Europe

INRAE is a driving force in Europe. Its major scientific and political orientations are at the heart of the European Commission's strategic agenda, in particular with the European Green Deal. INRAE actively contributes to the development of European programming for research and innovation by participating in numerous expert groups, partnerships, initiatives and European networks in conjunction with its partners and the European Union's bodies. Thanks to a strong participation support policy, INRAE is also involved in all European programmes, on different themes and scales of action.

INRAE’s participation in European programmes involves the production of new knowledge, data sharing, collaborations with stakeholders, support to public policy-making and contributes to the development of solutions to major challenges. The Institute coordinates and participates in numerous European projects and shared research infrastructures, particularly as part of the Horizon Europe framework programme.

Since 2010, INRAE has been coordinating the joint JPI FACCE programme, an initiative designed to build an integrated European Research Area to meet the interconnected challenges of sustainable agriculture, food security and the impacts of climate change. Since 2022, INRAE chairs the Board of Directors.

INRAE is involved in the development and programming of European research partnerships:

PARC: Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals
Agroecology: the European R&I partnership on agroecology living labs and research infrastructures
Partnership for Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) for people, planet and climate
Animal health and welfare: European partnership on animal health and welfare

The institute also follows other European partnerships, such as Biodiversa+ , the European Biodiversity Partnership, and Water4all, Water security for the planet.

PEER - Partnership for European Environmental Research

PEER was founded in 2001 and built around strong institutional cooperation between 7 major European environmental research institutes - INRAE, WENR, SYKE, UFZ, DCE, CIENS, UKCEH - with the participation of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). Its work is focused on strengthening scientific cooperation and supporting public policy, around 3 thematic areas: (i) Support to the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, (ii) Climate Action and Adaptation and (iii) Urban Environmental Sustainability

ALTER-Net - Europe's ecosystem research network

Initiated as a European Network of Excellence (FP6), ALTER-Net has grown and evolved since 2004 to foster the development of a European science-policy interface on biodiversity and ecosystem services. With members from 21 countries, it runs a number of activities for the benefit of both scientific communities and public decision-makers: EKLIPSE (a question-and-answer mechanism to help decision-making), a summer school for young researchers, and support for high-impact research publications.

ATF – Animal Task Force

Founded in 2011, the Animal Task Force is a 25-member European public-private partnership representing key stakeholders from industry, farmers and research across Europe. The network is committed to promoting a sustainable and competitive livestock sector in Europe by supporting the development of knowledge and innovation, proposing scientific solutions to societal challenges (global food security, climate change, biodiversity preservation and restoration, etc.), and setting the agenda for animal research and innovation.

Strategic input to the future of EU research framework

The next European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) will be a key policy instrument to support the EU’s strategic autonomy, resilience and green transition. It will guide research funding in areas that are critical to Europe's future, including agriculture, food systems and the environment. As leading public research organisations, INRAE, Wageningen University & Research and Aarhus University have jointly contributed to the policy debate by putting forward a shared vision for a more impactful, inclusive and coherent research agenda.

This contribution takes shape through two strategic documents:
- a position paper outlining 11 concrete proposals to strengthen the design and delivery of the next Framework Programme;
- a solutions booklet showcasing how EU-funded collaborative research is already generating results on the ground and supporting long-term transitions.

These inputs aim to ensure that FP10 fully leverages the potential of science to deliver societal impact, from fundamental research to applied innovation.

FP10 Position paper From research to solutions

Towards a paradigm shift on chemical pesticides use in the European Union

Through the European Green Deal's Farm-to-Fork and Biodiversity 2030 strategies, the European Commission has set an ambitious target of a 50% reduction in the use and risks of chemical pesticides by 2030. INRAE is mobilising to drive a real paradigm shift at European level and disruptive research strategies that will support the design of new agricultural systems in which crop protection no longer depends on the use of chemical pesticides. A summary of our scientific collaborations for pesticide-free agriculture.

All our collaborations for a pesticide-free agriculture

European Research Alliance “Towards a Chemical Pesticide-Free Agriculture”

Chaired by INRAE, this Alliance brings together 35 European research institutes for a new transdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder research strategy providing solutions for the transition to chemical pesticide-free agriculture. The Alliance works in synergy with the COST Action T0P-AGRI-Network, coordinated by INRAE, aiming to establish a European network of scientists-experts and young researchers to prepare this transition.

