AVIBIO : une methode et un outil pour évaluer la durabilité des filières avicoles biologiques

The French organic poultry sector is facing new challenges relating to contexts at different geographical scales: global, European and national, including specificities of each production region. In order to evaluate what is required to meet the increasing demand for organic poultry, while moving towards sustainable production, a method and a tool to assess sustainability at the production chain scale was carried out within the framework AVIBIO project. Four regions were studied: Bretagne and Rhône-Alpes for eggs, Pays de la Loire and Aquitaine for chickens. A participative approach was undertaken in order to promote exchange between the various players who are involved directly or indirectly in the production chain (production organizations, farmers, professional unions, researchers, local authorities, consumers, etc.). For each sustainability component (economic, environmental and social), indicators were fixed based on criteria which refer to the principles corresponding to the stakeholders' representations of sustainable development. A scoring scale was attributed to each indicator: high scores corresponding to the objectives being met. Scores were added per criteria and principle for each component. For the four regions, the final evaluation highlighted five ways of improvement and serves as a decision-making tool for the different stakeholders. The evaluating tool connected with AVIBIO was implemented through both an Excel® file and a User's Guide, each indicator being documented. The tool and guide are downloadable from the web page of AVIBIO within the website of RMT DévAB (www.devab.org/AVIBI