Montpellier-Occitanie

The CIRAD Montpellier centre is a platform that is truly open to the world, acting as the hub of networks linking all CIRAD's other sites and our staff members in almost fifty countries.

CIRAD's regional office for Montpellier-Occitanie (DRMO) coordinates administration of CIRAD's installations in Montpellier: organization, operating methods, infrastructure management, real estate policy, on-site activities, etc.

It also represents CIRAD General Management in relations with the State authorities in the region and all local authorities. It works closely with all the research and higher education establishments in the region and with other federative structures, notably MUSE and Agropolis International.

Un centre inséré dans un grand pôle international de recherche agronomique

La ville de Montpellier est aujourd’hui considérée comme la capitale mondiale de la recherche agronomique. De nombreux organismes de recherche et universités participent à la vie de ce pôle qui rassemble plus de 2 700 chercheurs et enseignants-chercheurs : INRAE, IRD, CIHEAM-IAMM, Institut Agro, AgroParis Tech, Cirad, CNRS, Ifremer, UM, UPV, UPVD, etc… Le Cirad et ses partenaires des pays tropicaux et méditerranéens bénéficient ainsi d’un environnement scientifique exceptionnel.

Top-level research infrastructures and equipment spread across four sites

In Montpellier, researchers have specialized infrastructures and equipment, and reference laboratories with a global reputation to allow them to work in the best possible conditions, to benefit tropical and Mediterranean countries.

Those infrastructures are spread across four sites, covering almost 20 hectares in total (see map):

• the Lavalette campus
• the technology park
• the science park
• the Baillarguet campus

In all, 53 buildings totalling 59 000 m², including 3820 m² of greenhouses and 1500 m² of technology halls.

The most remarkable facilities include:

• Technical platforms and laboratories: a regional genotyping platform (GPTR), rhizoscope, a histology and plant cell imaging platform (PHIV), a sensorial analysis laboratory and animal health laboratories
• Technology halls: agrifood technology and biomass energy
• Experimental greenhouses: the Abiophen greenhouse, devoted to climate change research
• A quarantine facility: Visacane, for sugarcane
• A teaching greenhouse: Meditrop, to promote agrobiodiversity
• Genetic resource collections: Agropolis Resource Centre for Crop Conservation, Adaptation and Diversity (ARCAD), the only databank of its type in the world

In 2021, the technology halls and the Baillarguet campus (notably the greenhouses) were awarded a State grant, through the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, following a call for energy efficiency renovation projects under the  "France relance" economic recovery plan (September 2020). It is mainly being used to fund LED lamps for the greenhouses, and heat insulation.

A scientific base for reception and training through research

Each year, CIRAD's teams and laboratories in Montpellier receive almost 800 people (students, technicians or researchers, PhD students, etc.). Almost two thirds of them are from overseas.

CIRAD's teams in Montpellier are involved in higher education: Masters teaching, receiving interns and supervising PhD theses. Around theses and accreditations to supervise research (HDR) are defended each year in Montpellier.

Welcoming interns, partners and PhD students

Since its inception, CIRAD has been committed to training in research and through research. Each year, our research units and support services welcome almost 1000 interns, PhD students and researchers from France and elsewhere.

A hub of scientific activity and exchanges with various groups

In addition to receiving researchers in its laboratories, CIRAD organizes almost 100 scientific events in Montpellier each year, from internationa symposiums to seminars and workshops.

CIRAD is also regularly open to the public during events such as the Fête de la Science, and welcomes hundreds of visitors and several dozen official delegations each year.

To visit our installations, please contact  jeanne.bellaiche@cirad.fr at the Montpellier-Occitanie Regional Office. Due to the current health situation, all visits must be approved in advance.