INRA METAPROGRAMMES · The CLIMAGIE project has addressed the consequences of high ... Chemical Food Safety and Consumer Behaviour (AlimH) • Social Sciences, Agriculture and Food,

INRA METAPROGRAMMESAN INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENTIFIC

PROGRAMMING TOOL

PHILIPPE MAUGUIN, President of INRA

As a public targeted research organisation, INRA mobilises a wide spectrum of disciplinary research ranging from biological and ecological sciences, eco-nomic and social sciences, to the engineering sciences and biotechnologies.

This broad range of disciplines is an opportunity to address the complex social and scientific challenges facing food systems at the start of the 21st century: the need to achieve global food security in a context of nutritional transition; transform agricultural production systems to base performance on agro-ecolog-ical solutions and digital farming; ensure the provision of food that is healthy, sustainable and accessible to all; develop the sustainable management of ecosystem services by adapting to climate change; master new ‘-omic’ tools and their applications in biology.

This opportunity is contingent upon a skilful combination of disciplinary dynamics and interdisciplinary approaches. This requires an epistemological effort to build common research goals, such as agro-ecosys-tem services, or adaptation to climate change.

INRA took up this challenge in 2010 with the creation of its metaprogrammes: cross-cutting, cross-disci-plinary programmes in synergy with discipline-based initiatives led by the Institute’s research divisions. The Meta-omics and Microbial Ecosystems metaprogramme, for example, has driven several joint projects, involving biologists and mathematicians, which has provided cross-disciplinary insight and resulted in the development of the notion of the “pathobiome” – the study of pathogens in their microbial environment using a holistic approach to the ecology of health. The Adaptation of Agriculture and Forestry to Climate Change metaprogramme launched the LACCAVE project, which has developed interdisciplinary insight on this subject as it affects vines and wine-making and has given the issue widespread visibility in the scien-tific community and the wine trade and among the general public. These examples of our activities are just two among many: since their creation, metaprogrammes have led to over 300 projects.

I am pleased to present an overview of our metaprogrammes, an experience, and results, which will inspire us and create new research and partnership opportunities at the national and international level.

PREFACE

INTRODUCTIONMETAPROGRAMMES: A PROGRAMMING TOOL TO MEET STRATEGIC GOALSIn 2010, in synergy with its discipline-centred scientific divisions focused on exploring new scientific fron-tiers, INRA launched the creation of metaprogrammes – a programming tool for major objectives – aimed at streamlining research into a limited number of high-priority thematic areas. The complexity and scope of the scientific and social challenges facing agriculture, nutrition and the environment for the 21st century call for greater coordination in research efforts in order to produce pertinent knowledge using cross-dis-ciplinary, systemic and integrative approaches that are open to partnerships and international opportuni-ties. INRA metaprogrammes, developed in this context, are cross-cutting, medium- to long-term (>5 year) programmes on themes which are strategic to INRA policy:

• Adaptation of agriculture and forestry to climate change (ACCAF)

• Meta-omics and microbial ecosystems (MEM)

• Sustainable management of crop health (SMaCH)

• Integrated management of animal health (GISA)

• Diet impacts and determinants (DID’IT)

• Transitions to global food security (GloFoodS)

• Ecosystem services (EcoServ)

• Genomic selection (SelGen)

Likewise, in 2018, INRA began integrating its Organic Farming and Food (OF&F) research programme into the metaprogramme stream.

HOW DO METAPROGRAMMES WORK?Each metaprogramme is designed to combine disciplinary skills from several INRA divisions on a single cross-cutting objective. In practice, scientific staff are assigned to divisions, and metaprogrammes have operating credits and thesis grants which can be used to develop incentives for scientists, from financing for seminars or researcher schools to operational support for research projects. Metaprogrammes are also a source of proposals for identifying core competencies to develop in the framework of long-term recruit-ment at the Institute.

Overall, metaprogrammes are not intended to mobilise all scientific staff at INRA; metaprogrammes are complementary to the disciplinary dynamics of research divisions, which are indispensable in the long term for progress in skills and knowledge.

Governance of each metaprogramme is based on an internal steering committee and international scien-tific committee composed of experts from every discipline. The internal steering committee is led by a division head, under the supervision of a scientific director, who carries out an inter-division mission and ensures compatibility with division strategies. Two of the metaprogrammes also have a common stakehol-der committee.

