France Biotech uniting agronomy, nutrition and health for innovation
Announcing the news, France Biotech said it wants to create a platform that will help meet the challenges faced by start-ups in the fields of agronomy and the microbiome.
The industry body noted that it is “increasingly solicited” by start-ups as well as industrial groups in the sciences of crop production, nutrition and industrial biotech.
France Biotech argued that these industries are areas of “central economic importance” for France.
France Biotech also noted that all three areas – agriculture, nutrition science and microbiology in food – are beginning to reach a stage of “technical maturation” that requires insight, know-how and new models of value creation to support continued progress.
Solving society’s problems
These industries also have significant implications for the “major societal challenges” facing public health. These include food security, health through food, climate change and carbon emissions and ecology.
Research in these areas also has the potential to tackle non-communicable diseases including cancer, digestive diseases, obesity and diabetes, France Biotech noted.
With its experience in health biotech and med-tech, France Biotech is well positioned to support and accelerate this sector, the organisation claimed.
Bringing disciplines together
The newly formed commission has been tasked with identifying and linking professional networks to converge expertise in agronomy, nutrition and health. This is the Agro Nutri Santé Commission’s “first priority”.
Topics such as access to innovation, industrialisation, intellectual property and market access will be the subject of sub-working groups.
A spokesperson suggested that increased cooperation between disciplines has the potential to enhance innovation and lead to game-changing break-throughs.
Luc Mathis, chief business officer at Global Bioenergies and member of the Business Development Commission, will be responsible for establishing and structuring the commission.
Philippe Lénée, director of the partnership and transfer for innovation at the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) will join this Agro Nutri Santé Commission.
