Objectives

Presentation of the project

Mistigation is a national research project on miscanthus, a perennial herbaceous plant originating from Asia et studied at INRAE. 

Objectives of the project

Lifting several barriers related to ecosystem services

• at the level of local communities
• in terms of crop functioning and plant breeding

Key elements of the project

• Total cost: 518.6 K€
• ADEME support: 251.4 K€
• + 2 PhD co-funded by INRAE and Haut-de-France region
• Duration : 3 years from 2023 to 2025
• Location: Mainly in Haut-de-France 

What is an ecosystem service? 

An ecosystem service refers to an ecological function or a component of an agricultural ecosystem—defined by the soil-cultivated plant system—from which humans derive benefits that enhance their well-being.

Few examples

Hedge plantations to prevent soil erosion, the use of nitrate-free crops in drinking water catchment areas to preserve water quality, the rehabilitation of polluted soils through the use of adapted crops, and the protection of residential areas via buffer zones with specific untreated crops are a few examples of ecosystem services.

The cultivation of miscanthus for biomass production and the provision of ecosystem services

The cultivation of miscanthus began in the 2000s in France. This perennial crop can produce a significant amount biomass while recycling nitrates it requires. It does not require pesticides, except for the use of a herbicide during the crop establishment phase.