Sustainable agriculture
that respects
the earth

Vincent Gérard’s Testimonial

👨‍🌾 Can you introduce your farm and your approach, Vincent?

My name is Vincent Gérard, and I’m a farmer in Champignol-lez-Mondeville, in the Aube region. I run a mixed cereal and vineyard farm that has been in my family for three generations. In 2020, I made the shift to regenerative agriculture.

🚜 Can you tell us about your terroir and how it affects your crops? How have you adapted your farming practices?

In the Aube, we face a challenging pedoclimatic context, with very shallow clay-limestone soils, areas of hydromorphy (soils that show physical signs of regular water saturation, usually in winter), and clay content exceeding 50%. These conditions make the soil compact and hard after rain, and very dry during heatwaves, making farming more difficult.
To improve adaptability and resilience, I’ve implemented sustainable practices: maintaining maximum soil cover and using 100% no-till farming. Over the past four years, I’ve seen a slight increase in organic matter, now reaching 5%. That’s a positive sign!

🌿 Why are you involved in the sustainable farming initiative Sowing Good Sense?

My main motivation for joining a sustainable farming contract is to add value to our work and ensure fair compensation. I’m proud of my profession, even if it sometimes means working up to 80 hours a week.

🚀 What is your ambition as a farmer committed to regenerative agriculture?

My goal is to make our soils more fertile and to produce in a sustainable way. I truly believe regenerative agriculture can improve soil health, and I’m determined to keep moving forward.

🌱 What does being a “Sower of Good Sense” mean to you?

Being a “Sower of Good Sense” means continuing to observe, never giving up, because we love what we do! Even on difficult soils, we can achieve great things!

Gaël Grosmaire’s Testimonial

👨‍🌾 Can you introduce your farm and your approach, Gaël?

I’m Gaël Grosmaire, a farmer in Brienne-la-Vieille, in the Aube region. I manage a 350-hectare farm focused on cereals and sugar beets. I work closely with a technician from Soufflet Agriculture. It’s a family-run farm — my father started over 50 years ago by conducting soil analyses, and our first priority has always been to respect the soil. The best method is to maintain living soil, rich in earthworms above all.

🚜 What farming practices have you implemented to improve soil fertility?

We try to reduce soil disturbance and avoid plowing whenever possible. Of course, we also pay attention to crop protection to adopt more environmentally friendly practices. Soil analyses help us apply organic amendments, because earthworms need organic matter to thrive.

🌿 Why did you choose to extend your crop rotations?

We’ve introduced new crops, such as protein peas and alfalfa, moving away from the traditional oilseed rape–wheat–barley rotation. Extending the rotation helps reduce pest and disease pressure and also improves soil structure. Protein peas, for example, naturally fix nitrogen, which means less need for purchased fertilizers.

🚀 What makes you proud in your work as a farmer?

I’m proud to have improved my soil and optimized my inputs. It’s about producing quality products and bringing satisfaction to the consumer.

🌱 What does being a “Sower of Good Sense” mean to you?

Common sense has always guided my life as a farmer. Being a “Sower of Good Sense” came naturally.