French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAe)

The Joint Research Unit Soil, Agro- and Hydro-systems, spatialization (UMR SAS) is established in Rennes with a secondary site in Quimper. UMR SAS studies the interactions between agriculture and the environment using an integrative and spatialized approach of rural areas. The main interests of UMR SAS are water, nitrogen carbon and phosphorus cycles in cultivated landscapes, as well as multi-criteria assessment of agrosystems. The research of UMR SAS contributes to elaborate sustainable agricultural systems, to improve rural landscape management, to preserve natural resources such as water, soil, atmosphere and landscape quality. UMR SAS includes experts in soil science, hydrology, agronomy, environmental assessment, animal science, bioclimatology and geomatics. It develops models and computer-based tools (MEANS platform, TERRIT’EAU, SYST’N, GEOSAS)and runs long term experimental facilities such as Agrhys catchments, EFELE site and MEGEVE platforms. It is part of the OSURresearch consortium and maintains regular collaborations with many institutions around the world.

INRAe is responsible for the WP4 “Sustainability assessment” and in particular the task 4.1 “environmental assessment”.