"Flowering Meadows" is a recently coined term that both designates the first result-based agri-environmental measure and a contest of agri-ecological excellence on hay meadows and pastures, which were introduced in France in 2007. This contest was initially created as a field test for the implementation of the Flowering Meadows measure in the Bauges Massif (Northern Alps). It resulted from a request made to a team of INRA researchers by the Natural Regional Park: “how can the ecological qualities of the land and the qualities of local products be reconciled?” Given the success of local contests among participants and their burgeoning popularity in the media, the Flowering Meadows scaled up to becoming a national competition between Nature Parks in 2010. Eventually, it started spreading throughout France in 2014, when the Ministry of Agriculture included it into the famous “Concours Général Agricole” (Paris Agricultural Show). Various socio-economic stakeholders supported the development process analysed in this case study. It has triggered a significant change in the way of taking grasslands into account as a valuable fodder and biodiversity resource in policy making as well as in farm management. Based on an in-depth investigation, this retrospective study was carried out conjointly by a team from the Science for Action and Development division and the ASIRPA unit in compliance with the ASIRPA method standards (www.inra.fr/asirpa). The “Flowering Meadows” case study shows the congruence between a collaborative research programme and public action aimed at biodiversity conservation on grasslands. Drawing on the analysis of the congruence of socio-technical trajectories, the study sheds light on the impacts resulting from the outcomes of major research contributions. These impacts are assessed in various ways. Firstly, the relationship between farmers and the State shifted from management prescriptions to a resultbased commi ent. This was coupled with the incorporation of nonherbaceous vegetation into the definition of the ‘Utilised agricultural area’. Secondly, the Flowering Meadows competition was set on the political agenda and became one of the exemplary initiatives of the “agro-ecological project for France”. This demonstrated a change in the relationship between agriculture and ecology. Finally, livestock farmers that were considered as underperforming by their peers and polluters by society are now recognised and awarded as “producers of quality products and biodiversity’ thanks to this competition of professional excellence.