A REVIEW AND REVISION PROCESS IN 2018From 2011 to 2017, over 900 scientists working for INRA research divisions were involved in metaprogramme events and projects. Over 300 projects were proposed and received support, for the most part involving researchers working in different disciplines.

After a few years in operation (between 3-6 years depending on the metaprogramme), INRA launched a review and revision process of the approach in order to provide any necessary changes. As part of this pro-cess, an international seminar * will be held in February 2018 to provide an outside look on this cross-disci-plinary programming experience, before conducting internal actions to adapt the themes and operational methods of these metaprogrammes.

* International Workshop on INRA’s Metaprogrammes (IWIM), Versailles, 1-2 February 2018.

CONTEXTAlthough agriculture and forestry may benefit in some areas (and at least in the short term) from the ongoing climate change, severe negative effects are forecasted. Knock-on effects are expected on agricultural yields, on water availability, on soils, on pressure from pests, on product quality, and on land use. In many regions, the vulnerability of human activities and ecosystems to climate change is going to become highly critical. Mitigation of climate change alone will not be sufficient. Therefore, adaptation is a key challenge. Adaptation strategies should go beyond incremental adaptation and breakthrough options should be considered to elaborate strategies for transformational adaptation. The performances and sustainability of joint adaptation and mitigation strategies should be assessed using multi-criteria approaches.

OBJECTIVESThe Adaptation of Agriculture and Forestry to Climate Change (ACCAF) metaprogramme aims to assess the combined effects of the different dimensions of climate change on agricultural activities and ecosystems; to elaborate adaptation strategies; and to assess their environmental and socio-economic sustainability and consequences, in coherence with the societal expectations voiced, for example at the 2015 Paris United Nations Climate Change Conference.

PRIORITIES • Assess and manage the risks and opportunities of climate change, and define strate-

gies aimed at anticipating and mitigating climate crises• Plan and develop scenarios for the impacts of climate change on agriculture and man-

aged ecosystems• Understand and control the main effects of climate change on biodiversity and its evo-

lution, as well as on the health of ecosystems, agro-systems and livestock• Genetically improve cultivated or domestic species and livestock, and strengthen the

resilience of cropping systems, production systems and production sectors• Develop innovative adaptation technologies compatible with reducing emissions and

increasing or maintaining greenhouse gas sinks.• Identify the costs and benefits of adaptation measures while considering various issues• Establish collective organisation systems that can strengthen the resilience of agricul-

ture and forestry to climate change

THE DISCIPLINES AND DIVISIONS CONCERNEDSince 2011, ACCAF has supported more than 100 units and over 300 researchers in 12 of INRA’s 13 divisions.

• Plant Biology and Breeding (BAP)

• Science for Food and Bioproduct Engineering (CEPIA)

• Environment and Agronomy (EA)

• Forest, Grassland and Freshwater Ecology (EFPA)

• Animal Genetics (GA)

• Applied Mathematics and Informatics (MIA)

• Microbiology and the Food Chain (MICA)

• Animal Physiology and Livestock Systems (PHASE)

• Animal Health (SA)

• Science for Action and Development (SAD)

• Social Sciences, Agriculture and Food, Rural Development and Environment (SAE2)

• Plant Health and Environment (SPE)

A wide range of disciplines is involved: agronomy, ecology, economics, ecophysiology, geosciences, mathematics, sociology, forestry and zootechnics.Interactions between climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem services are shared topics with other INRA metaprogrammes, such as EcoServ, SMaCH, GISA and GloFoodS prompting future joint research efforts.

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ACCAFPLURIDISCIPLINARITY IN SUPPORT TO ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

ADAPTATION OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY TO CLIMATE CHANGE

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BIODIVERSITY AS A SUPPORT FOR ADAPTATION: THE CASE OF SOWN GRASSLANDSThe CLIMAGIE project has addressed the consequences of high temperatures and droughts on the productivity (yield, regularity, quality) of sown grasslands, with a focus on the role of intra- and interspecific diversity as a resilience factor. New measurement and analytical tools were produced, as well as new simulation models. Results were also obtained regarding sustainable breeding schemes that may be led with either seed companies or directly with farmers.

