The topics concerned by the "Céréales Vallée" cluster

Biotechnology has provided a technological breakthrough in the field of Plant Sciences, with its tools for the exploration of genomes (genomics, molecular markers) and the understanding of the metabolic functions that control the development cycles of plants (particularly, though not exclusively, site-directed mutagenesis and genetic reverse). Process engineering, which is a major source of innovation in industrial processes, will also be fully integrated.

The topics developed by the "Céréales Vallée" cluster will concern the use of these new tools and know-how for plant improvement, to create plant varieties that are better adapted to the needs of modern food habits - better adapted to the expectations of agricultural users, industrial processors, and finally consumers too. They also respect the objectives of sustainable development (economic performance, social and territorial performance and respect for the environment).

There is also a great deal of scope for development projects for plant varieties and agro-industrial processes that are concerned with the use of renewable, biodegradable raw materials, and energy savings. These projects will be developed in partnership with regional industrialists and with outside partners involved in other competitiveness clusters. They will implement industrial processing in non-food fields (particularly, but not exclusively, biofuels, biomaterials and pharmacy) that will be used to determine the influence of biomass qualities (biochemical content) and industrial processes on manufacturing costs on the one hand, and also the final performance of products (qualities and functions).

The strategic topics of Céréales Vallée :

Cereals for the future: produce more and better for sustainable agriculture
Cereals for health and nutrition : satisfy the needs of human and animal food production 
Non-food cereals : contribute to developing sustainable biomaterials.