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Research axes

There are four research axes:

 RESEARCH AXIS "GENOMIC AND PLANT PHYSIOLOGY"

This axis focuses on the plant by studying the relation between genetics and environment, in a context of deep modifications of agricultural practices, of saving of the resources and of climate change. About cereal, description, management and valuation of genetic varieties are developed: the whole genetic variability of cereal detained in France, that is more than 25 000 varieties, is grouped in a Biological Resources Center at the Clermont-Ferrand - Theix Center. The research is also dedicated to enhance our knowledge of the structure and function of the bread wheat genome to understand the biology of agronomical important traits. The works on tree concern the determinism of the acquisition of its shape, in answer to variation of environmental conditions. The developed approaches try to integrate physiological parameters, scanning multiple levels of biological organization (genes, cells and organs), while integrating the growth spatio-temporal dynamics interacting with the climate.

RESEARCH AXIS "TERRITORIES, BREEDING AND ENVIRONMENT"

These researches focus on grasslands exploitation and on ruminants breeding, mainly in mountainous areas with extensive breeding. They also concern practices evolution and human activities, in connection with breeding systems in these rural territories. The researches cover aspects relative to functioning and sustainability of farms, from an agronomic standpoint and from an economic standpoint. The development of innovations for dairy herds and other herds management (such as practices simplification, respect for the animal well-being, organic farming) is an objective. The study of grasslands functioning and their valuation by animals is also approached, as well as the biodiversity evolution and conservation of the grassland ecosystem. The role of grasslands in Carbon storage is also explored and thus the contribution of these spaces to the control of the greenhouse effect is studied.

RESEARCH AXIS "ANIMAL PRODUCTS QUALITY" 

These works concern a wide-range of subjects from the production of meat and milk to the consumption of transformed products. They study all the composed questions, thanks to an integrative approach: the goal is to explore the different factors of the elaboration stages, which contribute to determinate the dairy and meat products quality. Indeed, sensory, safety, nutritious and technological qualities are taken into account. These qualities characterization and food traceability are two key points. Hence, animal production systems and production factors are studied, as well as the conception and the control of food processing engineering, microbial ecology, products hygiene... All these researches are based on state-of-the-art tools for imaging and for biochemical and molecular analysis, they concern food products, which are more and more needed in the world.

RESEARCH AXIS "PREVENTIVE HUMAN NUTRITION" 

The researches are dedicated to human nutrition, with the aim to develop strategies to prevent age-related diseases occurrence. The teams attempt to better understand the biological effects of food components and specific nutrients. These studies contribute to work out nutrition recommendations for maintaining good health. The protein nutrition and micronutrients role in diseases prevention are both major subjects. These researches on metabolism analysis and on metabolism regulation in regard with the complexity of biological systems are booming nowadays. In Auvergne, they are carried by the pooling of skills and tools which are unique in France and are supported by the "Human nutrition Research Center" (CRNH) of Clermont-Ferrand.

Written by: Communications Office
Date of creation: 02/05/2006
Date of last update: 13/01/2010