The first National Workshop in France was organised by the Institut de l’Élevage (IDELE) and took place in Coursegoules, France, on 6 November 2025. The event brought together livestock farmers, technicians, engineers, and territorial stakeholders to explore the challenges and opportunities for the digital transition of extensive livestock farming in French rangeland areas, with a particular focus on the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region.
The workshop aimed to identify the main needs, priorities, and barriers faced by pastoral livestock systems, while strengthening dialogue among actors involved in extensive ruminant farming. In a first step, members of the GO PEI operational group PACAPIT shared their experiences and needs, which were later complemented and discussed during a participatory workshop involving 27 participants, including 20 livestock farmers , mainly from the meat sheep and cattle sectors — alongside technicians, engineers, and representatives from regional natural park management.
Participants identified several priority areas where innovation and digital tools could better support livestock farmers operating in pastoral environments. Among the most pressing needs were flock and livestock protection dog locating and monitoring systems, improved surveillance of pastoral infrastructures such as paddocks, fences, and water points, and solutions to facilitate animal counting in large flocks.
The workshop also explored ways to facilitate the shared use and management of rangeland areas among different stakeholders, including livestock farmers, forestry services, hunters, tourists, and recreational users. Participants expressed concerns about the degradation of pastoral lands and infrastructures, together with increasing pressures caused by tourism, quad bikes, and motorcycles in grazing areas. Farmers highlighted the need to improve awareness among visitors regarding pastoral practices and the role of livestock protection dogs, while also signalling the presence of flocks in shared landscapes.
They also stressed the importance of increasing recognition of farmers’ contribution to maintaining open landscapes, controlling shrub encroachment, and preserving biodiversity-rich pastoral environments. Access to and shared management of water resources also emerged as a key concern, particularly under increasing climate pressures.
The insights gathered will contribute to the broader objectives of DIGI-Rangeland, supporting knowledge exchange and the uptake of Digital and Technological Innovations (DTI) that respond to real needs on the ground. By fostering collaboration between farmers, researchers, advisors, and territorial actors, the project aims to strengthen the sustainability, resilience, and long-term viability of Europe’s rangeland livestock systems.