Foresight study: European Pesticide-Free Agriculture in 2050

The study was led by INRAE for two years, at the request of the French "Growing and protecting crops differently" priority research programme. 144 experts explored disruptive avenues for solutions by aiming for an objective: zero pesticides, in conjunction with the ERA Towards a Chemical Pesticide-Free Agriculture.

IPMWORKS: EU-wide farm network for integrated pest management strategies

Inspired by the DEPHY farms in France, the IPMWORKS project (H2020; 2020-2024), coordinated by INRAE, brings together 31 partners from 16 countries to create a European network of farmers to demonstrate Integrated Crop Protection strategies with low pesticide use, and to promote their adoption through the exchange of experience and knowledge between farmers.

A leading institute in Europe on soil and climate change

With the ever-increasing threats to soil, the European Union is taking action and stepping up its political agenda on soil protection. The proposal for a soil strategy in 2022, was followed by publication of a soil directive in 2023. This is reflected in the increase and development of research resources, notably through the funding the European Joint Programme on the management of agricultural soils (EJP SOIL), coordinated by INRAE and the launch of A Soil Deal for Europe. INRAE has been particularly active in raising the profile of soil research issues and needs at European level. Through its various actions and participation in expert groups advising the European Commission, the Institute has become one of the European leaders in the field of soil and climate change.

EJP SOIL, coordinated by INRAE

EJP SOIL is striving to tackle the global challenges of climate change and food security by developing a European system of integrated research on climate-smart and sustainable management of agricultural soils. More than 400 scientists and 26 partner organisations from 24 European Union countries are working together to improve knowledge of soil, identify research synergies and strengthen research communities. Its initial results have already been used by public authorities to support the legislative process.

Involvement with the Soil Deal Mission

To provide concrete and innovative responses to societal challenges, the European Commission has set up five Missions, including "A Soil Deal for Europe", which aims to ensure agricultural soil health. INRAE is making a major contribution to the structuring of this Mission by mobilising its high level of expertise in the strategic bodies and as the workpackage leader of the PREPSOIL project. The aim is to accelerate the European trajectory towards sustainable soil management and restoration, preparing the ground for the Soil Deal Mission.

ORCASA: Operationalising International Reseach Cooperation on Soil carbon

Launched in September 2022 and coordinated by INRAE, ORCaSa is a Horizon Europe project bringing together 12 international partners. Following on from the CIRCASA project, its main objective is to deploy an International Research Consortium (IRC) and to reduce carbon emissions from human activities by working on carbon capture and storage in soils. It will develop KP4SoilCarbon, a cutting-edge open-access platform that will collect knowledge about soil carbon.

A major player in forest research

The challenges facing forests are increasingly central to European players’ concerns, given the role they play in biodiversity, their functions and services in the face of climate change, and their exposure to increased and multiple risks. As a major player in forestry research, INRAE is involved in numerous projects, initiatives and networks to support Europe's environmental strategy for 2030.

The EVOLTREE network

Initially a Network of Excellence funded by the European Commission, the EVOLTREE network, coordinated by INRAE, now brings together 29 research players from 20 countries. Through a variety of activities its goal is to work around four major disciplines, ecology, genetics, genomics and evolution at the European level, to tackle the global challenges for forests, such as environmental changes and the erosion of biodiversity.

Harnessing forest genetic resources in the face of environmental and societal challenges

Launched in 2022 and coordinated by INRAE, the 18-partner European project OptFORESTS aims to conserve and sustainably use forest genetic resources by studying the selection of different forest reproductive materials and the resilience of natural forests, while integrating nature-based solutions. The overall objective is to foster the development of a circular and sustainable bioeconomy and mitigate climate change.

Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Change making to Shape, Protect and Maintain the Resilience of Tomorrow’s Forests

With a Europe-China international cooperation approach, the eco2adapt project is developing an ecosystem-based adaptation framework inspired by nature-based solutions. It follows a "decision theatre" strategy to study the integration of disturbances and vulnerability into forest management. Coordinated by INRAE, the project brings together more than 20 European partners and nearly 10 Chinese partners.

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