The experimental infrastructures of the Clermont-Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Centre

They are labelled on a national or international scale, and are widely open to partners, via specific services or partnerships.

The centre offers cutting-edge and original expertise, particularly in the fields of genetics, metabolism, the environment, in vivo imaging, phenotyping, risk prevention, breeding, greenhouse gas measurement, etc.

The various infrastructures of the Clermont-Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes centre:

• PHACC Experimental unit
• Herbipole Experimental unit
• Pheno3C (cereal phenotyping)
• AgroTechnopôle (new technological solutions for the agroecological transition)
• Vegepole (greenhouses)
• Small Grains Genetic Resources Centre (CRB)
• Gentyane (genotyping and sequencing)
• National network of phenology observatories (TEMPO)
• PHENOBOIS (Wood and Tree Physicochemical Phenotyping Facility for Genetic Resources)
• ACBB Observatory (Mountain grasslands) - agro-ecosystems, bio-geochemical cycles and biodiversity)
• IVIA AgroResonance (imaging)
• PFEM (Metabolomic and Proteomic Exploration Facility)
• Aurillac Experimental Cheese Hall
• Platform for Epidemiological Surveillance in Animal Health (ESA)

Herbipole Experimental unit

The EU Herbipole is an experimental scheme installed in 3 sites in the Puy de Dôme and Cantal. This platform is dedicated to the breeding of herbivores in mountainous areas, addressing experimental systems adapted to new research issues, especially  on the sustainability dimensions of breeding systems, at different scales of study (from the animal to the system) and time.  Web site.

PHACC Experimental unit

The EU PHACC is an experimental research unit for field crops, which carries out field experiments on two sites under very different conditions: on the Limagne plain (mainly on soft wheat) and in the mid-mountain region, for forage and cold tolerance trials (cereals and protein crops). It is recognised for its capacity for medium- and high-throughput phenotyping on various themes: varietal screening, nitrogen stress, water stress, diseases, cold, etc. Web site.

AgroTechno Pole

The Montoldre facility meets the requirements of public and private partners working to develop new technological solutions to accelerate innovations for agro-ecological transitions, including robotics, information and decision-making support systems, technologies and services for agricultural machinery (fertilisation and seeding) for controlling environmental impacts. Web site.

Pheno3C

The Pheno3C high-throughput phenotyping platform aims to study the effects of climate change under semi-controlled conditions close to agronomic conditions (open field). Through a system of mobile shelters, the platform allows the control of soil water availability to apply droughts and the control of atmospheric CO2 concentration to mimic future climatic conditions. Web site.

Small Grains Genetic Resources Centre

The Small Grains Genetic Resources Centre includes the major species of agronomic interest of the genera Triticum (wheat), Hordeum (barley), Secale (rye), Triticosecale (triticale), Avena (oats), and their wild ancestors. The genetic resources listed represent approximately 15,000 wheat, 7,000 barley accessions, 1,000 triticale and 1,000 oats. They are used for research purposes and in plant breeding programmes. Web site.

Clermont Genotyping and Sequencing Facility GENTYANE

This platform produces further research in genomics. It provides sequencing and genotyping services and participates in the evolution and fine-tuning of new technologies in this sector. Web site.

Metabolomic and Proteomic Exploration Facility (PFEM)

The Metabolomic and Proteomic Exploration Facility (PFEM) is a scientific and technological infrastructure focused on the study of metabolism, and more particularly on the analysis of cell function modes of regulation. Its facilities enable a global analysis of the 3 levels of regulation (Metabolites, Proteins, ARN) of cell function. Web site.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility for Agronomy, Food and Health AgroResonance

The AgroResonance facility, which brings together human and material resources in NMR and MRI, is an infrastructure that offers analyses and developments in order to answer various questions in the fields of agri-food, plants, nutrition and health by means of spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging  (in particular in vivo). Web site.

ACBB

The long-term observation and experimentation system ACBB (Agro-ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity), consists of a set of three complementary experimental sites dedicated to the study of the evolutionary dynamics of grassland ecosystems under human action and its consequences on the environment. The scheme in the Massif Central focuses specifically on mid-mountain permanent grasslands, which are subject to different grazing pressures and contrasting inputs of fertilising elements. Site web.

Experimental orchard

The experimental orchard was planted a few years ago and joined the TEMPO network, a national network of phenology observatories. TEMPO is focused on understanding the impact of climate change on the phenology of a wide range of living organisms, including trees and fruit species. The specificity of the Clermont site is that it has a semi-continental climate with a wide annual temperature range and risks of late frost. Web site.

Wood and Tree Physicochemical Phenotyping Facility for Genetic Resources

PHENOBOIS is a phenotyping tool offering various specialised technological workshops on wood, in order to progress in the analysis of major issues concerning forests and silviculture, genetic improvement and the influence of global changes on trees and forest ecosystems. The structure involves several laboratories (3 sites). Web site.

On the Auvergne site, mainly 2 types of tools are shared:

- Tools for measuring the hydraulic behaviour of trees (hydraulic conduction measurements, cavitation sensitivity measurements)

- Non-destructive 3D observation of wood using X-ray micro tomography

Platform for Epidemiological Surveillance in animal Health (ESA)

This platform is a multi-partner structure set up under the aegis of the State, to promote and support the surveillance of pathologies in livestock or pathogens that can be transmitted to humans (zoonoses). Web site.

The Aurillac Experimental Cheese Hall

It allows the implementation, on a pilot scale, of most cheese technologies: pressed or not, cooked or not as well as marbled cheeses... The laboratory processes heat-treated milk, but also has recognised experience in the processing of raw milk. With technological equipment adapted to all types of cheese production and a level 2 containment, the Aurillac Cheese Hall offers a wide range of services to manufacturers. Web site.

Végépôle

The experimental facility groups together greenhouses from several units and aims to develop these tools in a coordinated and shared manner, as close as possible to the needs of the research teams and technological advances.