The association La Smalah is a 2025 Award Winner of the Fondation setec Annual Campaign, focused on the theme “Implementing an agroecological transition to support food self‑sufficiency.”
The project led by the association is called “L’Airial du Tastot,” a food‑focused third place located in Pontenx‑les‑Forges, within the Mimizan inter‑municipal area.
About L’Airial du Tastot
L’Airial du Tastot is an agricultural, educational and social space designed to bring agriculture back to the heart of the village, train future professionals, and raise awareness among local residents about today’s food and agricultural challenges.
Context
Located in the center of the village, L’Airial du Tastot combines organic agricultural production, vocational training, and cultural and food‑related outreach activities.
The project addresses two major challenges identified in the Landes region:
- 90% of local agricultural production is exported, while school canteens struggle to source food from local producers.
- The number of farms is steadily declining, due to the lack of an attractive and sustainable agricultural model.
The project also has a strong heritage dimension, as an airial is a land‑use structure typical of the Landes de Gascogne, historically linked to agro‑pastoral practices.
Project Objectives
The project pursues three main objectives:
Re‑establish local agricultural activity
- Organic vegetable production on 3 hectares
- Supply of the village school canteen through an annual contractual agreement
Train and support
- Delivery of certified training courses (CQP Vegetable Production Agent) in partnership with the MFR of Aire‑sur‑l’Adour
- Support for new farmers, both professionally and personally
Raise awareness and share knowledge
- Educational activities, workshops, farm visits and conferences focused on sustainable food systems
- Outreach activities involving residents, schools, local elected officials and community organizations
- Promotion of the site’s agricultural heritage
A Structuring Outreach Component
Support from the Fondation setec is dedicated to strengthening the outreach and mediation component, which is essential to embedding the project in local life. This includes in particular:
- Design of an outreach program: cooking workshops, gleaning activities, farm visits and conferences
- Operation of an educational garden in partnership with the school of Pontenx‑les‑Forges
- Organization of the third edition of the “Trois Jours de la Technique Paysanne” in spring 2026
- Regular opening of the site to the public throughout the year, functioning as an open farm
Expected Impacts
Environmental
- Development of organic market gardening
- Relocalization of food production
- Practical, hands‑on environmental awareness
Social
- Professional integration through agriculture
- Unconditional public access to the site
- Comprehensive support for new farmers
Societal
- Improved understanding of the agri‑food system
- Transmission of agricultural and technical know‑how
- Reclaiming rural heritage in the service of a collective project
Role of the Fondation setec
The Fondation setec supports La Smalah with a grant of €25,000, specifically to strengthen and structure outreach and mediation activities.
The project is sponsored by Mohamad El Hajj Chehade, Research Engineer at setec Terrasol.