Agriculture-Environment-Biodiversity Division (AEB)

Created in December 2017 within the MUSE Foundation, its aim is to become a Target University Research Cluster by 2022.
It provides a forum for synergy between research structures and scientific consultation to develop joint actions between members of the MUSE Consortium.
The cluster brings together over 3,000 permanent staff from research organizations such as BRGM, CIRAD, CNRS, IFREMER, INRAE and IRD, as well as higher education institutions such as the University of Montpellier, Institut Agro / Montpellier SupAgro and CIHEAM-IAMM. Every year, it publishes around 1,300 theses.

Missions

Leading, communicating, highlighting scientific strategy and prospects
Federating and fostering partnerships
Increase the Region's visibility and contribute to its excellence in agronomy, the environment, ecology and biodiversity, both nationally and internationally.
Promoting the link between Training and Research
Promote collective reflection on platforms and infrastructures in conjunction with establishments and organizations
Lead a collective reflection on concerted programming of jobs, skills and human resources in conjunction with establishments and organizations

Scientific scope

The cluster comprises 44 main research, experimental and service units and 8 secondary laboratories. It covers agronomy, environmental and water sciences, ecology and evolution. In these disciplines, it includes two Laboratories of Excellence ( labex Agro and labex Cemeb) and a Unesco International Center dedicated to water(ICIREWARD).

Structured around these three interacting communities, the AEB cluster forms a highly multidisciplinary whole, working on a wide range of issues and questions linked to the promotion of sustainable and ecologically innovative agriculture, food safety and security, the characterization, documentation, management and conservation of biodiversity, the structure and functioning of ecosystems, health and environmental quality, explicitly taking into account the impact of environmental and global change, particularly climate change, on all these subjects.

Its actions are fully in line with Muse's Nourish and Protect pillars, but also partly with the Heal pillar, notably through food, nutrition and a global health approach.

Institutional partners

The Pôle AEB brings together staff from several research organizations:

BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières - Geological and Mining Research Bureau)
CIRAD (Centre de coopération Internationale en Research Agronomique pour le Développement)
CNRS (Centre National de la Research Scientifique)
IFREMER (Institut Français de Research pour l'Exploitation de la Mer)
INRAE (Institut National de Research pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement)
IRD (Institut de Research pour le Développement)

or higher education :

University of Montpellier
Institut Agro (Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement) /Montpellier SupAgro
CIHEAM-IAMM (Centre International des Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes-Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier)

It also maintains close links (and even hosts staff in its laboratories) with other research organizations such as INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives) or INRIA (Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique), or higher education institutions: AgroParisTech (Institut des Sciences et Industries du Vivant et de l'Environnement), ENSCM (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier), ARMINES ParisTech (IMT Mines Alès), EPHE (École Pratique des Hautes Études), UPVM (Université Paul Valéry Montpellier), UPVD (Université Perpignan Via Domitia), Université d'Avignon, Université des Antilles, Université de la Réunion, Centre Universitaire de Mayotte.

Research structures

Partnered research structures:

structuring bodies and programs

Local :

Two main Labexes - Labex Agro and Labex CeMEB - and participation in two other Labexes, Entreprendre and Numev.
Unesco International Centre for Water(ICIREWARD), which is also the Institut Montpellierrain de l'Eau et de l'Environnement(IM2E).
A Scientific Cooperation Foundation: Agropolis Fondation
An observatory at Research Méditerranéen de l'Environnement(OSU OREME), part of the Observatoires des Sciences de l'Univers of the Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers du Cnrs.
MUSE Key Initiatives (KIM): Data & Life Sciences, Food & Health, Risks & Vectors, Sea & Coast, Vine & Wine Sciences, Waters
Equipex: GEOSUD(International Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Information for Sustainable Development) and participation in Equipex RESIF-CORE (French Seismological and Geodetic Network),
A Convergences Digital Agriculture Institute #DigitAg
A "Territoires d'Innovation" Fablab(Occitanum)
Unesco Chair in World Food
Two Occitanie Regional Challenges: Biodivoc and Rivoc