A viability model of farming systems, the case of French West Indies

One the aims of the multidisciplinary research project Gaia-Trop on viability and adaptive management of small tropical islands agro-systems, was to devise a new model of farm system using tools of the mathematical viability theory. It has been constructed in close cooperation with French West Indies farmers to take into account their needs and expectations. The main emerging points focused on soil degradation, pest disease and climatic risks and economic constraints. A specific software is being developed for the viability calculus that will be made available for this community. We present first insights of this model and results obtained for only one parcel and without taking uncertainties at this stage. lt highlights that the objective of restoring the soil quality in the long term can be unstainable for farmers facing with financial constraints. The issue of sharing the costs of the agro-ecological transition must be asked.