Key Collaborative Initiative for Local Research on Plant Health and Agrosystems: CLAPAS

[Call for Proposals] - Published on December 6, 2024 in Major Programs, Flagship Projects

Call for Proposals for AI-3 2024 Exploratory Research

The Key Initiatives of the I-SITE Excellence Program are designed to meet the following objectives:

to bring together, through a structured partnership, multidisciplinary expertise aimed at producing innovative projects in the public interest for the region or the I-SITE consortium,
build a scientific community,
be a defining, innovative, or distinguishing feature of the site,
generate transformative and ripple effects in the areas of research or training.

The key CLAPAS initiative will receive 300,000 euros in funding for the 2024–2026 period.

The CLAPAS flagship initiative is launching its third call for projects related to incentive actions (AI) to support exploratory research and invest in new areas of plant health research. This program is open to all research organizations under the supervision of institutions participating in the strategic partnership affiliated with the University of Montpellier’s research clusters (CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro Montpellier, and IRD) whose research activities focus, in the broadest sense, on plant health and agrosystems.

This AI-3 2024 program aims to support exploratory research projects or to strengthen collaborations between at least two different research units affiliated with the University of Montpellier’s research clusters.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES OF THE CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The key CLAPAS initiative aims to promote interdisciplinary research on the phytobiome (or exposome) of cultivated plants, involving the plants themselves, their environment, and the associated communities of micro- and macro-organisms, as well as those who directly or indirectly manage these cultivated areas (farmers, public and private agricultural advisory stakeholders, etc.). This research is essential for understanding the complex networks of interactions within the phytobiome and their effects on the health of plants, soils, and agrosystems. Across agrosystems, this initiative also seeks to stimulate research on practices, management and regulatory mechanisms, as well as the structural factors that shape interactions within the phytopathosystem.

Applying this knowledge to promote the adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices is a key aspect of plant and agrosystem health management, and also contributes to environmental conservation and human and animal health. These approaches are even more crucial for countries in the Global South, where the impact of climate change is more severe. Furthermore, many tools, methods, and concepts are common to the study of human, animal, and plant health (parasite transmission mechanisms, epidemiological models, analyses of perceptions, risk management systems and policies, etc.) and can be shared to support an integrated approach to health (the One Health concept).

The objectives of this research are to anticipate risks ( “predict/monitor/prepare” ), evaluate existing socio-technical systems, and explore new management solutions and strategies (“prevent/remedy” ), and to assess the health and socioeconomic impacts of these solutions ( “recover/build resilience”) on agrosystems.

themes of the call for proposals

Projects may, among other things, but not exclusively, address the following themes:

the mechanisms and ecology of biotic interactions in agrosystems and associated natural ecosystems;
the role of the microbiota in the host's adaptation to its environment;
the interactions between sociotechnical and biotic mechanisms at work in the management of crop health; sociotechnological barriers to innovation;
epidemiological surveillance, invasion pathways, and the adaptive dynamics of populations of micro- and macro-organisms.

Approaches from the humanities and social sciences that examine the role and impact of agricultural practices and their socioeconomic determinants—including mechanisms for managing health risks and protecting the health of agrosystems— are welcome. Funding will be set aside for at least two projects involving humanities and social science approaches.

In line with the stated objectives of the CLAPAS flagship initiative, this call for proposals strongly encourages seed projects, risk-taking, and originality. Submissions of interdisciplinary research projects or proposals to initiate new collaborations are also encouraged. Furthermore, projects focused on the Global South or involving partners from the Global South are welcome.

AVAILABLE AMOUNTS

Maximum grant amount per project: 10 k€

Potential total amount for this AI-3 2024: 100 k€

The allocated funds will be available through the end of 2025. The following costs are eligible: operating expenses, internship stipends, equipment (any purchase over €500), outsourcing/contracting, mission expenses, and travel expenses.

CALENDAR

Call for Proposals Launch: December 9, 2024
Application deadline: January 20, 2025
Sent to internal evaluators: January 21, 2025
Review of applications by the Selection Committee: January 30, 2025
Earnings Announcement: January 31, 2025
Funds to be made available: February 25

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Applications must be submitted in Word format using the downloadable template.

Projects must be designed to last one year and written in French. Proposals must be submitted by email. An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within 48 hours.

Projects must have been approved by the director of each research unit.

Projects should, as much as possible, align with the open science approach by ensuring that the data they produce is easy to find, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR).

The leaders of the selected projects will agree to provide a graphic illustration summarizing their project for posting on the website, and to present the results of their activities at inter-unit seminars at the beginning and end of their project.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Researchers, faculty members, and engineers. The project will necessarily involve two partners from different units with different areas of expertise.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Projects will be evaluated by a joint, multidisciplinary scientific committee that includes external experts from countries in the Global South. Each proposal will be evaluated by two members of the scientific evaluation committee.