G.

Pracros, INRA

Bordeaux-Aquitaine Centre

Founding member of

March 2015

Located deep within a vast agricultural and forest region, the INRA
Bordeaux-Aquitaine Centre conducts innovative and targeted plant
science, ecological and environmental research in response to current
challenges in the agricultural, forestry and aquaculture sectors.

Hubert de Rochambeau
President of the Bordeaux-Aquitaine Centre
Regional INRA Delegate

BORDEAUX-AQUITAINE RESEARCH CENTRE

A key player in the regional research ecosystem, our Centre brings together more than 1,000 researchers,
engineers and technicians and over 100 PhD students and postdocs on three main sites and five smaller sites.
Our labs attract over 190 partner research fellows, engineers and technicians (University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Sciences Agro, University of Pau and Pays de LAdour, Bordeaux Polytechnic Institute and CNRS), testifying to our
enterprise in developing joint projects. Our scientific strategy hinges on large-scale investment in laboratories
of excellence (LabEx), scientific interest groups and federative research structures.
To ensure our research is in line with societys expectations, we work closely with socio-economic players and
raise public awareness through the implementation of scientific and technical cultural initiatives.

The LabEx COTE project, created from a emblematic partnership

between INRA and the University of Bordeaux, is aimed at improving our
understanding of and predicting ecosystem responses to human-induced
changes and at developing tools and methods to control this evolution.

OUR RESEARCH

REGIONAL PRIORITIES
OF INTERNATIONAL SCOPE

We mobilise a wide range of scientific expertise in

environmental physics and chemistry, plant physiology and
pathology, agronomy, genetics and ecology for our research
projects to addresses four major challenges of regional
importance:
1. Strengthen competitiveness and sustainability in the
agricultural fruit, forestry and animal production industries.
2. Promote ecological management of agrosystems
and cultivated forests.
3. Contribute to a healthy and sustainable diet.
4. Make effective use of plant biomass.

Our scientific resources and expertise revolve around

three priorities of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3)
defined by the Aquitaine region: precision agriculture and
agro-food eco-efficiency; geoscience and metrology for
sustainable management of natural resources; and the
mobilisation of biomass and the development
of biorefineries for industry.
The challenges are such that they transcend the confines
of regional concerns, giving our research and partnerships
an international reach.

Major partners in the region

Our research priorities

1

FUNCTIONAL AND EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY AND AGROECOLOGY OF CONTINENTAL

ECOSYSTEMS (FOREST, PERENNIAL CROPS, AQUATIC BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES)

INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY OF PLANTS AND THEIR PATHOSYSTEMS

(GRAPES, FRUIT SPECIES)

Experimental units
Bordeaux Wine-Growing Experimental Platform
Cestas-Pierroton Forestry Experimental Platform

Associated networks and platforms

Institute of Vine and Wines Sciences (ISVV)
LabEx COTE
Equipex Xyloforest
Functional Genomic Centre of Bordeaux (CGFB) Platforms
Aquatic Environments and Resources Federative Research
Structure (SFR MIRA)
Integrative Biology and Ecology Federative Research Structure
(SFR BIE)
European network of excellence EVOLution of TREEs as drivers
of terrestrial biodiversity (EVOLTREE)
Adaptation of Forests to Climate Change Joint Technological
Network (RMT AFORCE)
Fertilisation and Environment Joint Technological Network
(RMT F&E)
Sanitary Quality of Vegetable Crops Joint Technological Network
(RMT QUASAPROVE)

Academic partners
Bordeaux Sciences Agro
CNRS
IFREMER
INRIA
Bordeaux Polytechnic Institute (IPB)
IRSTEA
Aquitaine Observatory of the Sciences of the Universe (OASU)
University of Bordeaux
University of Pau and Pays de lAdour (UPPA)

1
Oak samples waiting to be analysed (Genobois technical platform)
A. Girard, INRA

1
Todays global changes are impacting our terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems. For their sustainable management, we
need to find out more about how these ecosystems work
and the services they provide, and understand and predict
their long-term evolution.
Our teams use modelling techniques to identify the climatic,
biotic and anthropogenic factors behind environmental
changes and their impact on the properties of our ecosystems
(structures, processes, services and organisational rules),
and to examine the adjustment mechanisms and responses
of these ecosystems (resistance, adaptation, migration). Our
research work focuses on key regional industries (fruit trees,
grapes, fish, forestry and field crops), while analysing the
impact of these changes on the international scale.

Research units and facilities

Biodiversity, Genes and Communities Joint Research Unit (UMR
BIOGECO)
Behavioural Ecology and Fish Population Biology Joint Research
Unit (UMR ECOBIOP)
Ecophysiology and Grape Functional Genomics Joint Research
Unit (UMR EGFV)
Vineyard Health and Agroecology Joint Research Unit
(UMR SAVE)
Atmosphere-Plant-Soil Interactions Joint Research Unit
(UMR ISPA)
Mycology and Food Safety Research Unit (UR MycSA)
Plant and Environmental Analyses Service Unit (USRAVE)

2
The agricultural and agri-food sectors need to meet quality
imperatives, and to rise to the challenges of economic and
environmental efficiency. We combine different plant
science approaches to better understand what determines
and to improve production quality.

