Viabilité des microfermes maraîchères biologiques. Une étude inductive combinant méthodes qualitatives et modélisation.

In the context of the environmental and social challenges of the Anthropocene, microfarms are organic market gardens which are questioning the principles of agricultural modernisation. They are characterised by a high level of crop diversity on small acreages, low motorisation, holistic ecological approach and marketing through short supply chains. My PhD work examined the viability of these atypical farming systems which are raising an increasing interest in industrialised countries. It was based on the study of 20 cases in rural Northern France and 10 cases in the urban context of London. An inductive approach was carried out combining qualitative analysis of interviews with farmers and quantitative modelling based on field data.A conceptual framework was developed to analyse farmers’ strategic choices in the light of their life project embracing various aspirations where ethics and subjectivity played a central role. The fulfilment of these aspirations is determinant for the viability of these fams. A stochastic simulation model of income and workload was created to explore the chances of economic viability of contrasted microfarms scenarios integrating technical, commercial and investment strategies. Simulations were run for the French and London context and were discussed with stakeholders. Although viability chances vary among scenarios, this work shows that microfarms can be viable.