COMBINING DIFFERENT OPTIONS IN A PLURIDISCIPLINARY WAY FOR THE ADAPTATION OF SECTORS TO CLIMATE-RELATED CHALLENGES: THE CASE OF VITICULTURE The LACCAVE project aimed at analysing the impacts of climate change on vine and wine production, and at identifying adaptation options for the French wine sector. A network of 23 labs implemented a pluridisciplinary approach to elaborate adaptation strategies combining various options and innovations all along the value chain. Very significant progress has been made, including on the role of consumers, and active dissemination of project results is ongoing.

EXAMPLES OF RESULTS

CONTEXTFood, food security and nutritional health are major public policy issues which have giv-en rise to a number of national and international research and public health initiatives in the past decades. Despite these initiatives, eating habits are all too often out of step with recommendations and the transformation of these recommendations into healthy habits.

OBJECTIVESTo rise to these challenges, the DID’IT metaprogramme seeks to create a multidisci-plinary scientific community within INRA, and to forge partnerships in order to better inform public policy makers and economic players on how food habits are formed, how to influence them, their impact on health and well-being, and their environmental foot-print.

PRIORITIES• Expand knowledge of dietary practices in a context of abundant food supply,

excessive intake of calories and animal-based products, and quality inequality within populations

• Understand the role of dietary practices in over-consumption and the rise of obesity worldwide, in nutritional deficiencies, and their impact on sustainability

• Find ways to change dietary practices for the better, in terms of health and sustainability

• Gain a better understanding of the determinants of food supply and the forces behind them that can be tapped into

• Put the right tools in place to orient public and private policies toward improving health and well-being among populations, and preserving the environment

THE DISCIPLINES AND DIVISIONS CONCERNEDThe DID’IT metaprogramme brings together researchers from 4 INRA divisions:

• Nutrition, Chemical Food Safety and Consumer Behaviour (AlimH)




The disciplines involved are physiology, nutrition, psychology, behaviour, epidemiology, food science & technology, economics, sociology, mathematics, informatics, environment science, ecology, agronomy, geography, neurosciences.

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DID’ITORIENTING DIETARY PRACTICES AND EATING HABITS TOWARDS HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

DIET IMPACTS AND DETERMINANTS: INTERACTIONS AND TRANSITIONS

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ASSESSING NUTRITIONAL POLICIES: THE SODA TAXMethods developed in structural econometrics make it possible to carry out ex-ante assessments of nutritional policies taking into account reactions of firms (industry and distribution) as well as consumers. The impact of taxes on soft drinks was examined. In the case of the “soda tax” in France, retail prices appeared to increase more than the amount of the tax. The tax therefore does not have a significant impact on sugar consumption because it is designed to raise revenue for the state rather than limit sugar consumption from beverages.

A WHOLE-DIET APPROACH TO TRANSLATE NUTRITIONAL AND FOOD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS INTO DIETARY GUIDELINESDietary guidelines are important to help consumers make healthy food choices. Existing dietary guidelines do not explicitly take into account the different food safety hazards, especially those associated with the presence of contaminants in the food chain. Research funded by the metaprogramme has modelled a whole diet taking into account both nutritional and food safety requirements. Optimizing the diet resulted in an increase in the level of its toxic components, particularly inorganic contaminants. Other studies are necessary to model the diet at an individual level.

EXAMPLES OF RESULTS

THE DISCIPLINES AND DIVISIONS CONCERNEDThe EcoServ metaprogramme facilitates cooperation to construct multidisciplinary projects involving researchers from 10 different INRA divisions:











These projects cover the following disciplines: agronomy, ecology, zootechnics, mathematics, economics and human and social sciences.

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CONTEXTBorn in the 1970s and placed at the forefront of the international scene by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in the 2000s, the notion of “ecosystem service” is now widespread in scientific and political spheres. This notion questions the role and position of humans in these ecosystems. The notion still needs to be operationalised and requires a systemic approach based on integrating the viewpoints and interests of different actors and knowledge of biodiversity, ecosystems and services. Until now, preference was given to a focus on biodiversity and “natural” ecosystems. Because it manages a large proportion of continental ecosystems, agriculture plays a crucial role in this operationalisation. The EcoServ metaprogramme, which addresses the services rendered by continental ecosystems dependent on agricultural and forestry activities, has responded to this need by focusing on the management of agro-ecosystems and dealing with the issues of compromise and arbitration between different services.