Our outstanding units

Through our research, we aim to get a better understanding

of the factors influencing the development of fruits and seeds
and their nutritional, taste and health qualities (mycotoxins,
heavy metals). We also place an emphasis on identifying plants
economic and ecological benefits at various levels (from the
gene to the phenotype), while considering interactions between
plants, pests and insects. Our teams conduct research on model
species and on species of regional economic importance, such as
forest trees, vines, fruits, vegetables and corn.

Research units and facilities

Fruit Biology and Pathology Joint Research Unit (UMR BFP)
Biodiversity, Genes and Communities Joint Research Unit
(UMR BIOGECO)
Ecophysiology and Grape Functional Genomics Joint Research
Unit (UMR EGFV)
Mycology and Food Safety Research Unit (UR MycSA)
Plant and Environmental Analyses Service Unit (USRAVE)
Oenology Unit Under Contract (USC OEnologie)

Experimental units
Cestas-Pierroton Forestry Experimental Platform
Bordeaux Wine-Growing Experimental Platform
Arboreal Experimental Platform

Associated networks and platforms

Institute of Vine and Wines Sciences (ISVV)
National MetaboHUB and PHENOME Infrastructures
Functional Genomic Centre of Bordeaux (CGFB) Platforms
Integrative Biology and Ecology Federative Research Structure
(SFR BIE)
European network for planted forests (EFI ATLANTIC)
Sanitary Quality of Vegetable Crops Joint Technological
Network (RMT QUASAPROVE)
Plant Health Diagnosis Joint Technological Network
(RMT VEGDIAG)
Prunus Genetic Resources Centre (CRG)

Academic partners
Bordeaux Sciences Agro
CNRS
University of Bordeaux

Find out more about our latest news

and researchs
www.bordeaux-aquitaine.inra.fr/

Marking of microglia and neurons.

J.-C. Delpech, NutriNeurO

Outstanding units lend further substance to our

Centres research programme and help meet
todays scientific challenges in the fields of human
nutrition and neurobiology, fish nutrition, human
health and wood.
In terms of aquaculture nutrition, we are currently seeking
to understand how nutrients regulate the metabolic
pathways in fish using an integrative approach, from genes
to the animal. In nutrition and human health, our teams
are studying the impact of nutrition on brain function and
the pathogenic role and epidemiology of two bacteria
(mycoplasma and chlamydia) in order to improve infection
diagnoses and treatment. Finally, we are analysing the links
between wood properties, environmental determinants
and forestry practices to make more effective use of wood
as a material.

Research units
Nutrition and Integrative Neurobiology
(UMR NutriNeurO)
Nutrition, Metabolism, Aquaculture (NuMeA)
Research Unit
Mycoplasmal and Chlamydial Infections in Humans
Unit Under Contract (USC IHMC)
Bordeaux Institute of Mechanics and Engineering
Unit Under Contract (USC I2M)

Experimental units
Benquet Foie Gras Palmipeds Experimental Platform
Saint-Martin-de-Hinx Corn Experimental Platform

Associated networks and platforms

Equipex Xyloforest
LabEx BRAIN
Food, Lipidic Nutrients and Brain Joint Technological
Unit (UMT ALICE)

Academic partners

Late downy mildew infection on the American Concord hybrid (Michigan, USA)
F. Delmotte, INRA

CNRS
cole nationale suprieure darts et mtiers (National
School of Arts and Crafts), Arts et Mtiers ParisTech
Bordeaux Polytechnic Institute (IPB)
University of Bordeaux
University of Pau and Pays de LAdour (UPPA)

PARTNERSHIPS, ADDING VALUE, INNOVATION

Structured partnerships with socio-economic players

New feeding strategies

for farmed fish

Our Centre is actively involved in two competitiveness clusters: Xylofutur, which brings together key players
in the wood and forestry sectors for technology transfer to industry; and Agri Sud-Ouest Innovation,
developing an agri-chain strategy for the benefit of the agro-food and agricultural sectors.
The preferred partner of the wine industry (CIVB, IFV), we are also a member of the InnoVin cluster, set up
to support the economic development of wine-related enterprises.
We have forged productive partnerships with the Chambers of Agriculture and with technical institutes to
encourage innovation and to transfer new technologies to industry. In this respect, we are actively involved in
four scientific interest groups devoted to securing the future of the maritime pine (GIS Pin maritime du futur),
fish farms (GIS Piscicultures de demain), foie gras palmipeds (GIS Palmiple), and diadromous fish (GIS GRISAM).
These successful partnerships have naturally led to our involvement in two economic interest groups (fruit and
vegetables, flowers and plants), four joint technological networks (AFORCE, Fertilisation and Environment,
QUASAPROVE and VEGDIAG) and a Food, Lipidic Nutrients and Brain (UMT ALICE) joint technological unit.

