FAO visit: from the Royal Gardens to innovation in plant sciences at the IJPB
11 March 2026 - Versailles campus of the INRAE Ile-de-France - Versailles-Saclay Centre
On the 11th of March 2026, the visit of a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to the Versailles campus of the INRAE Ile-de-France Versailles-Saclay Centre provided an opportunity for Rozenn Le Hir (CATS team) to highlight the remarkable scientific heritage that has made Versailles a landmark location for plant science research.
From the Royal Gardens of the Palace of Versailles and the Potager du Roi to the IJPB, Versailles embodies a unique scientific continuity in which the observation of plants has gradually evolved into a detailed understanding of plant life and its underlying mechanisms. Rooted in the earliest horticultural experiments and the foundations of modern agronomy, this history illustrates the enduring renewal of scientific curiosity and its capacity to generate new knowledge and innovation.
Today, as a research unit of the INRAE Ile-de-France Versailles-Saclay Centre, the IJPB conducts research at the interface between genomics and the study of plant functioning and adaptation to the environment. Its activities are structured around three major axes: understanding the fundamental processes of plant life, designing plants adapted to climate challenges, and valorising plant tissues to develop innovative solutions.
The FAO visit provided an opportunity to place this scientific endeavour in perspective, highlighting how a long-standing tradition of excellence continues to address major global challenges. Research carried out at the IJPB contributes to tackling issues related to agroecological transition, climate change adaptation and food security, bridging fundamental knowledge and innovation.
Through its unique scientific heritage and the advances driven by its 28 research teams, the IJPB exemplifies how centuries of observation and experimentation have shaped a leading centre for plant science research.
More: LinkedIn post From Philippe Mauguin
Research developed at the Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences.
From the Royal Gardens of the Palace of Versailles and the Potager du Roi to the IJPB, Versailles embodies a unique scientific continuity in which the observation of plants has gradually evolved into a detailed understanding of plant life and its underlying mechanisms. Rooted in the earliest horticultural experiments and the foundations of modern agronomy, this history illustrates the enduring renewal of scientific curiosity and its capacity to generate new knowledge and innovation.
Today, as a research unit of the INRAE Ile-de-France Versailles-Saclay Centre, the IJPB conducts research at the interface between genomics and the study of plant functioning and adaptation to the environment. Its activities are structured around three major axes: understanding the fundamental processes of plant life, designing plants adapted to climate challenges, and valorising plant tissues to develop innovative solutions.
The FAO visit provided an opportunity to place this scientific endeavour in perspective, highlighting how a long-standing tradition of excellence continues to address major global challenges. Research carried out at the IJPB contributes to tackling issues related to agroecological transition, climate change adaptation and food security, bridging fundamental knowledge and innovation.
Through its unique scientific heritage and the advances driven by its 28 research teams, the IJPB exemplifies how centuries of observation and experimentation have shaped a leading centre for plant science research.
More: LinkedIn post From Philippe Mauguin
Research developed at the Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences.
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Contact: Rozenn Le Hir, contact
Reference
Rozenn Le Hir. From royal gardens to research laboratories: the long history of plant science in Versailles. 2026, ⟨10.17180/1xz4-rr75⟩. ⟨hal-05561982⟩