian, the Communauté de Communes du Pays d’Evian and SICA Terragr’Eau Methanisation, the Terragr’eau project is building a biodigester to turn cattle manure and organic waste from the municipalities into biogas for Evian city and organic compost for fertilising local land. A dedicated cooperative of farmers manage the compost spreading operation, which will reduce fertiliser costs and support sustainable agricultural development.

This project fosters the sustainability of local family farming. By monitoring the quality of drinking water, it also avoids the use of water purification treatments for rural communities and promotes local development. Evian builds awareness of the importance of nitrate management and water quality and promote rural livelihoods in the Evian watershed. The project promotes sustainable farming practices in the region and contributes to reducing nitrates in agriculture, protecting the long-term quality of water.