Research, training and innovation stand

The French Vine and Wine Institute (IFV) is a technical institute for research, development and technology transfer dedicated to the French vine and wine sector. It works to enhance the competitiveness, quality and sustainability of French wines by providing professionals with innovative tools and knowledge. Thanks to its multidisciplinary expertise, the Institute develops and disseminates solutions and technical references essential for the resilience and economic performance of the wine industry. Its technical experts are also mobilised to anticipate future challenges and help build the viticulture of tomorrow. To implement these solution-oriented approaches, the IFV relies on a network of regional centres located in France’s main winegrowing regions. These centres support winegrowers as well as local stakeholders by applying the innovations developed by the Institute, with a strong focus on co-creating research. Since 2023, the IFV and its subsidiary ENTAV International have been certified Engagé RSE and Responsibility Europe at the confirmed level.

Contact: [email protected]

INRAE, the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, is a leading player in research and innovation. The institute brings together a community of over 10,000 people, with more than 270 research, service and experimental units across 18 centres throughout France. In Montpellier, its centre develops innovative solutions for sustainable Mediterranean systems, working closely with partners and with strong international collaboration. Faced with population growth, food security challenges, climate change, resource scarcity and biodiversity loss, INRAE plays a major role in developing sustainable solutions with its research and development partners, helping farmers and all stakeholders in the food and forestry sectors to succeed in these transitions.

Contact: [email protected]

Founded in January 2020, L’Institut Agro covers all fields related to plants and animals, including vines and wine, horticulture, fisheries and landscaping. As a higher education and research institution, L’Institut Agro brings together three schools: L’Institut Agro Dijon, L’Institut Agro Montpellier and L’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers. It offers a wide range of initial and continuing training programmes (engineering degrees, Master’s, PhD, professional Bachelor’s). It has 6,000 students, 1,400 staff including 400 lecturers and researchers, six campuses, three experimental farms, 35 joint research units, a foundation, 16 endowed chairs, a business incubator and a publishing house. It also provides support to 800 French agricultural technical education establishments. As a nationally and internationally recognised institution, its Vine and Wine cluster unites a community of lecturers, researchers, scientists and experts from its three schools, all located in major winegrowing regions (Occitanie, Burgundy and Pays de la Loire). Locally and worldwide, this cluster supports the development, sustainability and agroecological and climate transitions of the vine and wine industries. With 14 degree programmes from Bac+2 to Bac+8, three international programmes in English, and a portfolio of lifelong learning courses, the Vine and Wine cluster provides a cutting-edge pedagogical and scientific framework. Its researchers, organised into 13 joint research units with INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, IFV, CNRS and the universities of Burgundy and Montpellier, contribute their expertise to numerous academic, institutional and socio-economic partnerships in training, research and innovation to build a sustainable future for the sector.

The Regional Chamber of Agriculture is a public institution managed by elected officials. As the voice of agriculture and rural life, it represents farmers’ interests to the State and local authorities. In addition, the network of Chambers of Agriculture provides advisory and support services to farms, promotes knowledge transfer through research and experimentation, and supports territorial projects in areas such as local product marketing, water management and the circular economy. At SITEVI, the Regional Chamber will showcase its support for innovation through its participation in the “Together for the Vineyards of the Future” stand, as well as its technical support for farm start-ups and transfers on its institutional stand.

It plays a strategic role in promoting sustainable, resilient and competitive agriculture through initiatives such as:

• Leading the wine sector contract: co-developing a regional strategy for the sector.
• Climate change adaptation (resistant grape varieties, water management) with the Vitilience project.
• Supporting irrigation projects.
• Promoting innovation transfer, in particular through support for agroecological groups, capacity-building for advisors, and partnerships with professional organisations and research institutes.

SUDVINBIO is the interprofessional association of organic wines in Occitanie. It brings together producers, cooperatives and traders from France’s leading organic wine region, representing 70% of regional production. Sudvinbio contributes technical and regulatory expertise in organic viticulture and winemaking and supports the structuring of the sector. It represents the interests of professionals at regional, national and European level, as well as to the general public and the media.

Internationally recognised for the excellence of its training, research and innovation, the University of Montpellier places the vine and wine sector at the heart of its priorities. With a dedicated research unit, high-level oenology courses and a “Vine & Wine” roadmap led by its University Innovation Centre, UM supports the sector in meeting its major challenges: climate change adaptation, ecological transition, oenological innovation and the promotion of winegrowing regions. Ranked 1st French university for innovation (Reuters), in the world’s top 200 and among the global leaders in ecology (Shanghai ranking), UM stands out as an internationally recognised centre of excellence. Since 2021, it has coordinated the Montpellier University Innovation Centre, a consortium of 14 founding members – including INRAE and L’Institut Agro – which fosters collaborative research, accelerates technology transfer and encourages the creation of innovative companies serving the region and its strategic sectors. At SITEVI 2025, the University of Montpellier will be present as a key academic and scientific partner for the future of viticulture and oenology.

The UNISSON label aims to promote and certify agroecological initiatives for a sustainable transformation of agricultural practices, enhancing their recognition and dissemination. Its ambition is to bring together the network of stakeholders in Occitanie across all agricultural sectors (administrations, Chambers of Agriculture, associations, cooperatives, traders, technical institutes, research institutes, education, etc.). It seeks to unite the voices of committed partners for agroecological transition and to carry this common initiative “in unison” to farmers and to those who support and train them. This initiative is led and coordinated by the Regional Chamber of Agriculture of Occitanie, with the support of the DRAAF Occitanie.