OBJECTIVESIn response to these challenges, the EcoServ metaprogramme prefers a holistic approach based on cross-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder partnerships. This requires conceptual thinking around the notion of ecosystem services in a managed environment. As far as possible, spatial and temporal variables are explored at all levels, from the plot to a national territory and from a year to a century, in order to identify different scales for compromise and to take account of the dynamics and resilience of ecosystems.

PRIORITIES• Understand and model the functioning of agro-ecosystems at different spatial and

temporal scales in relation to the services provided • Quantify, map and evaluate the services rendered • Manage agro-ecosystems in order to optimise the services expected• Support public policies using multi-service and multi-stakeholder instruments

ECOSERVMANAGING AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS TO OPTIMISE THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY ADDRESSING THE ASSESSMENT OF SERVICES AND COMPROMISES BETWEEN THEM

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

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A SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE MANAGEMENT OF MULTIPLE AGRO-ECOSYSTEM SERVICES A conceptual framework has been built * which can operationalise the notion of ecosystem services in agricultural systems by associating the notions of ecosystem and social system in the context of a so-called socio-ecological approach. This enables dialogue between the disciplines of ecology, agronomy and the economic and social sciences. It is oriented towards the dynamic management of agricultural systems.

* A social–ecological approach to managing multiple agro-ecosystem services, Lescourret, Magda et al, Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2015, 14:68–75.

USING A NETWORK OF EXPERIMENTAL UNITS TO EVALUATE THE ROLES OF WOODED AREAS IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES An inventory of the availability of wooded areas in INRA’s units and experimental farms was performed using mapping data, surveys and field visits, in order to evaluate the feasibility, pertinence and usefulness of a network to study ecosystem services. The results revealed a very high potential, with a broad diversity of situations and staff that could be interested in such a project.

EXAMPLES OF RESULTS

THE DISCIPLINES AND DIVISIONS CONCERNEDThe GISA metaprogramme coordinates and supervises research teams from nine of INRA’s 13 divisions:










The following disciplines and forms of action to implement effective strategies are involved: genetics, physiology, nutrition, livestock systems, vaccination, diagnosis, medicines, plant-based treatments, economics, sociology.

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GISA

CONTEXTThe health of productive animals constitutes a multi-sector challenge – animal disease is a source of economic loss and environmental and social damage which can compromise public health. In this context, the GISA metaprogramme aims to provide targeted solutions based on a cross-disciplinary approach. The metaprogramme identifies four animal health and veterinary public health challenges: • Economic challenges, linked to a series of diseases with impact on the economic

stability of livestock farms, and which destabilise animal production sectors• Public health challenges related to zoonotic diseases, food hygiene and bacterial or

chemical contamination of the food chain as well as the development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics

• Environmental challenges linked to livestock waste• Challenges in animal welfare / farming ethics

OBJECTIVESGISA is built around 3 overlapping objectives:• Understanding the animal and its pathogens • Sustaining health from the farm to the production sector • Protecting people and regions.The GISA metaprogramme chooses to combine different levels of organisation of living organisms, the environment and the socio-economic activity of livestock farming in an integrative approach, in order to deliver integrated management expertise and strategies and their translation into operational techniques.

PRIORITIESThe three previously defined objectives are translated into six research priorities:• Control diseases in livestock farming• Predict, model and analyse outbreaks• Produce in a way that respects public health and the environment• Produce in a way that respects animals• Adapt health and welfare management in livestock farming to the constraints on glob-

al change• Understand stakeholder intentions and decisions in health management and predict

economic and social consequences

PROMOTING RESEARCH FOR ACTION IN A PERSPECTIVE OF INNOVATION AND SERVICES FOR ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND RELATED SECTORS

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ANIMAL HEALTH

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NETWORKING AND INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH ON ANTIBIOTICS The R2A2 network project was designed to bring together scientists from different disciplines as well as various stakeholders, from farmer organisations to public authorities, to build a shared vision of the global research needs to help reduce the use of antibiotics on farms, and prepare interdisciplinary research projects. Twelve one-day meetings were held in four years, with an average attendance of 39 people (2/3 scientists, 1/3 stakeholders). Various topics were addressed, that allowed networking and the design of at least 8 interdisciplinary research projects.

