INRA - Agricultural systems

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Grandes Cultures Experimental Farm—INRA Occitanie-Toulouse @INRA. © INRA

News

05 Oct 2017

Multiservice cover crops: a key pilar of the ecological transition.

The development of new methods and techniques is a central part of efforts to improve the economic performance and environmental friendliness of French agriculture. Of particular interest are strategies for reducing synthetic inputs (i.e., pesticides and fertilisers) and for boosting ecosystem services that will benefit farmers and everyday citizens alike. During the agricultural innovation symposium (CIAg) held October 4–5, 2017 in Toulouse, INRA presented a key tool that can be exploited by farmers: multiservicencover crops.

Un robot unique pour « scanner » les cultures en plein champ à l’Inra Occitanie-Toulouse !. © INRA

News

20 Sep 2017

INRA Occitanie-Toulouse develops a one-of-a-kind robot for "scanning” crops in the field

As part of the French Stimulus Initiative project PHENOME, a unique phenotyping robot was developed by INRA's Joint Research Unit for Agrosystems and Territorial Development (AGIR), INRA’s Joint Research Unit for the Mediterranean Environment and Modelling of Agro-hydrosystems (EMMAH), and ARVALIS. A prototype has just arrived at the Grand Cultures Experimental Farm, which is affiliated with INRA Occitanie-Toulouse. The robot will be linked with AgroPhen, a technological platform dedicated to field-based high-throughput phenotyping of major crop species.

Cereal field in the Brittany countryside. © INRA, CAUVIN Brigitte

Press release

27 Feb 2017

Reducing pesticide use in agriculture without lowering productivity

As part of the DEPHY-Ferme network, a major component of the French government’s EcoPhyto plan to reduce and improve plant protection product use, researchers from INRA working with the company Agrosolutions examined the relationship between pesticide use and cropping system performances¹ in terms of productivity and profitability.

Nicolas Urruty, PhD student at INRA and University of Poitiers, wins third prize at the My Thesis in 180 Seconds international competition in Rabat on 29 September 2016. © INRA, CHERIGUENE Julie

Press release

30 Sep 2016

2016 “My Thesis in 180 Seconds” international competition: Nicolas Urruty wins third prize for his work on wheat

Nicolas Urruty presented his thesis on the impact of reduced pesticide use on wheat yields in just three minutes. The doctoral candidate in agronomy at INRA Paris won third prize in the 2016 “My Thesis in 180 Seconds” international competition, which was held in Rabat, Morocco, on 29 September 2016.

Lawn at the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. © INRA, MAITRE Christophe

News

10 Jun 2016

Best pick: perennial ryegrass

In 2013, a major study showed that perennial ryegrass, used for ornamental lawns and football fields, was significantly improved by selection processes carried out over 50 years.

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