PhD Defence

Julia Denantes will defend her PhD in front of the following jury:

• Benoit Dedieu (INRAE), referee
• Marianne Lefebvre (Université Angers), referee
• Douadia Bougherara (INRAE), examinator
• Cathie Laroche-Dupraz (Institut Agro Rennes-Angers), examinator
• Aude Ridier (Institut Agro Rennes-Angers), supervisor
• Matthieu Carof (Institut Agro Rennes-Angers), co-supervisor
• Carole Ropars-Collet (Institut Agro Rennes-Angers), co-supervisor
• Anne-Lise Jacquot (Institut Agro Rennes-Angers), guest

Abstract

This PhD thesis investigates the role of work in the decision to reduce pesticide use on dairy farms in Brittany. Work is studied under three dimensions: work organization, skills and knowledge and physical, and mental workload. Different types of alternative farming practices can be implemented to replace pesticide use. Semi-structured interviews with experts of the sector are conducted, feeding the construction of a questionnaire containing a choice experiment. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of around one hundred dairy farmers in Brittany. The results indicate that the work dimensions studied limit pesticide use reduction, with distinct impacts depending on the work dimensions and alternative practices considered. We focus on outsourcing as a potential solution for removing some constraints related to these work dimensions. In the Ecophyto plans, not every work dimension studied here is addressed. Our results show that it is necessary to take them into account on dairy farms in Brittany if the objectives set by these plans are to be achieved.