A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH FOR A BETTER MANAGEMENT OF MASTITIS AND METRITIS IN DAIRY FARMING The RUMINFLAME project (2013-2015) contributed to a better understanding of inflammatory diseases, more specifically mastitis and metritis in ruminants with the objective of improving their management.

The complementary expertise of 12 teams from 7 different INRA divisions allowed scientists to study the impact of herd management practices, nutrition and genetics on the inflammatory response of ruminants. Participation of professional organisations in the project allowed efficient dissemination of new knowledge to stakeholders in the dairy industry.

EXAMPLES OF RESULTS

THE DISCIPLINES AND DIVISIONS CONCERNEDGloFoodS potentially covers all of INRA’s research divisions and enhances ties with a few in particular:





GloFoodS mobilises the cross-disciplinary strengths of INRA and CIRAD to study food security from every angle. Combining research in agronomy, livestock systems, global modelling and land use changes, rural economics and sociology, agrifood technology, nutrition and food security governance.

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GLOFOODS

CONTEXTThe capacity of agriculture to meet the food needs of the world’s population is one of the major concerns at the heart of public debate. The volume of agricultural commodities and staple food that the planet will be able to produce is one of the core issues of this challenge, which in the decades to come will be exacerbated by ongoing global changes. Simultaneously, the nature of food demands is changing and societal expectations concerning agriculture and sectors that value its production are changing as well. All of these dimensions combine to increase competition between uses of agricultural production, uncertainty on reserves of arable land, pressures on the environment and food supply systems. These factors lead to questions about the conditions under which agricultural and food production and trade can meet needs, at both global and local levels.

OBJECTIVESFaced with these challenges, GloFoodS is an incentive flagship programme aimed at animating a scientific community on food security, supporting interdisciplinary and cross-cutting trends, catalyzing original ideas, and supporting the construction of ambitious projects, according to selected topics and strategic priorities. Jointly coordinated by INRA and CIRAD – the two leading French research institutions on food systems – GloFoodS analyzes the transitions towards global food security in a context of global change.

PRIORITIES• Understand determining factors in nutritional transitions and their impact on health

and the environment• Analyse and act on differences in trends and spatial variability in plant and animal crop

yields• Assess the potential of land which can be used for agricultural (and forest) production

intended for food, energy and bio-industrial purposes• Identify processes and organisation methods that limit loss and waste throughout the

food supply chain• Highlight the relationship between the access of rural and urban households to food

and issues of poverty and trends in social inequalities

SUPPORTING TRANSITIONS TOWARDS FEEDING THE WORLD’S POPULATION IN A SUSTAINABLE, HEALTHY AND FAIR WAY

TRANSITIONS TO GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY

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INCREASING THE SHELF LIFE OF FRESH FOODS TO REDUCE WASTEThe high perishability of fresh foods, such as strawberries, induces considerable post-harvest losses and waste, and constitutes a major barrier to their consumption and health benefits. An eco-design-based approach to the post-harvest phase was initiated by combining the properties of the packaging and the refrigeration conditions, in conjunction with industry players and consumers. The Pack4Fresh project showed that the prediction of the reduction in post-harvest losses of fresh fruits and vegetables depends on the shelf life of the product, its extension through optimization of the preservation process and, above all, on the way this gain of shelf life is used within the agrifood chain.

TOOLS OF GOVERNANCE FOR FOOD SECURITY In a context of increasing investment in agriculture and pressures on natural resources, a major challenge relates to the types of agriculture and land use most likely to promote food security. It is therefore important to understand the role of models developed to explore and analyze different land use scenarios in the scientific literature, expertise and foresight, as well as to analyze the challenges faced by researchers and decision makers to build and use them. An original vision is proposed by the GOSAMO project on the way “governance by models” can affect agricultural practices and land use.

