The Research Institute on Horticulture and Seeds

The IRHS (Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences) is a joint INRAE - Agro Rennes-Angers Institute - University of Angers research unit. This 260-strong unit brings together the expertise of geneticists/genomicists, plant pathologists, physiologists/ecophysiologists, biochemists, modellers, bioinformaticians and biophysicists to improve the quality and health of horticultural crops and seed production.

Its mission is to work towards the development of high performance, healthy and sustainable production systems for these sectors, which are used for both food and ornamental purposes. These sectors are characterised by intensive production methods and are located in rural, peri-urban and urban areas.

Since its inception, the unit has invested heavily in the development of new approaches such as genomics, metagenomics, epigenetics, bioinformatics and high-throughput phenotyping to move towards predictive biology and strengthen its capacity for innovation.

The work of the IRHS is structured around four research areas:

'Mechanisms of plant response and adaptation to the biotic and abiotic environment' 'Mechanisms and strategies for biocontrol and other alternatives to chemical inputs' 'Evolutionary history of plants and associated microorganisms' 'Methodological research and development of innovative tools' The Institute is organised into 14 research teams, each focused on a specific scientific project.

Find the IRHS presentation brochure here >>>

Organisation chart of the IRHS :

IRHS complete organisation chart (02/2025) >>>