Networks in France

An influence on a national scale

The EPHor research unit is a member of several structures at the national level, including:

• the Institute of Research in Sciences and Techniques of the City (IRSTV) of which EPHor is a constituent unit, and participates in the animation of several axes. This structure conducts interdisciplinary research on the city.
• the QuaSaV (Quality and Health of Plants) Federative Research Structure. Its objective is to study and control the characteristics and processes that determine the health of plants and the quality of the products they produce.
• the UMT Stratège Joint Technology Unit, whose objective is to provide professional actors in the sector with knowledge, tools and methods that will enable them to improve and adapt their production, transport and marketing systems to meet consumer demand.
• the joint technology network RMT Soils and territories which aims to increase and enhance knowledge of soils for the sustainable development of rural territories and which is certified by the Ministry of Agriculture.
• the RMT "Urban Agriculture" mixed technology network, whose main objectives are (1) to contribute to the integration of urban agriculture in its territorial context, and (2) to promote and develop the productive functions of urban agriculture.

The research unit has surrounded itself with complementary competences by establishing, via projects or programs, partnerships with other research units or institutes, the main ones being:

• UMR Research Institute of Horticulture and Seeds (IRHS) in Angers,
• UMR Biodiversity, Agroecology and Landscape Management (BAGAP) in Angers
• Water and Environment Laboratory (LEE) of the Gustave Eiffel University in Nantes,
• UMR INRAE Laboratoire Sol-Environnement (LSE) in Nancy,
• UR INRAE Info&sols of Orléans
• UMR INRAE Soil, Agro- and hydro-systems, Spatialisation (SAS) in Rennes,
• UMR INRAE BIOlogie et GEstion des Risques en agriculture (BIOGER) of Paris-Grignon,
• UMR INRAE Fractionation of Agro-Resources and Environment (FARE) in Reims,
• INRAE UR Process optimisation in food, agriculture and the environment (OPAALE) in Rennes,
• UMR INRAE Institut Sophia Agrobitoech (ISA), Sophia Antipolis,
• UMR CNRS Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique (LPGN) of the University of Nantes,
• UMR CNRS Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (I2MCP),
• CEREMA Ouest, Nantes site,
• The soil units of the Bureau de Recherche Géologique et Minière (BRGM) in Nantes and Orléans.

It has also consolidated its links with partners in the interprofession such as:

• CTIFL,
•  ASTREDHOR (Technical Institute of Horticulture),
• the association Plante&Cité,
• ADEME as a funder of many research projects,
• the city of Angers and Angers Loire Métropole.