Agroecology and food

Montpellier has both local and global ambitions to support production and increase the international presence of the area’s agro-ecology and food sector.

Montpellier and its agri-food sector

Home of Agropolis International, a major worldwide research hub, Montpellier Métropole hosts one of the world’s largest scientific communities involved with agriculture, food, biodiversity, and environment.

With 2,700 researchers and teachers, and the leading French agriculture and food competitiveness cluster, Agri Sud-Ouest Innovation, Montpellier Métropole is the center of an ecosystem that promotes innovation through synergy between the business and research worlds. About forty agro-tech companies, representing some 900 jobs, are active in the Montpellier Métropole area, including: Smag (InVivo group) , ITK, Fruition Sciences, Matahi, Il était un Fruit, Qualiplante, ADNid, Envilys, Nyseos, Indatech, Histalim, and more.

Let’s talk about your project

Valérie De Saint Vaulry

Coordinator, agroecology and food policy (“P2A”)

+33 (0)4 67 13 61 13

33%

of the metropolitan area

dedicated to agriculture (Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole master development plan)
#2

farming region in France

(Agri’Scopie 2016 report by the Cerfrance network and regional Chambers of Agriculture)
#1

wine region worldwide

... and leading French region for organic farming (Sud de France Développement)
13,900

farming areas

(Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole SCot plan)
2,700

researchers and teachers

(Agropolis International)
10

Community-supported agriculture associations

in the Montpellier Métropole, Grand Pic Saint-Loup & Pays de L'Or territories

Agropolis, the leading research community in France

Agropolis International is a world-class driver of expertise in all fields related to agriculture, food production, biodiversity, and the environment, with:

  • 24 research and training establishments, welcoming over 5,000 students at 3 Montpellier campuses: La Gaillarde, Lavalette, and Baillarguet.
  • 160 diploma programs
  • 74 research laboratories and facilities, including Ecotron, an experimental research platform for studying how ecosystems, organisms, and biodiversity work.
The Agropolis International association also offers a multi-stakeholder space open to all partners in economic development and civil society.

Key players in the sector

Montpellier Métropole facilitates dialog between the research organizations, producers, and agri-food stakeholders that comprise the entire agriculture value chain.

Launching your project

Agro Valo Méditerranée
Managed by Sup Agro, INRA, and INRA Transfert, this platform works with you early in your project lifecycle to innovate and generate value from your project. They will help direct you to the most appropriate laboratories.
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Agri Sud-Ouest Innovation
This competitiveness cluster unites a network of companies and research organizations around innovative collaborative projects. They help you organize your project and make it easier to obtain funding from sources such as: the French Unique Interministerial Fund (FUI), French National Agency for Research (ANR), Diva calls for projects... Find out more...Cap Alpha The Cap Alpha startup incubator provides you with custom and modular office space solutions, as well as turn-key laboratories.

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Cap Alpha
The Cap Alpha startup incubator provides you with custom and modular office space solutions, as well as turn-key laboratories. If a different incubation option seems better suited for your project, Montpellier BIC will point you in the right direction.
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Set-up Welcome Center by the Young Farmers’ Union
(Point Accueil Installation du Syndicat des Jeunes Agriculteurs) Led by the Young Farmers Union, the Welcome Center helps everyone with agricultural projects. This is the first step in getting assistance setting up your project.
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Training, higher education and research

3 business chairs
The AgroTiC chair strengthens exchanges between training, research, and business regarding digital agriculture.
The Unesco Chair in World Food Systems represents an open and decompartmentalized space for exchange and experimentation to help invent and promote a new system for food.
The AgroSYS chair is a catalyst for agro-ecological projects involving companies, research efforts, territories, and agricultural sectors.

#DigitAg
The Institute of Digital Agriculture Convergence comprises 360 research-professors and entrepreneurs. The goal is to develop information and communication technologies to support farmers’ competitiveness over the long-term.
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Montpellier SupAgro
With its “Higher School” status, this public establishment specializing in scientific, cultural, and professional topics welcomes about 1,700 students each year for degree programs. In 2021, the establishment will merge with AgroParisTech and Agrocampus Ouest to create a unique, world-class institute for agriculture and food-related issues.
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Zoom on BoCal platform

With support from Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, Grand Pic Saint-Loup, and Pays de l’Or, the BoCal web platform promotes “good and local” foods with local players in agroecology and eating well.

BoCal, bon & local je me régale !