Overview

INRAE (Institut national de recherche pour l’agriculture, l’alimentation et l’environnement) is France’s national public research institute dedicated to agriculture, food and environmental sciences. It was established in 2020 through the merger of two public research bodies, consolidating expertise across agri-food systems and environmental research. INRAE’s mission is to generate scientific knowledge that supports sustainable development and informs public policy.
The organisation operates as a public scientific and technical research establishment, with a mandate to address long-term societal challenges. Its work is positioned at the intersection of science, policy and practice.

Mission and focus areas

INRAE focuses on advancing sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems and environmental protection. Core research themes include climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity, soil and water management, sustainable food production, nutrition and public health, and bioeconomy transitions.
The organisation contributes to sustainability and ESG-relevant agendas by producing evidence that informs climate risk assessment, natural capital management, and sustainable resource use. Its research supports policy design and long-term value creation by improving understanding of environmental limits, transition pathways and systemic risks relevant to investors and decision-makers.

Structure and governance

INRAE operates through a network of research centres and scientific divisions across France, combining disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches. Research activities are organised into departments covering areas such as environment, plant and animal sciences, food systems, and socio-economics.
Governance is overseen by an executive management team and formal governing bodies, consistent with public-sector research institutions. INRAE collaborates extensively with universities, international research organisations, public authorities and private-sector partners.

Programs and offerings

INRAE produces peer-reviewed research, public reports, scientific datasets and policy-relevant analyses. It contributes to national and European research programmes and participates in international collaborations addressing climate, biodiversity and food security.
Outputs include open-access publications, expert assessments and decision-support tools that inform public policy and sustainability strategies. For finance and sustainability practitioners, INRAE’s work provides credible scientific evidence relevant to climate risk, environmental impact assessment and long-term transition planning.

INRAE has the following missions:

“to carry out, organise, and coordinate, on its own initiative or in response to a governmental request, all types of scientific and technological research in the domains of agriculture, food, forestry, the environment, water resources, biodiversity, the bioeconomy, the circular economy, the sustainable management of regions, and risk management in the specialised fields of research mentioned above.”

“To this end, the institute will do the following:
1. Produce, publish, and disseminate the scientific knowledge that results from its research and scientific expertise work;
2. Allow, in the absence of any provisions or stipulations to the contrary, open access to scientific data and publications;
3. Participate in the creation of public policies and national and European research strategies;
4. Contribute to higher education and research-based education in its fields of specialisation;
5. Establish and make use of partnerships with establishments of higher education and research;
6. Contribute to the creation of innovative and socially responsible technologies by building upon the institute’s skill set, expertise, and research discoveries;
7. Help develop scientific and technological expertise, prepare scientific expert reports, and participate in standardisation activities with a view to providing support for policies, foundations, and associations of recognised public interest and to generating solutions to sustainable development challenges;
8. Participate in discussions centred on the role of science and technology in society.”