EXAMPLES OF RESULTS

THE DISCIPLINES AND DIVISIONS CONCERNEDThe MEM metaprogramme promotes cross-disciplinary projects within 11 INRA divisions:

• Nutrition, Chemical Food Safety and Consumer Behaviour (AlimH)











These projects are built jointly with biologists (specialised in microbiology, pathology, infectiology, physiology) and mathematicians (specialised in statistics, modelling and bioinformatics) and incorporated into the field of microbial ecology.

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MEM

CONTEXTMicro-organisms are an essential constituent of all living organisms in the biosphere (~ 50% of biomass and ~ 95% of biodiversity). Organised in complex ecosystems, they are found in all natural and man-made environments: from agricultural and environmental settings to foods, and including the microbiotas associated with plants, humans and animals. The development of high-throughput technologies, or meta-omics, means it is now possible to gain unbiased access to the non-cultivable micro-organisms in a microbiota, and to manage the enormous quantity of data which characterise them. The MEM metaprogramme is able to draw upon INRA’s strengths in microbiology (human, plant, animal or environmental), microbial ecology and mathematics (bioinformatics, statistics, modelling) in order to share concepts, knowledge and analytical methods.

OBJECTIVESThe purpose of the MEM metaprogramme is to understand and improve the services rendered by microbial ecosystems regarding the health of plants, animals and humans, human and animal nutrition, the preparation and storage of foods, and the depollution and development of biomass. As well as describing microbial ecosystems, the objective is also to achieve their functional analysis in order to predict and drive their operation.

PRIORITIES• Create a multi-disciplinary or cross-disciplinary research community positioned at

the scientific frontiers of microbial ecology so as to enable the exchange of concepts and the joint construction of projects involving biologists, microbial ecologists and mathematicians

• Foster the sharing of knowledge and resources applicable to microbial ecosystems (approaches, tools, methods and analytical pipelines) and to disseminate them through the organisation of training courses

• Go beyond descriptive approaches in order to develop an understanding of the functioning of ecosystems, their modelling using experimental and theoretical methods and their management through engineering technologies

• Incubate and support certain integrated, multidisciplinary projects which include microbial ecosystems, focusing on issues that have not so far been taken into account (pathobiomes, biotechnologies, gene flows, micro-organism flows, etc.)

• Reinforce international cooperation between scientists, enhance the visibility of INRA’s activities and gain an international reputation for our principal research areas

ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF UNDERSTANDING THE FUNCTIONING OF MICROBIAL ECOSYSTEMS, CONTROLLING AND DRIVING THEM

META-OMICS AND MICROBIAL ECOSYSTEMS

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EMERGENCE OF THE “PATHOBIOME” CONCEPT The Patho-ID project has enabled an inventory of pathogenic and non-pathogenic micro-organisms carried by ticks and rodents, identification of their distribution and demonstration of the interactions between these micro-organisms by developing new mathematical methods adapted to multiparasitism. In addition, it has fostered the international emergence of the “pathobiome” concept; in other words, pathogens in their microbial environment which encompasses the issues of animal, plant and human health, and will allow us to go beyond the “one pathogen/one disease” concept and shift towards a holistic view of health ecology.

DISCOVERING THE ENZYMES OF THE FUTUREThe MetaScreen project has enabled the discovery of new enzymes in natural microbial ecosystems such as the soil, rumen, human gut or digestive tract of wood-boring insects, thanks to generic strategies for the screening and high-throughput functional analysis of different microbiotas. It has thus been possible to identify those with the greatest potential for use in industrial biotechnology processes; for example, the production of biofuels and biosourced materials, the degradation of pollutants resulting from human activities, or the production of animal feeds.

EXAMPLES OF RESULTS

CONTEXTThe OF&F programme was set up in 2000 to develop and promote research in organic agriculture in the context of the expansion of organic methods and with a particular focus on the potential for its growth in France and its impacts, notably on human health. These issues mean it is necessary to address several technical, economic, organisational and cultural challenges, amongst others. At a scientific level, the questions raised by organic farming enable anticipation and organisation of the responses to the challenges posed by the emergence of agro-ecological farming, for which it acts as a prototype. The objective is to restrict the use of inputs, enhance ecological regulation and the autonomy of systems, offer foods of high quality, and preserve the environment and social justice. A global approach is therefore necessary to establish links between the different dimensions interacting within and around agrifood systems and permit their transition.

