On Saturday 18 April, around thirty participants gathered in the Lauragais region for a cycling loop organised as part of the European Divinfood project and the GTIO-RG initiative. This day on the move, marked by conviviality and discovery, offered an opportunity to meet committed stakeholders working on cultivated biodiversity and local agricultural value chains.

A collective immersion in the field

Starting from Païs’en Bio (Biocoop in Castelnaudary), participants covered around 45 km by bike, with several stops at local producers and organisations. Although the tight schedule limited the number of visits, the route made it possible to explore a wide range of topics: legume crops, including lingot beans; agricultural diversification; seeds; organic farming; and the promotion of so-called NUC crops, meaning neglected and underutilised species and varieties such as chia or emmer wheat.

Direct exchanges with the speakers, known for both their commitment and their straightforward approach, were a highlight of the day. This itinerant format proved highly relevant for understanding complex issues in a concrete and engaging way, bringing together citizens, researchers and agricultural professionals.

A participatory approach at the heart of the project

Participants were invited to record their observations, reflections and questions in a route notebook handed out at the start. This tool is a key part of the Divinfood approach, as it makes it possible to collect everyone’s perceptions and insights beyond the informal discussions of the day.

What next? Continuing the momentum

This event is part of a broader process of reflection and co-construction. Two complementary follow-up activities are planned to deepen the topics covered:

• A webinar on Tuesday 5 May at 6:00 p.m., focusing in particular on varietal breeding, the challenges of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), and the organisation of the seed market.
  
• An in-person workshop on Tuesday 12 May in Castelnaudary, including lunch centred on lingot beans and participatory activities such as a mobile seed museum and foresight scenarios for 2040.
  

Participation in these next steps is strongly encouraged to extend the collective momentum initiated during the cycling loop.

Acknowledgements

The organisers warmly thank all participants for their involvement, as well as the speakers for their time and the quality of their exchanges.

Contact: dominique.desclaux@inrae.fr