Arcad

AGAP  (Amélioration génétique et  et Adaptation des Plantes) is a joint research unit of CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SUPAGRO and the Université de Montpellier 2 . It is one of the leading ARCAD research unit.

In a fast-changing global environment, the capacity to produce improved planting material suited to different and changing growing conditions is an absolute priority. Genetic improvement is also a real scientific challenge. Genomics, informatics and mathematical modelling have opened up new possibilities of studying the relations between genetic diversity, agronomic performance and response to breeding. The AGAP unit encompasses a broad range of expertise in this major field, and is a leading platform for applied plant biology and genetics.
Thirteen teams are working on both tropical and Mediterranean species (rice, wheat, sorghum, sugarcane, banana, coconut, oil palm, yam, coffee, rubber, cocoa, cotton, apple, grapevine, olive, forest species, eucalyptus, etc) that cover a very broad range of biological characteristics and types of use by farmers.
For some species, the unit is committed to a varietal innovation process encompassing all the related issues, be they agronomic, biological, methodological or relating to partnerships. Its research centres on the adaptation characters considered to be a priority. Crop behavioural responses to environmental constraints (water deficits, high termperatures, etc) are studied on an architectural, physiological and molecular level. Advanced studies of the range of genetic resources combine the biological sciences and social sciences, broadening the disciplines called upon so as to gain a clearer understanding of how crops are domesticated and to ensure the success of the next stage, genetic improvement.