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A Key Initiative for Innovative Interdisciplinary Research in Plant Health and Agrosystems. Faced with multiple biotic and abiotic risks to plants, such as diseases, pests, climate change and intensive agricultural practices, plant health research is a major challenge. These challenges affect not only agricultural productivity, but also food security, biodiversity and ecological balance. In this context, the CLAPAS1 initiative proposes to explore plant health through a broad approach, inspired by the exposome concept, which encompasses all interactions between plants and their environment (soil, microbiota, bio-aggressors, auxiliaries, etc.). This approach is fully in line with the One Health approach, linking plant, environmental, animal and human health. CLAPAS aims to structure the Montpellier scientific community around three priority areas of research: Mechanisms and ecology of biotic interactions in agrosystems. The role of microbiota in the adaptation of plants to their environment. Epidemio-surveillance and adaptive dynamics of bio-aggressors. This research has three main aims: to prevent risks, using tools such as ecological modelling, genomics and epidemio-surveillance. Cure, by developing innovative solutions such as the use of microbiota, metabolites or natural auxiliaries, or methods such as chemical confusion and sterile insect techniques. Strengthening resilience, by assessing the environmental, social and economic impacts of the proposed solutions. A collaborative dynamic This project brings together a number of laboratories from the "Agronomy, Environment, Biodiversity" (AEB) research cluster of the I-Site, federating several national research institutions (INRAE, IRD, Cirad, Institut Agro Montpellier, Université de Montpellier), and relies on international collaborations, particularly with countries in the South, heavily affected by climate change. CLAPAS is also involved in national and European initiatives, and collaborates with non-academic players (FREDON, Chambre d'Agriculture, specialized companies). By strengthening interdisciplinary synergies and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, CLAPAS aims to position Montpellier as a center of excellence in plant health research, resolutely focused on the challenges of tomorrow. Key actions of the CLAPAS key initiative: Plant health and integrated approach CLAPAS implements interdisciplinary and collaborative actions to strengthen research and awareness around plant health, integrating the concepts of exposome and One Health. These actions are aimed at local scientific units, and are organized around four main initiatives: Organization of scientific events: Conferences, workshops and regular meetings will be organized to encourage exchanges between researchers, disseminate discoveries and consolidate a dynamic scientific network around plant health. Support for interdisciplinary research projects: Funding will be allocated to collaborative projects between several research units, with an emphasis on training Master's students. Projects will encourage synergies with social sciences, human or animal health, promoting innovative and integrative research. Research schools and specialized training: Training courses will be offered to researchers and doctoral students students, notably on key themes such as plant and environmental health, microbial communities, biodiversity, epidemiological modeling and bioinformatics analysis. These schools aim to strengthen the skills of young scientists and research teams. Science-society interactions: Surveys will be carried out to gain a better understanding of how plant health is perceived by local stakeholders (e.g. shared gardens in Montpellier). At the same time, awareness-raising workshops for the general public will be organized at events such as the Fête de la Science and the project's closing symposium. These ambitious initiatives aim to structure a research community around plant health, encourage innovative and sustainable approaches, and raise society's awareness of plant health issues from a global perspective.

Investissements d'Avenir The Investissements d'Avenir program is worth 35 billion euros, including 22 billion euros earmarked for higher education and research to boost France's competitiveness on the world stage. Of these 22 billion euros, almost 18 billion take the form of competitive calls for projects. The University of Montpellier is heavily involved in this program, through numerous projects in which it is a sponsor or partner. Find out more ERC grants The European Research Council coordinates and funds scientific projects "at the frontier of knowledge" within the European Union, with grants rewarding scientific excellence. The program is open to all disciplines. Current European Research Council projects: ERC Starting Grant Erika Burioli (Host-Pathogen-Environment Interactions Laboratory) with the HYPERCAN project on transmissible mussel cancers Portrait of Erika Burioli Paul Antonio (Géosciences Montpellier) with the UBEICH project, which proposes a new experimental method to refine the dating of the Earth's inner core.Portrait of Paul Antonio ERC Advanced Grant David Mouillot (MARBEC) whose BLUE-AFRICA project will enable transdisciplinary research to assess the potential of coastal marine resources in reducing poverty and emigration in rural areas of East Africa affected by land aridification. Read the press release ERC Synergy Grant Daniele Di Pietro (Institut Montpellierrain Alexander Grothendieck) with the NEMESIS project, which aims to understand how to overcome current technological barriers in numerical simulations of complex physical problems. Daniele Di Pietro ERC portrait Sara Cavaliere (Institut Charles Gerhardt de Montpellier) with the SPINAM project, which focuses on electrochemical devices for hydrogen energy conversion and storage. Video report with Sara Cavaliere Key initiatives To pursue its strategy of supporting the scientific communities that make up the site's unique identity, the I-SITE Program of Excellence (PEI) approved five new key initiatives in April 2024. Three of these are internationally oriented and funded by the UM2030 project of the France 2030 - IDéES program "Integration and development of Idex and I-SITE", while the other two, funded directly by the PEI, aim to federate communities from different Montpellier research structures around interdisciplinary themes in order to give them greater visibility. Key international initiatives UM 2030: Foods: Nutrition and food systems Vect-OH: Infectious risks and vectors in a One Health approach Water: Water Key PEI initiatives: KIPPT: Public policies for transition CLAPAS: Local collaborative research actions on plant health and agrosystems