To fulfil ARCAD's mission, four French leading agricultural science establishments formed a consortium in October 2009 and forged partnerships with other research institutions in France and overseas as well as with international organizations.

In France, research activities are conducted by joint research units (UMR) and internal research units (UPR). 

Apart from the consortium members, the major funders are Agropolis Fondation, the French foundation for Agricultural Sciences and Sustainable Development, the European Union through the ERDF, and the Région Languedoc-Roussillon.