Key Initiative CLAPAS

A Key Initiative for Innovative Research in Plant Health and Agrosystems.

Faced with multiple biotic and abiotic risks affecting 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 CLAPAS initiative¹ initiative proposes to explore plant health through a broader approach, inspired by the concept of the exposome, which encompasses all interactions between plants and their environment (soils, microbiota, pests, beneficial organisms, etc.). This approach is fully in line with the One Health perspective, linking plant, environmental, animal, and human health.

Key Initiative Objectives

CLAPAS aims to structure the Montpellier scientific community around three priority research areas:

1. Mechanisms and ecology of biotic interactions in agrosystems.
2. Role of microbiota in the adaptation of plants to their environment.
3. Epidemiological surveillance and adaptive dynamics of biological pests.

This research has three main objectives:

• Prevent risks using tools such as ecological modeling, genomics, and epidemiological surveillance.
• Healing, by developing innovative solutions such as the use of microbiota, metabolites, or natural auxiliaries, or methods such as chemical confusion and the sterile insect technique.
• Strengthen resilience by assessing the environmental, social, and economic impacts of proposed solutions.

A Dynamic of Collaboration

This project brings together numerous laboratories from the "Agronomy, Environment, Biodiversity" (AEB) research cluster at I-Site, which federates several national research institutions (INRAE, IRD, CIRAD, Institut Agro Montpellier, University of Montpellier), and relies on international collaborations, particularly with countries in the Global South, which are heavily affected by climate change. CLAPAS is also part of national and European initiatives and collaborates with non-academic actors (FREDON, Chamber of 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 focus on four main initiatives:

1. Organization of scientific events: Conferences, workshops, and regular meetings will be organized to promote exchanges between researchers, disseminate discoveries, and consolidate a dynamic scientific network focused on plant health.
2. Support for interdisciplinary research projects: Funding will be allocated to collaborative projects involving several research units, with an emphasis on training Master's students. The projects will encourage synergies with the social sciences, human or animal health, promoting innovative and integrative research.
3. Research schools and specialized training: Training will be offered to researchers and doctoral students, particularly on key topics 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.
4. Science-society interactions: Surveys will be conducted to better understand how local stakeholders perceive plant health (e.g., shared gardens in Montpellier). At the same time, awareness-raising workshops for the general public will be organized during events such as the Fête de la Science (Science Festival) or the project's closing conference.

These ambitious actions aim to build a research community focused on plant health, encourage innovative and sustainable approaches, and raise awareness in society about plant health issues from a global perspective.

1. Collaborative Local Research Actions on Plant Health and AgroSystems. The name CLAPAS refers to Occitan (a term used to describe a pile of stones or a heap of pebbles, often seen in fields) and to the nickname of Montpellier, which is a historic stronghold in agronomy . ↩︎