Despite broad consensus on the harmful effects of intensive pesticide use, extensive research into alternative practices and three successive national Ecophyto institutional plans, the agroecology transition is struggling to gain momentum. It is now clear that a significant reduction in pesticides can only be achieved through a systemic transformation of agro-socio-ecosystems, integrating the specific characteristics of each territory. In addition, this transition will lead to a diversification of agricultural systems and practices, making it necessary to take into account the plurality of approaches that will emerge.
GOALS
The Hotspot Imagine Agroecology is a transdisciplinary action research project that aims to support the agroecological transition of territories by creating spaces for exchange between various actors, in a collaborative and multi-stakeholder territorial dynamic. The project is based on several assumptions :
Representations play a central role in activating transitions.
It is relevant to work collectively on trajectories of change.
The territorial scale is appropriate as a scale for action and collective dialogue motivated by an attachment to the territory.
Designed in collaboration with stakeholders from the agricultural sector and local authorities, these workshops aim to promote dialogue between stakeholders and collective learning. We will explore various topics related to agriculture, living organisms, food and analyze how these exchanges can bring about "shifts in imagination" - that is, changes in perceptions, values and practices. The goal is to encourage new ways of thinking that could lead to the emergence of sustainable, desirable and collectively constructed agroecological trajectories.
A key challenge will be to analyze the dynamics at work in the workshops. The aim will be to understand the effects on representations, knowledge and even practices, depending on the themes, formats and participants in the workshops. The project will pay particular attention to the cognitive mechanisms that facilitate or hinder change, ensuring that a diverse range of audiences are included, including those rarely involved in this type of initiative.
Beyond the workshops themselves, the collective production of deliverables will be an important lever for continuing the exchanges. The results will be integrated into a broader, forward-looking and collaborative reflection with local authorities in order to support territorialized scenarios for agroecological transition.
METHODOLOGY
We use a participatory methodology aimed at changing these perceptions, based on interactive thematic workshops.
The project is divided into three phases :
Setting up the workshops, involving stakeholders from the agricultural sector and local authorities in order to define the most relevant themes and formats through dialogue.
Running the workshops, encouraging collective reflection and the sharing of perceptions using a variety of tools. The challenge will be to ensure the participation of as many people as possible and a diverse range of stakeholders in order to enrich the discussions.
Inclusion of the workshops in local authority strategies and sharing of the outputs of the discussions, mobilizing decision-makers from the agricultural world in particular to ensure that the workshops are taken on board and put into action.
Participatory workshops : a lever for linking representations, networks and agroecological transition
Participatory workshops are a central tool of the Hotspot Imagine Agroecology.
The literature suggests that these mechanisms can promote collective learning, the co-production of knowledge and the emergence of innovations on targeted agricultural and territorial issues (Ørngreen, 2017). From an action research perspective, these workshops can provide access to social, territorial and symbolic dimensions that are often inaccessible through other methods. By bringing together farmers, researchers, advisors and community representatives, they facilitate the circulation of knowledge and the shared construction of alternative visions, breaking with top-down approaches to agricultural innovation (Jackson-Smith et al., 2021; Lacombe et al., 2018).
These approaches are similar to ORB (Outreach and Relationship Building) approaches, which focus on transforming representations and behaviors through the development of trusting relationships between stakeholders (Grili, 2019). We believe that this type of method could be particularly well suited to the complex challenges of agroecological transition, such as reducing inputs, diversifying agricultural systems and renewing the connection to living things. The literature shows that these approaches can help alternatives emerge by highlighting other ways of acting, thinking and inhabiting agricultural areas (Abric, 1994; Gosnell et al., 2019).
A methodological foundation based on previous experiences
The Hotspot Imagine Agroecology project draws on feedback from recent workshops, particularly those conducted as part of the TRAVERSÉES project (Robert et al., 2024). Three multi-stakeholder workshops were conducted using a territorial model in which simulated practice trajectories respond to multiple territorial levers (Bourceret et al. 2024). Participants worked on contrasting agricultural trajectories and associated territorial levers. The results, combined with the initiatives already undertaken by the Rouen-Normandy Conurbation, will feed into the design of the workshops in the Hotspot Imagine Agroecology.
A focus on inclusion and diversity
Finally, particular attention is paid to the diversity of the audiences involved. The challenge is to create broader, inclusive spaces for dialogue.
KEY STEPS
The Hotspot Imagine Agroecology project began in March 2025, will run for four years and is being rolled out in four main phases.
Step 1
YEAR 1
Building workshops with local stakeholders to define innovative formats and themes tailored to our objectives.
Step 2
YEARS 2 AND 3
Facilitation of participatory workshops and analysis of their dynamics and effects.
Step 3
YEARS 3 AND 4
Development of a collective deliverable based on discussions, aimed at extending the reflection process across the territory.
Step 4
YEAR 4
Integration of results into regional strategies and mobilization of decision-makers to promote ownership and implementation of the identified approaches.
PROGRESS
We are currently engaged in the first stage, which focuses on co-developing workshops with agricultural and regional stakeholders, ensuring that they are firmly rooted in the local community. The aim of this phase is to engage in dialogue with a diverse range of agricultural stakeholders in order to better identify the issues, expectations and priority topics for the workshops. Several key initiatives were launched between March and June 2025 :
2025/03/21
Organization of the kick-off meeting in Rouen, bringing together a diverse range of non-academic stakeholders. The day was divided into two parts : a presentation of the project, followed by a collaborative workshop focusing on the objectives and formats of future participatory workshops.
