Organization of plant Biological Resource Centers for research in France: History, evolution and current status
Since their inception, the French academic organizations dedicated to agricultural research have developed plant collections in genebanks, often within a public–private framework, to support the study of plant traits and the development of new improved varieties. In addition, since the 2000s, a centre for genomic resources has also been established in France. Over the last 20 years, this decentralized system, consisting of the academic genebanks and the centre for genomic resources, has been supported by a national coordination structure. The objectives were to align the network activities with the framework proposed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for Biological Resource Centres and to foster collaboration with other national stakeholders involved in the conservation and characterization of plant genetic resources (PGR). In 2015, the network was named BRC4Plants and become part of the French National Research Infrastructure RARe (www.agrobrc-rare.org), supported by the French Ministry of Research. This paper describes BRC4Plants, its users, services and cross-cutting activities. We also highlight its relations with its national and international stakeholders involved in the conservation and characterization of PGRs. BRC4Plants aims to be a key player in addressing societal and research challenges regarding agroecology, climate change mitigation and healthy food systems.
Authors
- Anne Delaunay
- Philippe Lashermes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7692-9076)
- Florence Esnault (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0710-377X)
- Arnaud Bellec (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2936-5279)
- C. Marchal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0303-9934)
- Emmanuel Geoffriau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4384-3107)
- Paule Térès
- Najate Maghnaoui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4628-4586)
- Alain Label
- Brigitte Gouesnard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9288-9745)
- Anne‐Françoise Adam‐Blondon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3412-9086)
- Christophe Jenny (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6165-6888)
- Jérôme Duminil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2500-824X)
- Stéphane Dussert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5222-4282)
- Jean-Marc Audergon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3132-5815)
- Valérie Bergheaud (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2210-6573)
- Franciane Nuissier
- Nilda Paulo-de-la-Réberdiere
- Aurélia Priet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8946-9602)
- Valérie Riecau
Institutions
- Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (FR)
- Université de Montpellier (FR)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- Animal, Santé, Territoires, Risques et Ecosystèmes (FR)
- Clínica Diagonal (ES)
- Diversité, adaptation et développement des plantes (FR)
- Amélioration Génétique et Adaptation des Plantes méditerranéennes et tropicales (FR)
- Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences (FR)
- Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes (FR)
- Institut Agro Montpelier (FR)
- Services déconcentrés d'appui à la recherche Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (FR)
- Unité de Recherche Pluridisciplinaire Prairies et Plantes Fourragères (FR)
- Institut de Génétique, Environnement et Protection des Plantes (FR)
- Institut Pasteur de la Guadeloupe (GP)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Genetic Resources
- Published
- 2025-03-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.46265/genresj.aszo2413
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Plant and animal studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 15.13
Funders
- Infrastructures en Biologie Santé et Agronomie
- Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme