Co-design methodology : design process of an innovative experimental orchard in Southern France, Drôme

Abstract

Fruit production is among the crops using the most pesticides, affecting both the quality of the environment and human health. In this context, the INRA Gotheron experimental station (Drôme, France) leads a project to test an innovative low-input orchard to be managed without any pesticide (even organic) to foster ecosystem services, especially pest suppression. To overcome the lack of hindsight and experiences on innovative perennial agroecosystems, the expertise of stakeholders from diverse occupational categories was mobilised in a workshop divided into four sessions. Their analysis aimed to understand how ideas were constructed during the work sessions and how the workshop output could be reused to design a prototype to be planted. Firstly, prototypes differed in general design and components proposed. Secondly, exchanges more than outputs were source of interest for participants. Surprisingly, there was flexibility among participants’ roles, especially concerning facilitation. In addition, the spatial layout used in the session was important as an intermediary object, to refocus participants on the discussion. Lastly, the ideas proposed during the workshop, were either adopted, transformed (evolved proposals), bypassed (alternative proposals), or merely rejected. This work opens doors for further research on agroecological design, fields of expertise to gather into co-design workshops, animation technics and finally the production of new knowledge thanks to collective knowledge sharing.