Résumé
This work presents an overview of rice production in Camargue, France. It is a synthesis of diverse works realized in different specializations. So Camargue land used was established by the concatenation of diverse map previously obtained. Data land used coming from three institutions: the natural reserve of Camargue, the syndicate of the Camargue Gardoise and from numerical analysis of satellite views. Economic data were kindly offer from the National Interprofessional Service for Cereal (ONIC). Information concerning rice cultural practices results from the Centre Français du Riz (CFR) and from INRA. All these data allowed us to confirm the relative stabilization of the large natural areas. It seems to be established for some years a balance between agriculture and environmental protection. Despite its fragility, the rice crop continues to occupy a central and dominating situation in the Camargue agriculture (20000 ha), because of its necessity for soil desalination with the aim for a dry cereal crop production. Towards their surface and towards the European context, the future of the agricultural lands fallow should play a dominating role in the evolution of the Camargue landscape. This complimentarily of the rice growing and the wet natural environment participates to the rice crop development based on a valorisation of the image of the wild Camargue which plays an important role for population impact. This approach of data treatment, integrated into the geographic information system to be confirmed a well adapted tool for a better knowledge and understand the evolutions of the Camargue area and to give elements of evaluation of the rice agriculture component. (Résumé d'auteur)