Transfer & expertise

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We dedicate an important part of our time and activities to expertise and transfer, especially while leading the R4P network, that, in addition to the development of collaborative multi-pesticide scientific projects, serves as a communication and training taskforce. R4P developed a website hosting scientific and technical ressources about pesticide resistance, a unified classification of pesticides and an independent database recording informed cases of resistance in France. This database initiated a European one hosted by EPPO  and updated yearly with our findings. We also participate/animate three working groups on integrated pest management in Végéphyl, the French association for plant protection. AS Walker also serves as an expert for Anses, the French authority delivering pesticide authorization, giving advice about resistance management in registration dossiers.  Our involvement in the technical and scientific committee (CST) of the “Ecophyto” plan, a French policy aiming at reducing pesticide use, as well as the expert board delivering “Certificats d’Economie des Produits Phytosanitaires” (CEPP) finally reflect our commitment into guiding public policies.

Close integration and collaboration with industry and institutes

• Participation to professional organizations and chairing of working groups on resistance management (e.g. Végéphyl)
• Long-term, mature collaboration with institutes and the industry (collaborative projects, co-management of experimental trials, CIFRE PhD funding)
• A patent (Europe + USA) published on a putative biocontrol antifungal, support to a collaboration with a company for its development in the field: Cacas JL, Vasselon D, Lamotte O, Poinssot B, Walker AS (2021) Utilisation de l'acide 4-phénylbutyrique et/ou de l'acide 3-phénylbutyrique et/ou de l'acide 2-phénylbutyrique pour la prévention et le traitement des maladies cryptogamiques. PCT/EP2021/063221

Participation in expertise committees

• Anses (“competent personality” for the department evaluating regulated products)- AS Walker
• Ecophyto (scientific and technical governance committee of the “Plan Ecophyto” governmental policy, aiming at reducing the use of pesticides) -AS Walker
• CEPP (committee of experts evaluating the delivery of “Certificats d’Economie des Produits Phytosanitaires” for the French Ministry of Agriculture), promoting the use of alternative control measures for plant protection - AS Walker
• EPPO (France representative for the “Pesticide resistance panel”; management of the EPPO database of pesticide resistance cases for France) - AS Walker
• CTPS (the Permanent Technical Committee for Plant Breeding examining registration requests for the French Catalogue, developing regulations for each species regarding the catalogue and certification, assisting in guiding research for plant breeding) Committee of experts for cereals and the management of cereal diseases – AL Boixel

Communication on plant pathogens, fungal resistance and pesticides

• Initiation to microbiology and mycology in elementary schools (CP and CM2 grades in 2022 and 2023; AS Walker)
• Scientific mediation and lab educational visits for local high school students (E. Neau, 2023; “Des Plantes et des Hommes” Saclay Plant Science initiative; 32 days).
• Participation to the Saclay Plant Science initiative “Chercheurs en herbe”, promoting research on plant science in local high schools (AS Walker & AL Boixel, 2021 & 2022)
• Animation of the R4P network and management of its website
• Publication comparing indicators of pesticide use in “The Conversation”

Teaching

We take part in courses on various subjects, in several structures:

• Plant Protection specialty of engineering schools (ENSAIA, AgroParisTech) , Bac+5,  4h-7h/year, 2018-2023, teaching- AS Walker
• MAGE Microbiologie, antibiorésistance, génomique et épidémiologie (U. de Franche-Comté, Besançon), Master 2, 1,5h/year, 2022-2023, seminar -S. Fillinger
• Épidemiosurveillance, Écologie du paysage, Gestion des résistances (Institut Agro Rennes-Angers et AgroParisTech, ENSAIA), Master 1 & Master 2, 15 to 20h /year, since 2020, cours -AL. Boixel