How can we transform our agricultural and food systems in the context of climate change and the collapse of biodiversity?

This is the question that ARCAD (Agropolis Resource Centre for Crop Conservation, Adaptation and Diversity) is addressing on a daily basis through its work on assessing and improving the use of plant diversity in Mediterranean and tropical regions. Crop species have played a major role in transitions since the beginning of agricultural societies more than 10,000 years ago. Their diversity is constantly shaped by human societies. It is a major asset for current transitions: a fundamental resource for the agro-ecological transition, a key element for adapting agriculture to global changes and at the heart of interactions between science and society.

ARCAD is an open and innovative multifunctional (biological, technological, scientific, educational) resource center for agrobiodiversity in Montpellier, France. The center develops its activity around three complementary and interdependent components:

We are pleased to invite you to the Arcad meetings (free but required registration), in order to inaugurate the new building, supporting several technological platforms, conservation facilities and research activities on crop diversity. Organized by two research units - AGAP Institut (https://umr-agap.cirad.fr/) and DIADE (http://www.diade.ird.fr) - these meetings will also be an opportunity to bring together different disciplinary approaches to crop diversity, and to give the floor to civil society actors concerned by these issues.

- September 30 will be devoted to a scientific seminar that will illustrate the research conducted on crop diversity. During the day, speakers and the public will question the role of biodiversity to address issues related to future agricultural transitions, climate change and biodiversity preservation.

- October 1st will be dedicated to the presentation and visit of ARCAD's technological platforms and to interaction sessions with local, national and international partners, academics and non-academics.

See the detailed program