Projects, research programs

INCREASE = Intelligent Collections of Food Legumes Genetic Resources for European Agrofood Systems 

2020-2025, Financier : UE H2020 https://www.pulsesincrease.eu

The project aims to develop the use of genetic resources for food legumes in terms of accessibility, quality, and quantity in Europe. This program works with four legumes: chickpeas, beans, lentils, and lupins. Within this program, the unit is conducting trials to analyze the interactions of maize-bean coculture and is participating in the characterization of European bean populations and their multiplication. This project, in collaboration with the CNRS, the Polytechnic University of Ancona in Italy, and INRAE, will be conducted over the period 2020-2025.

Phénofore, Carrier INRAE, 2020-2026, Financier : APP GNIS/SEMAE

https://moulon.inrae.fr/news/2020/06/phenofore-un-projet-de-recherche-sur-la-lutte-biologique-contre-la-pyrale-et-la-s%C3%A9samie-deux-ravageurs-du-ma%C3%AFs/

https://www.arvalis.fr/recherche-innovation/nos-travaux-de-recherche/phenofore

This project aims to analyze the interactions between plants and first-cycle pests of maize with the aim of developing an agriculture that reduces the use of phytosanitary products and proposes alternative control strategies. It is being conducted in collaboration with CSIC in Spain, Arvalis, and INRAE ​​for the period 2020-2023. Herbivorous insects such as the sesame and the European corn borer, but also the wasp Cotesia typhae, a parasitoid of the sesame. The control methods envisaged are crop diversification, using varietal mixtures, and biological control to optimize parasitoid release methods.

Amaizing, Carrier INRAE, 2012-2021, Financier : PIA, ANR Investissement d'Avenir  https://amaizing.fr/

https://www.inrae.fr/actualites/changement-climatique-amaizing-explore-lincroyable-diversite-genetique-du

The AMAIZING project aims to develop the knowledge, breeding methods, and agricultural practices needed to develop high-yield varieties with improved environmental value. It relies on a broad partnership between key players in the French corn industry, particularly a strong private partnership. This collaboration will facilitate the transfer and use of knowledge, resources, and methods resulting from the project to obtain varieties and products, thereby supporting the competitiveness of corn production and development sectors in France.

The project will ultimately enable the development of innovative selection tools and methods for the creation of new, improved corn varieties.

Dromamed, Carrier français : INRAE, 2022-2024, Financier : UE PRIMA    https://www.dromamed.eu

https://anr.fr/Projet-ANR-21-PRIM-0011    

DROMAMED's objectives are:

1) To assemble collections of maize germplasm adapted to Mediterranean drylands, and to pool and evaluate stress-tolerant varieties from national collections.

2) To support innovative agricultural systems by promoting the quality and sustainability of agricultural models based on family farming.

3) To study the genetic factors involved in maize adaptation to drought and heat stress.

4) To study the physiological and morphological mechanisms involved in maize responses to stress.

5) To establish predictive models and selection criteria for breeding programs focused on stress tolerance (phenotypic, marker-assisted, and genomic selection models will be designed to improve tolerance to individual and combined stresses).

6) To release resistant varieties and new knowledge on stress tolerance for use by stakeholders; all of these achievements will contribute to sustainable production and stress mitigation in current and future climate scenarios.

MineLandDiv Carrier INRAE, 2023-2026, Financier : UE ERA-NET SusCrop Call on Agrobiodiversity

https://moulon.inrae.fr/news/2023/03/projet-minelanddiv/

https://www.suscrop.eu/call-information/4th-call/minelanddiv

This project is based on the observation that climate change, soil degradation, and fertilizer costs threaten food security and the sustainability of agriculture in Europe. In this context, traditional crop varieties, or landraces, constitute a valuable source of genetic diversity to address these challenges. MineLandDiv aims to identify maize landraces and alleles favorable to tolerance to abiotic (heat/drought – cold – nitrogen) and biotic (European corn borer) stresses that could be used to expand the genetic diversity of modern breeding germplasms and better understand their resilience to variable environmental conditions.