Publish at March 13 2024 Updated March 13 2024
The question of livestock farming is a thorny one: we know that it is one of the most polluting agricultural activities, and yet, despite certain dietary changes, the majority of the population remains omnivorous and has no qualms about consuming meat products. Not to mention the fact that many farms rely on livestock production as a source of income. So how can we think differently? Is it possible to do so?
The Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (INRAE) (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment) has attempted to provide some food for thought through a board game available free of charge by printing out the game board, counters and cards. The idea is to get farmers already in the field, or students, to play on the agricultural question. A game is played by 3 to 7 players per table and a facilitator.
In the first phase of the game, each player chooses a role in the construction of the Barn. Each player then takes the pieces related to his or her field, and the turns are followed as follows: plots, animals and infrastructure, market, labor and employment, inputs, environment and climate, social and cultural issues. The player will make a proposal based on his or her best knowledge of the subject, and the whole thing will be discussed with the others around the table. The positive and negative effects of each decision should be noted. If there is no consensus, the player responsible for the area decides.
The second phase of the game involves adapting the Barn to an external event. The event can be chosen at random from a number of different ones proposed by the game, or it can be chosen by the facilitator. Based on this upheaval, the group of players modifies the pieces that no longer correspond to the new reality. They have to identify what has had to change. Then, in plenary, the players review the game, the changes, the content of the discussions, the reflections, etc.
Learn more about this training
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