Given the accelerated pace of climate change, successive health crises, the disappearance and erosion of biodiversity, the risks of deterioration in the diet and health of our fellow citizens, as well as the challenge of supporting the next generation of farmers, Philippe Mauguin reiterated the importance of not considering agricultural, ecological and health emergencies as a zero-sum competition. To develop sustainable solutions and adapt to this new context which has been profoundly marked by these multiple crises, research efforts must be ramped up, particularly in the following areas:
- Improving water management and adapting agriculture to climate stressors
- Contributing to the agroecological and climate transition of livestock farming (reducing greenhouse gases and antibiotic use) and plant sectors (reducing pesticide use, supporting diversification)
- Reducing areas of dependency of French agriculture (fertilizers, plant proteins, fruit and vegetables)
- Designing new methods for monitoring plant health
- Supporting animal health and pandemic risk prevention
- Preserving biodiversity and developing ecosystem services provided by agriculture
- Promoting the transition to healthy, sustainable and accessible diets for all
- Developing renewable energies (biogas, agrivoltaics) and biobased products
- Combating forest dieback
- Leveraging the contributions of AI and digital twins
Adapting INRAE’s research strategy and strengthening innovation transfer
Philippe Mauguin also pledged to bolster innovation design and transfer to speed up the transition towards economically viable, resilient agriculture and more sustainable food and forestry systems. To achieve this, INRAE’s partnership policy must be enhanced across the entire chain of players, from technical institutes to education and training organizations, chambers of agriculture, agricultural cooperatives, private businesses, local and regional authorities, and public policymakers.One example of how to identify solutions tailored to the diversity of local areas and agroecosystems could be to test combinations of innovations that draw from agronomy, plant breeding, biocontrol and agricultural equipment in local demonstrators with local players. INRAE’s experimental units, pilot farms and pre-industrial demonstrators will be key to co-construction and faster development of appropriate solutions.
To better match stakeholders’ research needs to the Institute’s capacity to meet those needs, Philippe Mauguin has also announced the creation of consultative committees involving stakeholders. These committees will facilitate regular discussions and improved feedback on key issues in terms of the direction of the Institute’s research.
To address these different challenges, INRAE will be able to draw on the expertise of the national scientific community through the AgraLife Programme Agency led by the Institute. Additionally, the groundbreaking research and innovations resulting from the EXPLOR’AE programme [1] will benefit the entire French ecosystem in the fields of agriculture, food and the environment.
[1] The "Acceleration of high-risk/high-reward research in agriculture, food and the environment" programme launched on 10 January 2024. https://www.inrae.fr/actualites/explorae-lancement-du-programme-acceleration-recherche-risque-agriculture-alimentation-environnement-porte-inrae
The appointment process for the INRAE Chair & CEO
31 May 2024: Call for applications for the post of INRAE Chair & CEO12 July 2024: Hearing before the evaluation committee
2 October 2024: Announcement by the President of the Republic of the intention to appoint Philippe Mauguin, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and subject to the opinion of Parliament
15 October 2024: Hearings held by the Economics Affairs Committees of the Senate and the National Assembly
23 October 2024: Appointment of Philippe Mauguin as INRAE Chair & CEO by the Council of Ministers
About Philippe Mauguin
Born in October 1963, Philippe Mauguin is an agricultural engineer with a general civil engineering degree in bridges, water and forestry. He specialized in socioeconomics of innovation (MINES Paris - PSL) and became an auditor for the Institute of Advanced Development Studies and Regional Planning (IHEDATE).From 1987 to 1989, he was a researcher at the Centre for the Sociology of Innovation at MINES Paris - PSL. From 1989 to 1992, he was in charge of the agrifood sector at the French Ministry of Research and later served as adviser to the minister from 1992 to 1993. From 1993 to 1997, Philippe Mauguin was Director of Agriculture and Bioenergy at the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) and Director of the Agriculture for Chemicals and Energy (AGRICE) scientific interest group.
From July 1997 to January 2002, he was adviser to the prime minister for agriculture, forestry and food. He then served as Director General of the French National Institute of Quality and Origin (INAO) from February 2002 to March 2006 before being appointed Director of the Regional and Interdepartmental Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry (DRIAAF) for Île-de-France from April 2006 to May 2009. He then took up the post of Director of Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries until May 2012. Following this position, he served as the Chief of Staff for the Minister of Agriculture, Agrifood and Forestry.
He was appointed Chair & CEO of the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) in July 2016. After leading the merger between INRA and IRSTEA to create INRAE on 1 January 2020, he was officially appointed Chair & CEO of INRAE on 22 October 2020.