AIM

The hypothesis of the massive development of organic agricul-ture is renewing the stakes concerning varieties, seeds and seedlings, and calling into question multi-disciplinary and par-ticipatory research on new fronts of science such as:

• varietal ideotypes for the different OA production, processing and marketing sectors;
• species and associations of species for greater diversification from the farm to the fork;
• digestive efficiency of new food resources for animal and human consumption;
• the effects of plant defense metabolites on product quality and transformation processes;
• breeding organization.

SThe consortium also addresses issues related to:

• breeding methods, the impact on genetic resource management, and the underlying economic models;
• the involvement of citizens in breeding programs; the role of public authorities;
• the legal aspects of plant breeding;
• the tension between greening and technologization;
• etc.

MEANS

Anticipating, formalizing and prioritizing research questions requires the strong mobilization of multi-disciplinary and mul-ti-partner collectives within the framework of highly participa-tive approaches open to a diversity of stakeholders. 

To achieve this objective, the project proposes a combination of innovative actions:

• monthly "café" videoconferences, bringing together actors from the research, agricultural education and third research sectors, and the general public;
• a mentoring system for novice researchers/engineers/teachers by resource persons;
• residencies (similar to artists' residencies) open to academic and non-academic partners, to encourage the incubation and development of research projects;
• development of information media on OA to promote knowledge-sharing

Participants

INRAE units

• All of the interested INRAE departments and centers.

Partners

• BIOCOOP
• Eco-PB
• EOCC (European Organic Certifiers Council)
• GEVES-CISAB
• FIBL
• IFOAM
• INAO
• ITAB
• Master chefs
• SEMAE
• open to others