A partnership strategy built on scientific excellence

Near-infrared spectrometer on the Xylomic technical platform:

wood samples waiting to be analysed to determine their compounds.
A. Girard, INRA

Involved in 10 projects conducted under the French

governments Invest in the Future programme, our
Centre contributes to the development of high-level
regional training, research and innovation.
As part of this initiative, we coordinate the Xyloforest
Equipment of Excellence (Equipex) project, aimed at
developing sustainable and innovative solutions for
increasing competitiveness in the wood and forestry
sectors, and the national MetaboHUB infrastructure
devoted to metabolomics and fluxomics. We also comanage the LabEx (Laboratory of Excellence) COTE
project on the evolution of continental and coastal
ecosystems and contribute actively to the LabEx BRAIN
project on neuroscience and to LabEx AMADEus on
advanced materials.

Farmed fish fed with plant-based feed formulations.

A. Girard, INRA

The NuMeA research unit is helping to develop

sustainable aquaculture systems by studying
the obstacles to effective feed devoid of
halieutic raw materials. For example, we have
developed a new nutritional programming
strategy to adapt fish to a new feed through
early nutritional intervention. We have
already demonstrated that exposing trout
fry to a plant-based diet from an early age
significantly improves their acceptance and
use of the same diet when administered at
later stages of life.

Collective scientific projects and infrastructure

We have three CGFB (Functional Genomic Centre of Bordeaux) IBiSA-certified technology platforms, providing high-quality technological services and enabling
innovative methodological developments:
The Metabolome-Fluxome platform for biochemical analyses of plant derivatives;
The Genome-Transcriptome platform for high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing, mutation testing and genotyping,
The Plant Imaging Division of the Bordeaux Imaging Centre for cellular imaging in health and plant sciences.
In addition, environmental monitoring structures (Soere, ORE) enable us to track migratory fish (DiaFC), fluxes between vegetation and the atmosphere (ICOS)
and forestry practices (ECOSYLVE).

Focus on

MetaboHUB: a national infrastructure for metabolomics and fluxomics

MetaboHUB provides state-of-the-art methodological and analytical tools and services to researchers and
industrial partners working in areas where a good understanding of the metabolome and its analysis play
a decisive role. MetaboHUB, which combines four IBiSa-certified platforms, coordinates and provides support for fundamental and applied
research in the fields of human health and nutrition, food production and sustainable agriculture, green chemistry, the environment and white
biotechnology. Faced with the challenge of processing and analysing large data sets, the MetaboHUB has already helped develop a workflow
offering a centralised set of tools for analysing, handling and visualising data derived from metabolomics analyses.
The MetaboHUB receives support from INRA and the CEA in association with the CNRS, INSAT, INSERM, the University of Bordeaux, Blaise Pascal
University (Clermont-Ferrand), Paul Sabatier University (Toulouse) and Pierre et Marie Curie University (Paris).

INRA: AN OVERVIEW
INRA is the largest agricultural research institute in Europe, with 8,417 researchers, engineers, and technicians, and is the secondlargest producer of agricultural science publications. INRA contributes to development of knowledge and innovation in the fields of food,
agriculture, and the environment.
INRA carries out its work across 13 scientific divisions through a research network that is unique in Europe, with more than 200 research
units and experimental units located in 17 research centres throughout France. Its aim is to contribute internationally to the
development of healthy, high-quality food, competitive and sustainable agriculture, and a protected and valued environment.

MAP OF BORDEAUX-AQUITAINE CENTRE

FACILITIES

BORDEAUX-AQUITAINE CENTRE: KEY FIGURES

Research and support units

21 units including 7 joint units and 5 experimental platforms

517 full-time employees (233 women and 284 men)
116 contract employees (63 women and 53 men)
193 full-time employees from partner organisations working

in our Centres units

Bordeaux-Aquitaine Centre

Resources

BORDEAUX

4
5
1

DORDOGNE
24

GIRONDE
33

LOT ETGARONNE
47
7

A budget of 52 million Euros, including 13 million of own

resources
21 infrastructures: 4 platforms; 3 technical platforms; 5
experimental facilities; 5 joint monitoring schemes (Soere, ORE);
3 genetic resources centres (CRG); 1 tomato/peach/strawberry
TILLING collection.
Results

LANDES
40
8

List of sites

1
2

PYRENEESATLANTIQUE
64

3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Bordeaux-Aquitaine Centre
71, avenue Edouard Bourlaux
CS 20032
33882 Villenave-dOrnon Cedex - France

Villenave-dOrnon
Cestas-Pierroton
Saint-Pe-sur-Nivelle
Bordeaux
Talence
Toulenne
Bourran
Benquet
Saint-Martin-de-Hinx

250 current partnership agreements,

including 17 with Europe
7 patents and 10 licences
280 publications per year in peer-reviewed journals

Tel. : +33 (0)5 57 12 23 00

www.bordeaux-aquitaine.inra.fr
communication@bordeaux.inra.fr
@Inra_BdxAqui