OBJECTIVESThe OF&F programme is structured around three main objectives: • Coordination of a research strategy to define the issues to be addressed as a priority• Mobilisation of INRA teams to develop research on organic agriculture in partnerships

focused on research projects and development• Capitalisation and valorisation to synthesize, share and discuss the knowledge thus

generated. The partnerships set up with our international counterparts (e.g. FiBL) or actors in development (e.g. ITAB) are transversal to these three objectives

PRIORITIESThere are three principal research challenges regarding organic farming:• Address the technical and systemic challenges of production and processing• Master and improve the performance of organic agriculture and agrifood systems• Describe and support the development of organic agriculture.

In response, the OF&F programme has been funded to support research studies and the-sis projects that comply with the scientific and operational demands of the sector. OF&F also ensures that it involves non-organic research communities whose work may – more or less directly – apply to the organic sector, and particularly will help to understand the processes in play (e.g. natural regulation) and the development of research methodol-ogies (e.g. modelling).

THE DISCIPLINES AND DIVISIONS CONCERNEDThe OF&F programme is at the interface between INRA’s three pillars: agriculture, food and nutrition, and the environment. It interacts with 8 INRA divisions:









Disciplines covered associate agronomy, ecology, zootechnics, economics and human and social sciences.

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OF&FDEVELOPING AND PROMOTING RESEARCH IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND FOOD

ORGANIC FARMING & FOOD

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IN SUCKLER EWE FLOCKS, THE SPLITTING OF LAMBING PERIODS CANNOT SECURE IMPROVED PERFORMANCE IN GRASS-BASED ORGANIC SYSTEMSA trial performed at INRA’s experimental farm in the Massif Central (“PERMYSSION” project) compared a system that maximised the use of grass during lambing (2/3 in April and 1/3 in September) based on grass growth but sensitive to random events, versus a system with four lambing periods (from February to November). These random events were climatic (drought reducing fodder harvests, etc.) and predation (linked to lambing in the field). The “split” system enabled better animal productivity but production costs were higher, and the workload and its complexity (linked to larger batches of animals) were greater.

LARGE ORGANIC ARABLE FARMS DEPEND ON CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE FOR THEIR SUPPLIES OF MINERAL FERTILISING ELEMENTS (“GREMAB” PROJECT)The quantification of transfers between farms in three small and contrasting agricultural regions (predominantly cereals, livestock or mixed) showed that flows of nitrogen, and particularly of phosphorus, entering organic farms without livestock mainly came from the organic fertilisers used by conventional farms; this was the case for 85% of phosphorus imports. The transfers were lower in livestock farms (19%) or mixed farms (37%). This observed dependence thus confirmed the need to couple plant and animal production in organic agriculture, at the scale of farms or territories, which enable exchanges between farms.

EXAMPLESOF RESULTS

THE DISCIPLINES AND DIVISIONS CONCERNEDThe SelGen metaprogramme promotes initiatives and facilitates cooperation for the development of multidisciplinary projects involving researchers from INRA’s different divisions:












These projects cover the following disciplines: genetics, mathematics, agronomy, ecology, zootechnics, economics and human and social sciences.

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SELGEN

CONTEXTAfter the genetic and phenotypic analysis of a reference population (i.e. for traits of interest), genomic selection aims to predict the genetic value of individuals by analysing their genome.Genomic selection can thus significantly accelerate genetic progress by detecting future breeding stock from a very young age. It also means that the selection of individuals could be based on new traits that are complex or difficult to measure. In parallel, because of the falling costs of sequencing and genotyping, genomic selection is gradually becoming accessible for a large number of species.

OBJECTIVESThe aim of the SelGen metaprogramme is to coordinate initiatives and projects put forward by different scientific disciplines in order to support the deployment of genomic selection in animal or plant sectors where this approach has proved pertinent.

