Diversity in pig farmers' logic in Corsica : approach of the diversity in famers' logics

Pig farmers in Corsica show a specialisation including farm transformation into pork cuts and farm sales. They reflect however differently on their perspectives. Our objective is to represent the diversity of the rationalities of the Corsican pig farmers, for which we use the farming styles approach. A field survey of semi-structured interviews was held with 20 breeder-processor pig producers and six experts. The farmers were chosen for their location, their expressivity and their position toward a PDO-project. The interviews were transcribed and analysed by a principle factor analysis (in SPSS). The study shows a regional style of farming: an eco-cultural farming system, with a logic based on seasonal production and transformation, and subtle, micro-regional distinctions. Within this style two dimensions explain the farmers’ diversity: (i) the orientation on collective action, focussed specifically on the PDO / herd book project, and (ii) the incorporation of technology in the farming system