2025/03 - 2025/08
As part of the internships of Margaux ADER (M2, Cognitive Sciences) and Marthe BOISSIER (M1, Geography), a series of interviews with farmers was conducted. These interviews aimed to identify with them the relevant territories, priority themes and partners to involve. The surveys were conducted in pairs, combining the approaches of their respective disciplines.
2025/04 - in progress
Start of Elliot MEUNIER's PhD, entitled "Links to living organisms and agroecological practices among farmers : understanding and taking action." His work begins with a review of the literature on participatory workshops, which will inform the methodological design of future workshops, particularly those focusing on the relationship with living organisms.
12 and 06/13/2025
Organization of field visits to Rouen, combining a progress meeting with non-academic partners, visits to several farms and meetings with associations to expand the network of partners, fuel discussions and strengthen ties with the region.
Corinne ROBERT is a research director at INRAE and a professor at the École normale supérieure. A specialist in the interactions between ecological dynamics, territories and societies, she develops interdisciplinary approaches at the interface between environmental sciences and social sciences. Her research focuses in particular on the agroecological transition of territories. As project leader, she is responsible for the scientific design, overall coordination and consistency of the research work. She ensures the articulation between knowledge production, territorial partnerships and the promotion of results, with a view to action research.
"I am very enthusiastic about developing this project with Rouen-Normandy Conurbation, focusing on participatory approaches to the agroecological transition of territories. The opportunity to experiment with different workshop formats with a diverse range of actors seems particularly stimulating to me, both in terms of supporting the dynamics of transition and nurturing a lively and collective action research approach." Corinne ROBERT
Non-academic Project Leader
Mathias ADER is Director of Environmental Transition at Rouen-Normandy Conurbation. He is responsible for implementing metropolitan actions relating to the preservation of natural environments and biodiversity, as well as the transition of agricultural and food systems, particularly through the Territorial Food Project (PAT). As co-project leader, his involvement from the outset has been crucial in integrating the specific challenges of the region and the priorities of the metropolitan area. He ensures that the project is closely linked to academic research and public action, contributing his field expertise, detailed knowledge of regional dynamics and an operational vision that promotes sustainability and the appropriation of results by local actors.
Margaux ADER is a research engineer at the École normale supérieure. Trained in cognitive science, she is responsible for designing and implementing the project's consultation mechanisms, through the organization of participatory workshops and interviews with agricultural and regional stakeholders.
Elliot MEUNIER is a doctoral student in environmental psychology. He is developing research on farmers' connection to living things and the link with agroecological practices. In this context, he is supervised by Oscar NAVARRO (University of Nîmes) and Corinne ROBERT (INRAE and ENS-PSL). His work is also rooted in action research through workshops with agricultural stakeholders in Normandy on the connection to living things as part of the Hotspot Imagine Agroecology project.
PARTNERSHIPS
Rouen-Normandy Conurbation
Agathe COLLEONY is a research officer at Rouen-Normandy Conurbation. She supports the implementation of metropolitan public policies by applying approaches from behavioral sciences. Trained in conservation sciences, she works in particular on biodiversity issues and the relationship between humans and nature at the territorial level, with a view to informing and strengthening local public action.
As part of this research project, she contributes more specifically to the participatory aspects, supporting the mobilization of local stakeholders and citizens. Her role is to promote the co-construction of research actions and strengthen the links between scientific knowledge, field practices and territorial policies.
Fabrice BOISSIER is Deputy Director General at Rouen-Normandy Conurbation, responsible in particular for urban planning, housing and steering the ecological transition. He was involved in the initialization of the project, contributing to its structuring and the definition of its strategic orientations. As a member of the monitoring committee, he supports the project throughout its development, providing strategic support and a cross-functional perspective. His involvement helps to strengthen the project's coherence and its alignment with regional priorities and metropolitan public policies.
UniLaSalle
Karine LAVAL is Director of Research, Development and Innovation at UniLaSalle. She contributes to this project through her commitment to research conducted in close collaboration with local stakeholders and her experience in developing partnerships between academic institutions and the agricultural sector.
Cailly-Aubette-Robec Drainage Basins Union
Pierre-Henri CLERGEOT is project manager for the protection of water catchment areas at the Cailly-Aubette-Robec Watershed Authority. He provides essential expertise on water management issues and their links to agricultural practices at the regional level.
Normandy Chambers of Agriculture
Charlotte JOULIA is a crop advisor at the Seine-Maritime Chamber of Agriculture. This collaboration provides a direct link with farmers in the Seine-Maritime region and allows for careful consideration of issues specific to the area.
The follow-up committee is composed of five members, in addition to the project leaders and the project engineer. It provides a forum for discussion and reflection, enabling the project to be monitored and, where necessary, its direction to be adjusted. The committee meets twice a year and brings together a variety of complementary stakeholders involved in discussions on the project's challenges, such as representatives from watershed associations, the Chamber of Agriculture, Rouen-Normandy Conurbation and UniLaSalle University.
The Master's in Sustainability Science, launched in 2024 at Université PSL, is a transdisciplinary program dedicated to supporting socio-ecological transformations. It emphasizes research conducted in close collaboration with non-academic actors and focused on practical action. Each year, Master's students contribute to transdisciplinary group projects, known as TRANSFORM projects. One of these projects is linked to the Imagine Agroecology Hotspot. This year, students focused on the representation of pesticides among various stakeholders in the agricultural sector in Normandy.