PRIORITIES• Pool the knowledge of animal and plant geneticists in order to gain a clearer

understanding of methodological issues at the cutting edge of science• Share the efforts necessary to overcome technological barriers in the fields of genomics

and high-throughput data analysis tools • Analyse opportunities for the integration of genomic selection in breeding schemes• Study changes in the breeding world resulting from these innovations• Enhance the national and international reputation of the scientific community

concerned

FACILITATING USE OF ANIMAL AND PLANT GENOMIC SELECTION, PROVIDING EXPERTISE OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

GENOMIC SELECTION

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A NETWORK TO STUDY THE GENETIC, STATISTICAL AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF GENOMIC SELECTION The organisation of genomic selection differs depending on the species and economic context. R2D2 is a network that was initiated in 2013 to compare the efficiency of genomic selection for more than 20 animal and plant species. This network involves research scientists from all disciplines interested in exchanging knowledge on these analytical and methodological issues.

COOPERATION AND GENOMIC INNOVATION The COOPIGEN project was designed to reflect the major changes induced by the genomic revolution in cattle and sheep species, to describe the social and technical mechanisms in play and identify organisational challenges for the future of breeding activities. Two trends were discovered: one towards differentiation and the other towards integration.

EXAMPLES OF RESULTS

THE DISCIPLINES AND DIVISIONS CONCERNEDThe SMaCH metaprogramme facilitates cooperation for the development of multidisciplinary projects involving researchers from the following INRA divisions:








SMaCH brings together disciplines and specialists in plant protection, agronomists, geneticists, mathematicians and researchers from the social sciences.

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SMACH

CONTEXTIn the context of a growing world population, controlling the diseases and pests that affect cultivated plants can help to secure the quality and quantity of agricultural production. Nevertheless, this must be accompanied by the use of plant protection practices that are less dependent on chemical pesticides and are more environmentally-friendly. The research challenge for the SMaCH metaprogramme is therefore to reconcile crop protection and sustainability.To achieve this objective, it is necessary to redesign cropping systems, and to focus on clarifying their benefits at the economic, social and environmental levels. This means it is necessary to create links between the choices of adapted varieties, the farming practices which support them, the deployment of crops in different regions and the further development of methods to control the principal pests.

OBJECTIVESThe SMaCH metaprogramme focuses on the sustainable management of crop health. It brings together disciplines and specialists in plant protection, agronomists, geneticists, mathematicians and researchers from the social sciences. The goal is to produce innova-tion that is technically effective, economically relevant and approved by stakeholders and society.

PRIORITIES• Design integrated, sustainable and acceptable crop protection. Achieve an ecological

transition in agriculture; build reliable and sustainable protection against crop pests and pathogens by avoiding or reducing the use of chemical pesticides

• Mobilise biological control methods in agriculture. Develop biological control methods for crop pests and parasites involving the use of biologically sourced regulators and substances by farmers, along with adjustments of landscape structures which help maintain effective biological control

• Anticipate, diagnose and respond to health crises. Avoid risks to crop health through surveillance and the establishment of resilient and robust agrosystems

• Analyse and quantify the impact of crop pests. Understand crop losses and their eco-nomic consequences

PROMOTING AGROECOLOGY AS A SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE TO HELP SECURE YIELD QUANTITY AND QUALITY

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF CROP HEALTH

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THE PANORAMIX PROJECT brings together four disciplines: genetics, epidemiology, agronomy and socio-economics. The project is based on the deployment of new grape varieties which are resistant to oidium and mildew, making it possible to drastically reduce the use of fungicides in viticulture.

THE REACTION PROJECT is aimed at developing new crop systems, which benefit from mycorrhizal symbiosis for plant bioprotection in the framework of a citizen science approach that includes farmers. This natural form of control is used with tomatoes in this project but may later be used with other species.

THE BEcOSMASH PROJECT is aimed at optimising management strategies for plum pox (a viral disease affecting stone fruit trees) by combining epidemiological and economic modelling approaches. Its objective is to inform public policy for the management of diseases with mandatory control requirements.

A PROJECT TO BUILD AN INTERNATIONAL DATABASE for crop loss in agriculture is under way, in partnership with the GloFoodS metaprogramme. Such a database will create new possibilities for economic analysis of crop protection methods and strategies. This project was launched with an international conference on crop losses due to crop diseases and pests (http://www.smach.inra.fr/en/Events/crop-losses), in partnership with international networks [AgMIP] and [MacSur].

EXAMPLES OF RESULTS

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INRA METAPROGRAMMES · The CLIMAGIE project has addressed the consequences of high ... Chemical Food Safety and Consumer Behaviour (AlimH) • Social Sciences, Agriculture and Food,