This Federative Structure labeled in 2017 by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research co-founded and co-directed by UniLaSalle (Karine LAVAL) aims to federate the disciplines in plant sciences and agronomy in Normandy to generate new collaborations based on unique and complementary skills, strengthen the national and international legibility of the constituent units and increase the attractiveness of the Normandy territory.

The skills of SFR NORWAY's researchers cover disciplinary fields ranging from plant biology to agronomy, including microbiology, biochemistry, physico-chemistry, ecology and economics. The SFR promotes multidisciplinary research in the field of agro-ecology, nutrition and plant health, focusing its activities on plant-soil-microorganism relationships and relies on the technology of the Station Expérimentale Normand Serre for the realization of its research programs.
 
5 research units on the Norman territory, including the AGHYLE unit on the Rouen campus, that is to say about a hundred researchers, PhD students and post-docs are thus federated with the following objectives:

1. the development of innovative agronomic solutions that promote the economy of inputs and the use of biocontrol products and methods for integrated crop protection (MAA's Ecophyto Et Produire autrement plans)   
2. development of agronomic resources

While promoting scientific collaborations with academic and socio-economic partners.

Each year, SFR communicates on the programs supported within its teams through a dedicated Scientific Day: The SFR Normandie Végétale Day organized in turn by the University of Rouen, the University of Caen and UniLaSalle.  

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More about SFR Day

The RMT “BouclageS: Closing Biogeochemical Cycles and Soil Quality” brings together 48 partners who are collectively committed to developing actionable knowledge and tools to support sustainable and resilient agriculture. Faced with the urgent challenges of climate change and soil degradation, exacerbated by soaring input prices, the RMT aims to improve the closure of biogeochemical cycles and preserve soil quality. The work program is structured around two interconnected thematic areas:

improving the functioning of the soil-plant system by ensuring appropriate crop nutrition, preserving fertility, and promoting the expression of soil’s ecological functions;

limiting emissions to the environment, particularly of nitrate and phosphate into water, and of ammonia and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, while promoting additional carbon storage in the soil. The research prioritizes agroecological practices for system diversification (recycling of organic matter, crop diversification, and the inclusion of legumes).

The RMT produces and disseminates references, indicators, methods, and decision-making tools for agricultural advisors, public decision-makers, and stakeholders in agricultural education, thereby facilitating the adoption of these best practices and informed decision-making.

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RMT HoloPilot: Toward Productive, Sustainable, and Resilient Agrosystems Through the Assessment and Regulation of Managed Microbiomes

A holobiont is a biological unit consisting of a host macroorganism and its microbiome. Plants are considered holobionts. The starting premise of the RMT HoloPilot is that it is now essential to better understand the effect of agronomic practices on the structuring of the taxonomic and functional diversity of microbiomes, and the way in which the plant shapes this diversity to form the plant holobiont—in both root and above-ground compartments.

This understanding should enable the definition of operational indicators of diversity, function, or ecosystem services, which will be aggregated into open and shared repositories. The challenge is to balance microbial communities toward configurations beneficial to soil health and crop performance, within a framework of ecological management of microbiomes within agroecosystems. The ultimate goal is to design productive, input-efficient, robust, and resilient agrosystems capable of withstanding global changes.

The HoloPilot RMT will contribute to this by:

• bringing together and structuring the scientific and technical community;
• breaking down barriers between the relevant disciplines;
• fostering exchanges among stakeholders in academia, agricultural development, and education.

The HoloPilot RMT focuses on plants of agronomic interest and covers numerous agricultural sectors (field crops, vineyards, arboriculture, vegetable farming, ornamental plants, etc.)

RMT Soils and Territories: Soils and Territories: Connect, Promote, Educate

Due to its multifunctional nature, soil plays a central role in the challenges of sustainable land management, extending beyond agricultural production and food security alone. A wide range of stakeholders (e.g., planners, consultants, local governments, associations) need to access soil-related information to address agricultural, forestry, health, and environmental challenges.

This requires mobilizing soil knowledge and translating it into soil functions at various spatial resolution levels across territories of varying sizes. Depending on the scale studied and the functions under consideration, new data acquisitions are necessary to supplement the information already available.

The RMT Sols et Territoires will work to improve understanding of soils and their multifunctionality by facilitating the acquisition, access, and use of soil information by local stakeholders. It will support public policies and contribute to the training of new generations, notably by promoting the “Associate Experts in Agricultural Education” program.

Through the various proposed actions and in collaboration with other networks and European research programs, the RMT Sols et Territoires will expand its coordination of the network of soil knowledge stakeholders to create a coherent chain of expertise at all levels and ensure the continued presence of soil science expertise across regions.