Perennial biomass crop cultivation and its territorial patterns A case-study of miscanthus in Côte-d'Or (Burgundy, France)

The cultivation of miscanthus, a new agricultural crop used in the production of energy and biomaterial, is a potential competitor for agricultural land use. Modelling approaches are therefore needed to predict the spatial patterns of changing land use throughout a territory. Given the lack of information about how crop location is determined within the territory, a detailed understanding of farmers' choices is a prerequisite for the construction of such models. This paper presents the results of a study involving ten farmers; it shows the complexity of their decision-making processes and the diversity of practices in crop location.