AGAP researchers present citrus fruit diversity to President Macron.

Participatory research, innovation, biodiversity, Citrus supply chain, these are the key words that caught President Emmanuel Macron's attention on his visit to the INRA centre at San Giuliano in Corsica on Wednesday 7 February 2018.

Inclement weather and a tight schedule did not get the better of the President’s determination. A morning of talks with researchers to learn about the work undertaken at the San Giuliano site. Emmanuel Macron was able to see some of the participatory research and experiments conducted by the INRA and CIRAD teams in close collaboration with partners from the supply chain, at the Citrus Biological Resource Centre, one of the finest in the world. 

François Casabianca, President of the INRA Centre in Corsica, and Michel Eddi, President Managing Director of CIRAD, welcomed President Emmanuel Macron to the Biological Resource Centre. Olivier Pailly, manager of the Citrus unit and Jean Paul Mancel, President of Aprodec, began their exchanges in an orchard of clementines, the jewels in the crown of Corsican Citrus cultivation. The importance of the relations existing between research and development in knowledge production, between researchers and professionals in the supply chain, in galvanizing action around a differentiated product leading to the attribution of an official sign of quality, the Corsican Clementine PGI, was highlighted. Franck Curk and François Luro, geneticists from the “Genetic Improvement and Adaptation of Mediterranean and Tropical Plants” joint research unit, then presented the remarkable diversity of citrus fruits. Emmanuel Macron was able to taste a caviar lemon, discover some small wild mandarins and some lime/orange chimeras, all this standing next to a tree bearing dozens of Buddha’s hand citrons. This Biological Resource Centre, an internationally acknowledged reference collection, is also a tool used to study the genetic origins of cultivated Citrus, the genes involved in fruit quality, and those involved in stress and disease tolerance. This collection also provides back-up for partnerships with local, national and international enterprises. An illustration of the use of Citrus diversity in processing and catering was presented to the President by Anatra, a young agribusiness start-up, and by the cooks and pastry chefs from the Casadelmar restaurant in Porto-Vecchio. The President tasted some ingenious and delicious preparations made from some little-known citrus fruits.

Lastly, during a tour of the laboratories, some fruits arising from varietal innovation work were presented to the President by Yann Froelicher, Deputy Director of the AGAP Corsica joint research unit.  The President particularly noted the blood-pigmented nature of some of these fruits. The determination to take a participatory approach when breeding the fruits of the future, to extend the season without rivalling clementines, has become a determination that is shared with the profession.

To conclude his visit, Emmanuel Macron met with all the stakeholders in the Corsican Citrus  supply chain, along with representatives from local organizations and development offices. In particular, subjects such as water, climate change, transport, Xylella and territorial development challenges were touched upon.

Source: INRA press release

Published: 08/02/2018