Australia (Commonwealth)_In response to mounting global challenges such as climate change, food sovereignty, and the sustainable use of natural resources, France is intensifying its scientific partnerships with Australia and New Zealand. A recent diplomatic and research mission to Oceania, led by Jean-François Hocquette—Science Officer for International Relations at INRAE (the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment)—has reinforced bilateral collaborations focused on agricultural and environmental innovation.
A key event during the visit occurred on April 30 at the French Embassy in Canberra, where INRAE participated in the official launch of the Agricultural and Food Sciences Community within the Australian-French Research Network (AFRAN). This forum served as a platform for dynamic scientific exchange between French and Australian researchers. Topics of discussion included food security, the bioeconomy, agricultural adaptation to climate change, and the One Health approach—an integrated framework recognizing the interconnected health of people, animals, and ecosystems.
In a prerecorded address, INRAE CEO Philippe Mauguin praised the initiative as an outcome of aligned strategic interests aimed at increasing and adapting agricultural productivity while promoting sustainability. He also highlighted the robust collaboration already in place between French and Australian institutions. Between 2017 and 2023, INRAE scientists co-authored over 2,000 academic publications with Australian colleagues, positioning Australia as one of INRAE’s leading non-European partners. These collaborations have largely been facilitated through long-standing partnerships with prominent Australian institutions such as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the University of Queensland, the University of Melbourne, and the Australian National University.
During the Canberra visit, INRAE and CSIRO renewed two significant research agreements. The first was a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to align on shared scientific priorities. The second, a joint linkage call (JLC), was established to encourage researcher mobility and deepen institutional ties. In collaboration with the University of Queensland, we inaugurated a new International Associated Laboratory (LIA). This lab focuses on developing wheat varieties resilient to extreme climatic conditions by examining the interaction between genetic traits and environmental factors to improve yield stability.
Eight joint research projects were showcased at the launch of the Agri-Food Sciences Community, reflecting the breadth of INRAE’s engagement in Australia. These included initiatives on sustainable aquaculture systems, soil carbon modeling, plant resilience to water stress, bioengineering nutrient-rich cowpeas, enhancing the genetic robustness of rapeseed, and improving beef quality standards. Other long-term collaborations have focused on optimizing sheep breeding techniques and addressing zoonotic disease threats through the PREZODE initiative, a global health program led by INRAE, CIRAD, and IRD that embodies the One Health principle.
In addition to strengthening ties with Australia, INRAE also commemorated two decades of research collaboration with New Zealand. On May 7, stakeholders celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Dumont d’Urville Hubert Curien Partnership at an event held at the French Embassy in Wellington and co-hosted by the Royal Society Te Apārangi. Since its inception in 2005, this partnership has supported 80 exchange programs and 20 joint research projects involving INRAE and CIRAD. Key areas of collaboration have included plant biotechnology, meat science, forest ecology, invasive species genomics, and environmental modeling.
Currently, collaborative research with New Zealand is underpinned by two agreements with Science New Zealand—an MoU and a JLC—both established in 2023. In addition, three International Associated Laboratories are active: RUMQUAL, focusing on ruminant meat quality; BIOMATA, which explores forest biomass-derived biomaterials; and AgriForAdapt, which addresses climate change adaptation in agroecosystems.
Through these strategic partnerships, France, Australia, and New Zealand are not only reinforcing scientific cooperation but also co-developing innovative solutions to some of the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century.
