SFR 4241 Tersys - Development of natural products, quality and the environment

Activities

Tersys is a Federative Research Structure attached to Avignon University.
This structure brings together 14 laboratories from Avignon University and INRAE's PACA centre.
More than 300 technicians, teacher-researchers and researcher-engineers put their scientific and technical skills at the service of a cross-disciplinary research platform on natural products, their production, their development and their health benefits.

The aim of the SFR is to bring together research units from Avignon University and the INRAE centre in Avignon to build a coherent and effective research offering, capable of tackling the main scientific questions raised by 'natural products' and their development in a complementary and coordinated way.

On the Internet http://tersys.univ-avignon.fr/

ORGANISATION

MEMBER UNITS

Management
Cyril Reboul

Research activities

The SFR Tersys focuses on 5 complementary areas of research:

Area 1: Interactions between production systems and the environment, quality and the water cycle
Coordinator: Joffrey MOIROUX (MCF, UMR CNRS IMBE)

The aim of Axis 1 is to gain a better understanding of the role of biodiversity in the ecosystem services provided to agriculture, in order to propose levers that can be mobilised by new sustainable agricultural systems that are more respectful of the environment.

Area 2: Impact of environmental factors, in the broadest sense, in relation to genetic factors, on the quality of fresh produce
Coordinator: Nadia BERTIN (DR INRAE, UR INRAE PSH)

Axis 2 studies the mechanisms by which the many sensory, taste, nutritional, health and other quality traits of plant products are developed under the impact of cultivation practices, genetic factors and environmental variables. The ultimate objectives are to propose agronomic levers to control production in terms of quantity and quality in a context of climate change and reduced natural resources.

Area 3: Effects of processes on the quality of preserved plant products
Coordinator: David PAGE (CR INRAE, UMR INRAE SQPOV)

The aim: To study the structures, functionalities and health status of plant raw materials. To be able to effectively measure their qualities and identify key molecules for their nutritional and organoleptic values. Understand the impact of processing on composition, on the reaction mechanisms that operate and on food safety. This knowledge will enable us to make the most of the biodiversity of regional products, to highlight their assets in innovative food products and to enhance the value of by-products.

Area 4: Assessing the health value of fresh and processed products according to their composition (physiological and pathophysiological, metabolic and cardiovascular aspects)
Coordinator: Jean-François LANDRIER (DR INRAE, UMR INSERM INRAE AMU C2VN)

The aim of Axis 4 is to assess how modulation of phytomicronutrient intakes and tissue levels can affect the development of metabolic pathologies such as obesity and diabetes. The health impact of food contaminants (microbiological, mycotoxins, phytosanitary products) is also addressed.

Cross-cutting theme A: Modelling
Coordinator: Florent BONNEU (MCF, UPR LMA) and Mohamed MEMAH (CR INRAE, UR INRAE PSH)

Deterministic or stochastic modelling makes it possible to establish relationships between observed phenomena using biological, physical, statistical or probabilistic models. This stage of modelling the living world makes it possible to explain the links between different factors in order to better understand biological dynamics, and also to provide predictions in unobserved situations. The aim is to propose innovative models adapted to each problem encountered in the SFR Tersys research areas, to take into account the complexity of the phenomena studied.

Partnerships

Competitiveness clusters, Innov'Alliance, Agroparc, the Centre Régional d'Innovation et de Transfert Technologique Agroalimentaire PACA, the Centre Technique de la Conservation des Produits Agricoles, the Chambres d'Agriculture départementales and the Chambre Régionale, the Groupement de Recherche en Agriculture Biologique, the Centre Technique Interprofessionnel des Fruits et Légumes, the Centre d'Etudes et de Réalisations Pastorales Alpes Méditerranée, the Pôles Régionaux d'Innovation et de Développement Economique Solidaire.

• Processing large language corpora on social networks.
• Sociological methods for surveying actual/potential audiences.
• Digital heritage writing / cultural mediation.
• Risk forecasting and prevention.
• Intelligent mobility.