This is an important moment for the students of the Vert d’Azur campus, who have chosen the optional Citizen Engagement unit. Since September, they have been working hard on their participation in the Salon de l’Agriculture, where they will go on February 27. “They filled out grant applications, defended the project in front of the establishment’s management, prepared the workshop, looked for hotels that fit within our budget…”list Sylvie Soave, agronomy teacher on campus and initiator of the project.
This year, his students looked at the problem of wool. “Today, it is a little valued product, the shepherds don’t really know what to do with it… However, it is there, on the sheep”introduces Inès. “Wool is a problem because no one wants to collect it. Now, associations are starting to form in this direction but, compared to the tons of wool produced by a flock of sheep, it remains anecdotal. Many farmers are therefore obliged to burn it, it’s a shame”adds Juliane, who herself wants to become a shepherdess.
Plants that protect themselves
With their classmates, they thought regarding several objects to make with wool: pins, trees of life, pompoms… before explaining how to use them in an agricultural activity. “We can make discs out of it to protect plants. Wool can be useful, it is not a by-product, it can be valued and become another source of income for farmers”finishes the young girl.
Last year, still under the leadership of Sylvie Soave, another group of students from Antibes presented a project at the Salon de l’Agriculture. “We planted seeds in balls of clay. These seeds gave birth to two different plants which help each other during their growth. Once the balls were buried underground, the two plants protected each other. We had selected seeds which can grow in any type of soil or in different climates because, at the Salon, people come from all over France. We called it the hailstones of mutual aid”says Louise.
This year once more, the small group received financial support from the association of members of the Order of Agricultural Merit. To reward her commitment, Sylvie Soave was also selected this year to be decorated with the medal of agricultural merit. Bravo to her!
