Europe

INRAE is a leading research institute in Europe. Its major scientific priorities are closely aligned with the European Union's research and innovation agenda. INRAE contributes to European research and innovation by participating in numerous expert groups, partnerships, initiatives and European networks alongside its partners and the European institutions. Thanks to a dedicated support policy for European participation, INRAE is involved in a wide range of European research and innovation programmes across diverse scientific fields 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.

Under Horizon Europe,  INRAE is:

  • involved in more than 220 projects, including 66 as coordinator
  • the 3rd French participant in Pillar II “Global Challenges” and the 3rd European beneficiary in Cluster 6 “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment”..

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.

INRAE also plays a longstanding role in European research coordination through the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI), which it has coordinated since 2010. Since 2022, the institute has chaired its Governing Board.

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.

Initiatives or INRAE documents supporting the EU policy

New strategic approach to research and innovation

EU digital strategy on agriculture

NGT

  • Tool for accelerated research and selection
  • Governance, ethics, social acceptability
  • Power dynamics in the seed industry

Support to AKIS and EIP

Strategic input to the future of EU research and innovation

A shared vision for FP10

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

Through the European Science Alliance for Agriculture and Food (ESAAF)

INRAE is a founding member of the European Science Alliance for Agriculture and Food (ESAAF), a coalition of leading European agricultural and life sciences organisations providing independent scientific input to strengthen evidence-based European policymaking on agriculture and food.

PEER: an environmental perspective on FP10

Through PEER, the Partnership for European Environmental Research, INRAE also contributes to the FP10 debate from an environmental perspective. This contribution emphasises environmental research and innovation as strategic investments for Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and security, and stresses the importance of long-term observation systems and research infrastructures to support Europe’s strategic autonomy.

Access the PEER position paper

Building Europe's research capacities

Scientific excellence depends on shared research infrastructures that provide long-term observations, cutting-edge facilities and interoperable data. Through its leadership of major ESFRI projects and its contribution to European research infrastructures, INRAE helps build the scientific capacities needed to address strategic challenges, from industrial biotechnology and sustainable agriculture to the adaptation of forest ecosystems.

IBISBA: industrial biotechnology and biomanufacturing

Coordinated by INRAE, IBISBA is the European research infrastructure for industrial biotechnology and biomanufacturing. It provides integrated facilities, expertise and services to accelerate the development of sustainable bio-based products and industrial processes.

InSylva: forest ecosystems under global change

Coordinated by INRAE, InSylva was selected for the ESFRI Roadmap 2026 as a new European research infrastructure project dedicated to forest ecosystems. Bringing together 50 organisations from 22 countries, it will federate observatories, experimental sites, analytical platforms and digital resources to support research on the adaptation of forests to global change.

Phenome-Emphasis, plant phenotyping for climate-resilient agriculture

As the French mirror of the European ESFRI project EMPHASIS, Phenome-EMPHASIS is coordinated by INRAE. It provides high-throughput phenotyping platforms to analyse plant responses to environmental stresses, supporting research on crop adaptation and more sustainable agricultural systems.

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

The European Union is promoting the transition towards more sustainable crop protection systems and a reduced reliance on chemical pesticides. 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

Coordinated by INRAE, the IPMWORKS Horizon 2020 project brought together 31 partners from 16 European countries to establish a network of demonstration farms promoting integrated pest management strategies. Building on the French DEPHY initiative, the project fostered knowledge exchange between farmers, advisers and researchers to support the adoption of crop protection practices that reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.

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.

Strengthening water resilience

Water is becoming one of Europe's most strategic resources. Increasing pressure from climate change, growing competition between uses and the need to protect aquatic ecosystems require integrated approaches combining observation, modelling and governance. INRAE contributes to improving the understanding and management of water systems across Europe.

Water JPI - Joint Programme Initiative on Water and European partnership Water4All

INRAE played a key role in shaping the Joint Programming Initiative “Water Challenges for a Changing World”, which defined shared European research priorities to address growing water challenges. Building on this initiative, the Institute now contributes to Water4All, the Horizon Europe partnership promoting an integrated, cross-sectoral approach to water security through research and innovation.

EIT Water: a new European innovation community for water

Launched by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), EIT Water brings together research, education, industry and innovation actors to address Europe's water challenges. As a core partner, INRAE contributes its expertise in water resources, aquatic ecosystems and water governance.

EURAQUA - European Network of Freshwater Research Organisation

INRAE is involved in interdisciplinary research networks at the European level to better answer public policy, industry and society’s needs. EurAqua is a leading network in which we participate, to coordinate European research on water, involving 25 partners from every part of Europe.

Transforming food systems

Transforming Europe's food systems requires more than technological innovation. It calls for integrated approaches that reconcile food security, environmental sustainability, public health and economic competitiveness while addressing the structural barriers that slow change. Through its scientific expertise and European collaborations, INRAE helps identify transition pathways and provide the evidence needed to inform policy and innovation.

Data4Food2030: data governance for sustainable food systems

Data4Food2030: data governance for sustainable food systems The Horizon Europe project Data4Food2030 explores how data can support fair, inclusive and sustainable food systems. INRAE leads the work dedicated to defining the conceptual framework for the data economy in food systems, with particular attention to governance, trust, equity and societal impacts.

FutureFoodS: transforming European food systems

FutureFoodS is a European Partnership supporting the transition towards more sustainable, resilient and competitive food systems. It brings together research organisations, businesses and policymakers to develop coordinated research and innovation agendas addressing major challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and food security.

Unlocking the transition towards sustainable food systems

Published in Nature Food, this recent study led by researchers from Aarhus University, Wageningen University & Research and INRAE examines the structural lock-ins that slow the transformation of European food systems. It identifies transition pathways to reconcile food security, public health, environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness.

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.