Ecological agricultural transition: the passion to develop a new, more sustainable agriculture.

Developing a sustainable and transferable agricultural model.

From a family that was distant from the agricultural world, Sébastien quickly knew that he wanted to become a farmer. It is an unprecedented journey that began with studies in agricultural production and machinery, followed by a BTS in technical sales. In order to finance his installation, he first partnered with a construction company, then gradually built up his farm by acquiring available plots. Today, he operates 80 hectares of cereal crops (soft wheat, buckwheat, rapeseed…) and 100 hectares of meadows dedicated to hay production.

Passionate about his job, Sébastien shares his enthusiasm: participating in feeding citizens and developing new ways of working the land. The farm develops techniques for simplified land cultivation and is equipped with tools to limit inputs and vary seeds. He is also strongly convinced that agriculture has a place in the energy transition.

A project of agrovoltaics for the production of fodder and cereals

From the initiation of the project, we worked with the Chamber of Agriculture of Haute-Vienne and the developer to design a project around their agricultural project and my crops.

“We agreed to install an innovative photovoltaic technology based on a tracking system that follows the sun’s path and maximizes renewable electricity production, while taking into account the size of my agricultural equipment and the dimensions of my crop production. The spacing between the photovoltaic structures and their height were thus adjusted to my needs.”

Long-term agricultural monitoring

From the commissioning of the project, the Chamber of Agriculture and the developer will jointly ensure monitoring to measure the agronomic, technical, economic, and energy-related results of this new installation in France. The photovoltaic structures will bring benefits during periods of high drought, which should vary from one crop to another. Thus, crop rotations will be adapted by choosing those that are best suited to the soil and climatic conditions of the plots.

“The whole system will allow me to maintain the production of fodder and cereals on these lands in Haute-Vienne, to preserve the financial balance of my farm and thus develop a sustainable and transferable agricultural model.”

Sébastien, 35 years old, arable crop farmer in Peyrilhac.