The IJPB at the King's Kitchen Garden for the 2026 National Agriculture Days

The National Agriculture Days (JNAgri, Journées Nationales de l’Agriculture) aim to bring citizens closer to the actors of the agricultural world by opening the doors of farms, agri-food companies, research centers... and other essential links in the agricultural sector. The IJPB will take part in the 6th edition of JNAgri at the King's Kitchen Garden in Versailles with 3 workshops also in conjunction with the 22nd edition of "Rendez-vous in gardens" on the weekend of 6 and 7 June 2026. These workshops will take place from 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm.

A Historical Fresco will be inaugurated during this weekend
Eight individuals or groups from Versailles were selected to illustrate 400 years of plant biology research in Versailles, as part of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the birth of Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie, founder of the King's Kitchen Garden. The aim is to place the current research carried out at IJPB, and more broadly at INRAE, within this local scientific and historical continuity. This exhibition will run until the Science Festival in October 2026.

For the King's Kitchen Garden
> Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie (1624–1688)
> Henri Louis Duhamel du Monceau (1700–1782
> Antoine-Nicolas Duchesne (1747–1827)
>François-Haken Philippar (1802–1849)

For the INRAE Versailles Center
> Madeleine Huau (1906–1978)
> Yvonne Cauderon (1921–2014)
> André Cauderon (1922–2009)
> Yves Coïc (1911–1992) and Christiane Lesaint (1923–2021)
> Jean-Pierre Bourgin (1944–1994)

Three workshops to enjoy with the whole family on the theme “Touching, Smelling and Observing Plants!”
> The Vegetable Garden Under the Microscope #2: for this second edition of The Vegetable Garden Under the Microscope, scientists from the IJPB Plant Observatory will guide visitors in observing plants from the King’s Kitchen Garden under the microscope.

> A Sensory Exploration of Thale Cress: a sensory journey discovering the genetic diversity of the laboratory’s flagship species, Arabidopsis thaliana.

> Perceptions of Research: students from the Master’s program FESAPCA (“Formulation, Sensory Evaluation and Analysis for the Perfume, Cosmetics and Food Flavoring Industries”) at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines - UVSQ visited several experimental facilities at the INRAE Versailles site. During their visit, they immersed themselves in the site’s sensory atmospheres. Come and discover the olfactory creations inspired by this experience.

These events are taking place as part of the partnership with the Potager du Roi. IJPB special guest at the King's Kitchen Garden for the 2025 National Agriculture Days, news IJPB 04/06/25

A look back in pictures
update 09/06/26




The exhibition and its opening by Olivier Sandra, President of the INRAE IdF – Versailles-Saclay Centre, and Alexandra Bonnet, Director of the École nationale supérieure du paysage (ENSP)



From left to right:  Alexandra Bonnet, Director of the École nationale supérieure du paysage (ENSP), Agathe pineau, graphic designer of the exhibition, Marine Froissard, facilitator of the IJPB mediation group, Olivier Sandra, President of the INRAE IdF – Versailles-Saclay Centre and Domitille de Veyrac, Deputy Director of communications and external eelations at the ENSP


From left to right: Helen North, Director of the IJPB, Agathe Pineau, graphic designer of the exhibition and Marine Froissard,, facilitator of the IJPB mediation group





Welcome to the IJPB Science Workshops


A bouquet from the vegetable garden, composed by the gardeners


Selection of plant parts from the vegetable garden for observation under a binocular magnifying tool and microscope






An invitation from Alice Vayssière, of "The Plant Observatory - Cytology/Imaging" plateform PO-Cyto, to sample fragrances created for the exhibition “Perceptions of Research”, IJPB news 


The youngest observer, aged just 3 months!






In connection with the research developed at the Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences.